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The Performance of Caged Layers Fed Varying Percentages of Borax (Polybor 3) in the Ration
1190
H. MENGE AND R. J. LILLIE REFERENCES
velopment of chick assay. Poultry Sci. 32: 855862. Menge, H., G. F. Combs, Peng-Tung Hsu and M. S. Shorb, 1952. Unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. 1. Studies with chicks using purified diets. Poultry Sci. 31: 237247. Menge, H., and R. J. Lillie, 1955. Unpublished data. Miller, E. C , and C. A. Denton, 1959. Molybdenumsulfate interrelationship in the growing chick. Poultry Sci. 38: 910-916. Moore, P. R., A. Everson, T. D. Luckey, E. McCoy, C. A. Elvehjem and E. B. Hart, 1946. Use of sulfa-suxidine, streptothricin and streptomycin in nutritional studies with the chick. J. Biol. Chem. 165: 437^42. Pappenhagen, A. R., A. C. Wiese and C. F. Peterson, 1953. Development of a chick assay for unknown growth factors. Poultry Sci. 32: 931.
The Performance of Caged Layers Fed Varying Percentages of Borax (Polybor 3) in the Ration B. A. TOWER, E. C. BURNS, H. C. AUSTIN AND F. L. BONNER 1 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Received for publication December 23, 1959)
H
OUSE fly control is one of the greatest problems of the laying cage operator. Heavy infestations of adult house flies (Musca domestica L.) usually cause an increase in dirty, fly-specked eggs which have to be cleaned before marketing. Heavy larvae infestations cause liquefaction of the droppings, thus resulting in increased odors as well as preventing the manure from "coning-up" for easier drying. Under such conditions, some residual insecticide, applied to the droppings at regular intervals, would seem to be indicated. Unfortunately, cases of house fly resistance to the chlorinated hydrocarbon and organic phosphate insecticides have been reported at alarming rates from vari1 All authors are Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station staff members.
ous parts of the world. In addition to the possible development of resistance following repeated application, the insecticides presently used are expensive and fly control by this method is costly. A suggested solution to the fly problem is to continuously feed in the poultry ration some inexpensive inert material that will be passed out in the droppings and act as a larvacide. Studies by Quisenberry et al. (1958), Burns et al. (1959) and Sherwood (1959) indicate that larval control can be attained by continuous feeding of Polybor 3 (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate Na2B80i3 • 4H 2 0) in the ration of caged and floor layers. At the time this work was undertaken, no information was available on the possible effects on egg production, egg weight, body weight and mortality, which might
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
Arscott, G. H., and G. F. Combs, 1955. Unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. 4. Experimental variables which influence the dietary requirements of chicks for these factors. Poultry Sci. 34: 843-850. Branion, H. D., and D. C. Hill, 1953. Fish meal and the response of chicks to antibiotics. Poultry Sci. 32: 151-158. Coates, M. E., M. K. David and S. K. Kon, 1955. The effects of antibiotics on the intestine of the chick. Brit. J. Nutrition, 9: 110. Combs, G. F., G. H. Arscott and H. L. Jones, 1954. Unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. 3. Chick studies involving practicaltype rations. Poultry Sci. 33: 71-79. Lillie, R. J., and H. Menge, 1960. Unpublished data. Lillie, R. J., J. R. Sizemore and H. R. Bird, 1953. Unidentified factors in poultry nutrition. 1. De-
1191
POLYBOR 3 IN LAYER RATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL
Since this experiment was a phase in the work of Burns et al. (1959), the design is the same with the following additions: The station all-mash laying mash was fed ad lib. And each hen's eggs were pedigreed daily and placed in a refrigerator. The eggs were removed from the refrigerator at weekly intervals and weighed individually on a Zenith ounces per dozen scale. Egg weight records were kept for the months of January, February and March 1958. It should be pointed out that the original experiment was designed to test,
under laboratory conditions, the value of Polybor 3 in controlling house fly larvae in droppings under laying cages and to determine if boron is accumulated in eggs and or body tissues. However, the effect of this material on the hen herself was so pronounced it was felt that these effects should be reported. . RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 presents data on the performance under laboratory conditions of hybrid Leghorns when fed different levels of Polybor 3 in the ration for a period of 147 days. There was little difference in egg production between the control group and the groups fed rations containing 0.05 and 0.20 percent Polybor 3. However, production in the group receiving 0.10 percent Polybor 3 was higher than that of any of the other groups. In order to test whether the difference was due to Polybor 3 at this level, a 154-day floor test, involving three groups of 75 birds each, was conducted. Polybor 3 was fed at 0.05 and 0.10 percent while one group was held as a control. As shown in Table 2, there was no indication of differences in egg production, egg weight, body weight or feed consumption. When Polybor 3 was fed at levels high enough to effectively control the house fly
TABLE 1.—Performance of hybrid Leghorns fed varying percentages of Polybor 3 in the ration for a period of 147 days Production Number birds per lot
Treatment
Control 0.05% (Polybor 0.10% (Polybor 0.20% (Polybor 0.30% (Polybor 0.50% (Polybor
3) 3) 3) 3) 3)
4 4 4 4 4 4
At start of expt.
%
67.9 46.4 78.6 71.4 67.9 78.6
At end of expt.
%
41.7 22.2 72.2 44.4 19.4 36.1
Avg. for exptl. period 147 days
%
55.1 53.2 76.1 54.9 44.5 30.3
Egg wt *
oz./doz. 25.2 25.2 26.0 25.3 24.2 23.0
Body wt. Avg. feed change consumption per bird
lbs. 0.07 0.22 0.10 0.33 0.63 0.43
lbs.
t
31.85 32.35 29.60 25.20 20.88
* All eggs laid during the months of January, February and March 1958 were individually weighed, t Feed record not available for this pen through inadvertent error.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
result from continuous feeding of Polybor 3 in the ration. Neither did the literature reveal whether boron was deposited in the egg or body tissues of birds. Since this work was completed, Goodman (1958) and Sherwood (1959) have showed that the feeding of Polybor 3 at levels sufficiently high to control fly larvae lowered egg production. These workers however, did not indicate whether egg weight, body weight or feed consumption were effected. In addition, Goodman (1958) and Burns et al. (1959) have found that boron is deposited in the eggs and body tissues of chickens in varying amounts.
1192
B. A. TOWER, E. C. BURNS, H. C. AUSTIN AND F. L. BONNER
TABLE 2.—The• effects of feeding low levels of Polybor 3 on the performance of floor managed hybrid
Leghorns for a 154-day period Treatment
No. birds
Egg production
Egg weight
Control 0.05% (Polybor 3) 0.10% (Polybor 3)
75 75 75
Percent 54.6 49.5 49.3
Ozs./doz. 25.5 25.3 25.6
Pounds 4.3 4.2 4.6
Pounds 4.5 4.4 4.6
Morta
iitv '
Percent 2.7 4.0 6.7
Avg. feed cons./bird Pounds 38.7 39.1 38.3
coming tolerant to Polybor 3, as production and feed consumption increased near the end of the test. An effort was made to obtain fertile eggs for fertility trials by stud matings. However, this was unsuccessful as the males appeared to be very intolerant to Polybor 3 and soon became impotent. The combs and wattles of the males appeared to turn leathery and dry, weight loss was common, and several died within a few weeks on the experimental ration. SUMMARY
Polybor 3 was fed to caged hybrid Leghorns for a period of 147 days at 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.50 percent of the ration. Although there were some differences in production between treatments, an analysis of variance of this data failed to show significant differences. This was due, perhaps, to the small numbers involved. Significant differences in egg weights and body weight changes were apparent within the two high level Polybor 3 groups. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are indebted to Dr. W. A. Johnson for assistance with the statistical Observable Side Effects of Feeding Polyanalyses of this study. They also wish to bor 3 to Laying Hens. Certain hens went thank the Pacific Coast Borax Company, into complete molt almost immediately for supplying the Polybor 3 that was used upon feeding the material. At the higher in this study. levels of Polybor 3 feed consumption was almost immediately affected. Some inREFERENCES dividuals consumed just enough feed to Burns, E. C , B. A. Tower, F. L. Bonner and H. C. keep themselves alive. However, there Austin, 1959. Feeding Polybor 3 for fly control were indications that certain hens were beunder caged layers. J. Econ. Ent. 52: 446-448.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
larvae, production was reduced. These results are in agreement with results reported by Goodman (1958) and Sherwood (1959). Analyses of variance of the data in Table 1, however, failed to show significant differences in production between the different groups. This was probably due to the small number of birds involved. Significant differences in egg weights and in body weight changes were apparent between the two groups receiving the high levels of Polybor 3 and the other four groups. Little differences were noted in feed consumption of the three low level Polybor 3 groups. However, feed consumption was definitely affected in the two high level Polybor 3 groups. This also is in agreement with the results reported by Goodman (1958). The feed consumption figures emphasize that, when Polybor 3 is fed at levels consistent with good fly control, feed consumption and body weight decline. The data on feed consumption could not be statistically analyzed, as no individual feed records were kept. No birds died in five of the groups, however, one bird died in the group receiving the highest level of Polybor 3.
Initial Final body wt. body wt.
POLYBOR 3 IN LAYER RATIONS
Goodman, J. T., 1958. Effects of feeding boron to hens to prevent flies. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Progress Report, Series No. 71. Quisenberry, J. H., C. B. Ryan and M. A. Price. 1958. Chemicals in the laying ration as a means of
1193
fly control with particular reference to laying cages. Paper presented at Association of Southern Agricultural Workers. Sherwood, D. H., 1959. Effect of Polybor 3 on egg production. Poultry Sci. 38: 491^92.
A. A. KLOSE, M. F. POOL, D. DE FREMERY, A. A. CAMPBELL AND H. L. HANSON
Western Regional Research Laboratory,1 Albany, Calif. (Received for publication December 28, 1959)
M
ANY modifications of ice-slush chilling have been introduced recently in the poultry industry. These are chiefly rapid continuous methods designed to increase chilling rate and overall efficiency. Each modification raises questions on changes in rate of cooling, rate and amount of water uptake and release, and effect on factors such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. Because normal tenderization in the early post mortem period is a rate process (Klose et ah, 1959; Pool et ah, 1959), and because ultimate tenderness is related to the rate of certain post mortem biochemical reactions (de Fremery and Pool, 1959), it is of both practical and theoretical interest to determine to what extent if any the rate of tenderization is influenced by rapid (mechanically agitated) ice slush chilling systems. Factors that might affect tenderness development would include average temperature of carcass during chilling, rate of temperature drop, physical manipulation of the carcass during 1 A laboratory of the Western Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
chilling, and introduction of water into the tissues. Data presented here are limited to one aspect of rapid, agitated chilling, that is, the effect of agitated (tumbling) chilling with laboratory-scale equipment on rate of tenderization during the short chilling periods involved. To characterize the physical action produced by the tumbling, data have been collected on the uptake and distribution of water in the carcass tissues. Results indicate that the tumbling action in ice slush had no important effect on rate of tenderization during the short chilling periods used. Degree of tenderness was essentially the same as in controls chilled in still ice slush for the same time. The literature contains several excellent reports of the rapid chilling rates that can be achieved with cold liquids (ice slush or brine) moving rapidly over the carcass surfaces (Sweet and Stewart, 1942; Bailey et ah, 1948; Esselen et ah, 1954; and Connolly et ah, 1954). Rates of tenderization during the short (less than one hour) chilling periods were not evaluated, although Bailey, Stewart and Lowe (1948) found no adverse effect on ultimate tenderness of
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
Effect of Laboratory Scale Agitated Chilling of Poultry on Quality
H. MENGE AND R. J. LILLIE REFERENCES
velopment of chick assay. Poultry Sci. 32: 855862. Menge, H., G. F. Combs, Peng-Tung Hsu and M. S. Shorb, 1952. Unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. 1. Studies with chicks using purified diets. Poultry Sci. 31: 237247. Menge, H., and R. J. Lillie, 1955. Unpublished data. Miller, E. C , and C. A. Denton, 1959. Molybdenumsulfate interrelationship in the growing chick. Poultry Sci. 38: 910-916. Moore, P. R., A. Everson, T. D. Luckey, E. McCoy, C. A. Elvehjem and E. B. Hart, 1946. Use of sulfa-suxidine, streptothricin and streptomycin in nutritional studies with the chick. J. Biol. Chem. 165: 437^42. Pappenhagen, A. R., A. C. Wiese and C. F. Peterson, 1953. Development of a chick assay for unknown growth factors. Poultry Sci. 32: 931.
The Performance of Caged Layers Fed Varying Percentages of Borax (Polybor 3) in the Ration B. A. TOWER, E. C. BURNS, H. C. AUSTIN AND F. L. BONNER 1 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Received for publication December 23, 1959)
H
OUSE fly control is one of the greatest problems of the laying cage operator. Heavy infestations of adult house flies (Musca domestica L.) usually cause an increase in dirty, fly-specked eggs which have to be cleaned before marketing. Heavy larvae infestations cause liquefaction of the droppings, thus resulting in increased odors as well as preventing the manure from "coning-up" for easier drying. Under such conditions, some residual insecticide, applied to the droppings at regular intervals, would seem to be indicated. Unfortunately, cases of house fly resistance to the chlorinated hydrocarbon and organic phosphate insecticides have been reported at alarming rates from vari1 All authors are Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station staff members.
ous parts of the world. In addition to the possible development of resistance following repeated application, the insecticides presently used are expensive and fly control by this method is costly. A suggested solution to the fly problem is to continuously feed in the poultry ration some inexpensive inert material that will be passed out in the droppings and act as a larvacide. Studies by Quisenberry et al. (1958), Burns et al. (1959) and Sherwood (1959) indicate that larval control can be attained by continuous feeding of Polybor 3 (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate Na2B80i3 • 4H 2 0) in the ration of caged and floor layers. At the time this work was undertaken, no information was available on the possible effects on egg production, egg weight, body weight and mortality, which might
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
Arscott, G. H., and G. F. Combs, 1955. Unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. 4. Experimental variables which influence the dietary requirements of chicks for these factors. Poultry Sci. 34: 843-850. Branion, H. D., and D. C. Hill, 1953. Fish meal and the response of chicks to antibiotics. Poultry Sci. 32: 151-158. Coates, M. E., M. K. David and S. K. Kon, 1955. The effects of antibiotics on the intestine of the chick. Brit. J. Nutrition, 9: 110. Combs, G. F., G. H. Arscott and H. L. Jones, 1954. Unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. 3. Chick studies involving practicaltype rations. Poultry Sci. 33: 71-79. Lillie, R. J., and H. Menge, 1960. Unpublished data. Lillie, R. J., J. R. Sizemore and H. R. Bird, 1953. Unidentified factors in poultry nutrition. 1. De-
1191
POLYBOR 3 IN LAYER RATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL
Since this experiment was a phase in the work of Burns et al. (1959), the design is the same with the following additions: The station all-mash laying mash was fed ad lib. And each hen's eggs were pedigreed daily and placed in a refrigerator. The eggs were removed from the refrigerator at weekly intervals and weighed individually on a Zenith ounces per dozen scale. Egg weight records were kept for the months of January, February and March 1958. It should be pointed out that the original experiment was designed to test,
under laboratory conditions, the value of Polybor 3 in controlling house fly larvae in droppings under laying cages and to determine if boron is accumulated in eggs and or body tissues. However, the effect of this material on the hen herself was so pronounced it was felt that these effects should be reported. . RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 presents data on the performance under laboratory conditions of hybrid Leghorns when fed different levels of Polybor 3 in the ration for a period of 147 days. There was little difference in egg production between the control group and the groups fed rations containing 0.05 and 0.20 percent Polybor 3. However, production in the group receiving 0.10 percent Polybor 3 was higher than that of any of the other groups. In order to test whether the difference was due to Polybor 3 at this level, a 154-day floor test, involving three groups of 75 birds each, was conducted. Polybor 3 was fed at 0.05 and 0.10 percent while one group was held as a control. As shown in Table 2, there was no indication of differences in egg production, egg weight, body weight or feed consumption. When Polybor 3 was fed at levels high enough to effectively control the house fly
TABLE 1.—Performance of hybrid Leghorns fed varying percentages of Polybor 3 in the ration for a period of 147 days Production Number birds per lot
Treatment
Control 0.05% (Polybor 0.10% (Polybor 0.20% (Polybor 0.30% (Polybor 0.50% (Polybor
3) 3) 3) 3) 3)
4 4 4 4 4 4
At start of expt.
%
67.9 46.4 78.6 71.4 67.9 78.6
At end of expt.
%
41.7 22.2 72.2 44.4 19.4 36.1
Avg. for exptl. period 147 days
%
55.1 53.2 76.1 54.9 44.5 30.3
Egg wt *
oz./doz. 25.2 25.2 26.0 25.3 24.2 23.0
Body wt. Avg. feed change consumption per bird
lbs. 0.07 0.22 0.10 0.33 0.63 0.43
lbs.
t
31.85 32.35 29.60 25.20 20.88
* All eggs laid during the months of January, February and March 1958 were individually weighed, t Feed record not available for this pen through inadvertent error.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
result from continuous feeding of Polybor 3 in the ration. Neither did the literature reveal whether boron was deposited in the egg or body tissues of birds. Since this work was completed, Goodman (1958) and Sherwood (1959) have showed that the feeding of Polybor 3 at levels sufficiently high to control fly larvae lowered egg production. These workers however, did not indicate whether egg weight, body weight or feed consumption were effected. In addition, Goodman (1958) and Burns et al. (1959) have found that boron is deposited in the eggs and body tissues of chickens in varying amounts.
1192
B. A. TOWER, E. C. BURNS, H. C. AUSTIN AND F. L. BONNER
TABLE 2.—The• effects of feeding low levels of Polybor 3 on the performance of floor managed hybrid
Leghorns for a 154-day period Treatment
No. birds
Egg production
Egg weight
Control 0.05% (Polybor 3) 0.10% (Polybor 3)
75 75 75
Percent 54.6 49.5 49.3
Ozs./doz. 25.5 25.3 25.6
Pounds 4.3 4.2 4.6
Pounds 4.5 4.4 4.6
Morta
iitv '
Percent 2.7 4.0 6.7
Avg. feed cons./bird Pounds 38.7 39.1 38.3
coming tolerant to Polybor 3, as production and feed consumption increased near the end of the test. An effort was made to obtain fertile eggs for fertility trials by stud matings. However, this was unsuccessful as the males appeared to be very intolerant to Polybor 3 and soon became impotent. The combs and wattles of the males appeared to turn leathery and dry, weight loss was common, and several died within a few weeks on the experimental ration. SUMMARY
Polybor 3 was fed to caged hybrid Leghorns for a period of 147 days at 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.50 percent of the ration. Although there were some differences in production between treatments, an analysis of variance of this data failed to show significant differences. This was due, perhaps, to the small numbers involved. Significant differences in egg weights and body weight changes were apparent within the two high level Polybor 3 groups. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are indebted to Dr. W. A. Johnson for assistance with the statistical Observable Side Effects of Feeding Polyanalyses of this study. They also wish to bor 3 to Laying Hens. Certain hens went thank the Pacific Coast Borax Company, into complete molt almost immediately for supplying the Polybor 3 that was used upon feeding the material. At the higher in this study. levels of Polybor 3 feed consumption was almost immediately affected. Some inREFERENCES dividuals consumed just enough feed to Burns, E. C , B. A. Tower, F. L. Bonner and H. C. keep themselves alive. However, there Austin, 1959. Feeding Polybor 3 for fly control were indications that certain hens were beunder caged layers. J. Econ. Ent. 52: 446-448.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
larvae, production was reduced. These results are in agreement with results reported by Goodman (1958) and Sherwood (1959). Analyses of variance of the data in Table 1, however, failed to show significant differences in production between the different groups. This was probably due to the small number of birds involved. Significant differences in egg weights and in body weight changes were apparent between the two groups receiving the high levels of Polybor 3 and the other four groups. Little differences were noted in feed consumption of the three low level Polybor 3 groups. However, feed consumption was definitely affected in the two high level Polybor 3 groups. This also is in agreement with the results reported by Goodman (1958). The feed consumption figures emphasize that, when Polybor 3 is fed at levels consistent with good fly control, feed consumption and body weight decline. The data on feed consumption could not be statistically analyzed, as no individual feed records were kept. No birds died in five of the groups, however, one bird died in the group receiving the highest level of Polybor 3.
Initial Final body wt. body wt.
POLYBOR 3 IN LAYER RATIONS
Goodman, J. T., 1958. Effects of feeding boron to hens to prevent flies. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Progress Report, Series No. 71. Quisenberry, J. H., C. B. Ryan and M. A. Price. 1958. Chemicals in the laying ration as a means of
1193
fly control with particular reference to laying cages. Paper presented at Association of Southern Agricultural Workers. Sherwood, D. H., 1959. Effect of Polybor 3 on egg production. Poultry Sci. 38: 491^92.
A. A. KLOSE, M. F. POOL, D. DE FREMERY, A. A. CAMPBELL AND H. L. HANSON
Western Regional Research Laboratory,1 Albany, Calif. (Received for publication December 28, 1959)
M
ANY modifications of ice-slush chilling have been introduced recently in the poultry industry. These are chiefly rapid continuous methods designed to increase chilling rate and overall efficiency. Each modification raises questions on changes in rate of cooling, rate and amount of water uptake and release, and effect on factors such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. Because normal tenderization in the early post mortem period is a rate process (Klose et ah, 1959; Pool et ah, 1959), and because ultimate tenderness is related to the rate of certain post mortem biochemical reactions (de Fremery and Pool, 1959), it is of both practical and theoretical interest to determine to what extent if any the rate of tenderization is influenced by rapid (mechanically agitated) ice slush chilling systems. Factors that might affect tenderness development would include average temperature of carcass during chilling, rate of temperature drop, physical manipulation of the carcass during 1 A laboratory of the Western Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
chilling, and introduction of water into the tissues. Data presented here are limited to one aspect of rapid, agitated chilling, that is, the effect of agitated (tumbling) chilling with laboratory-scale equipment on rate of tenderization during the short chilling periods involved. To characterize the physical action produced by the tumbling, data have been collected on the uptake and distribution of water in the carcass tissues. Results indicate that the tumbling action in ice slush had no important effect on rate of tenderization during the short chilling periods used. Degree of tenderness was essentially the same as in controls chilled in still ice slush for the same time. The literature contains several excellent reports of the rapid chilling rates that can be achieved with cold liquids (ice slush or brine) moving rapidly over the carcass surfaces (Sweet and Stewart, 1942; Bailey et ah, 1948; Esselen et ah, 1954; and Connolly et ah, 1954). Rates of tenderization during the short (less than one hour) chilling periods were not evaluated, although Bailey, Stewart and Lowe (1948) found no adverse effect on ultimate tenderness of
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 24, 2015
Effect of Laboratory Scale Agitated Chilling of Poultry on Quality