Acid-base balance, plasma electrolytes and production performance of adult turkey hens under conditions of increasing ambient temperature

Stress and acid-base balance in chickens

Two trials were conducted to study the effects of continuous infusion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on acid-base balance in broiler chickens. Osmotic pumps delivered 8 IU of ACTH in saline/kg of BW/d for 7 d or the same saline volume as used in ACTH at 1 microL/h for 7 d. Blood samples were taken on d 0 (baseline values) and on d 4, 7, and 14 after onset of the infusions. The ACTH treatment increased the hematocrit, partial pressure of CO2, anion gap, corticosterone, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, the blood concentrations of hemoglobin and HCO3-, and reduced the partial pressure of O2, plasma concentrations of Na+, K+, and Cl-. Blood pH values and plasma concentrations of Ca2+ were unaffected by ACTH treatment. The ACTH infusion also resulted in a significant increase in plasma glucose, cholesterone, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. There were no differences in any of the blood constituents measured from control groups. Results indicate that infusion of ACTH resulted in changes in plasma acid-base status along with changes in other blood metabolic variables. However, the ACTH treatment did not prevent homeostatic regulation of acid-base balance, as indicated by constant blood pH. There was, however, an increased need for O2 to support gluconeogenic energy production; the birds responded by increased erythropoiesis. This adaptive response provided greater numbers of erythrocytes and thus a higher amount of circulating hemoglobin to deliver O2 for metabolism.

Developmental dynamics of some blood biochemical parameters in the growing turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Blood serum clinical biochemical parameters of fasted BUT Big 8 male turkeys were determined at the ages of 3 days, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks, for a follow-up of the developmental changes of some serum metabolites, enzymes and ions. The serum protein content (total protein, albumin, globulin) increased with age, indicating also the moulting-associated metabolic changes in the age interval from the 8th to the 12th weeks. Creatinine was shown to have a peak at 3 days of age (role of muscle activity in thermogenesis), while urate concentration sensitively reflected the dietary protein amount. Serum triglycerides peaked at the time of yolk catabolism, while cholesterol was shown to indicate the moulting, as was serum malondialdehyde. Serum sodium content increased throughout the study. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities increased along the ontogeny, while alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in parallel with the growth. Serum creatine kinase activity showed an over one-magnitude increase. General metabolic and enzymatic alterations were characteristic and applicable for the description of the ontogenetic development of a precocial (post-hatch triglyceride peak), large bodied, meat-type (lactate dehydrogenase, continuously increasing creatine kinase) bird species.

Effects of ambient temperature, arginine-to-lysine ratio, and electrolyte balance on performance, carcass, and blood parameters in commercial male turkeys

The effects of ambient temperature (T; 15 C vs. 30 C from 6 wk of age onwards), dietary Arg:Lys ratio (Arg:Lys ratio; 1.00 vs. 1.25), dietary electrolyte balance (DEB: 164 vs. 254 meq/kg), and their interactions on growth performance and carcass yields of male turkeys were studied. The experiment was designed as a split plot, including T x DEB as the main plot and Arg:Lys ratio as the sub-plot, with 24 pens containing 35 male turkeys each. Feed consumption, BW gain, mortality, and processing yields were measured. Temperature had a clear effect on performance during all age periods. Feed intake was significantly lower for the high T group compared with the low T group (322.7 vs. 432.3 g/bird per day; P < 0.001). Consequently, BW gain during the experimental period (28 to 140 d of age) was significantly lower for the high T group compared with the low T group (14.54 vs. 18.74 kg; P < 0.001). Feed:gain during the period of 28 to 140 d of age was significantly lower for the high T group compared with the low T group (2.51 vs. 2.61; P < 0.001). The high dietary Arg:Lys ratio increased feed intake significantly until 56 d of age (200.6 vs. 197.6; P < or = 0.034). A high Arg:Lys ratio resulted in significantly higher BW gain until 98 d of age (10.03 vs. 9.84 kg; P < or = 0.024). The Arg:Lys ratio did not affect feed:gain throughout the experiment. Dietary electrolyte balance did not affect performance parameters. No consistent two- or three-way interactions were observed. Processing yields were only affected significantly by T, and not by Arg:Lys ratio or DEB main effects. High T resulted in lower cold carcass (73.2 vs. 74.9%) and breast meat yields (33.5 vs. 36.0%), and higher thigh (18.9 vs. 18.1%), drumstick (14.5 vs. 13.2%), and wing yields (11.7 vs. 10.6%) compared with low T. We concluded that growth performance is compromised by higher T, and altering the Arg:Lys ratio or DEB does not alleviate this impaired performance. Dietary Arg levels seem to be important when dietary Lys is marginal relative to the requirement.

Laying hen responses to acute heat stress and carbon dioxide supplementation: II. Changes in plasma enzymes, metabolites and electrolytes

Exposure of laying hens to an acute heat stress period (38 degrees C) produced a decrease (P < or = 0.05) in blood plasma magnesium compared with pre-heat stress (23 degrees C) levels. Blood plasma glucose, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, uric acid and creatinine were not changed (P > or = 0.05) by exposure to 38 degrees C compared with the first 23 degrees C exposure. Inorganic phosphorus, calcium, potassium and sodium levels were not affected by acute heat-stress exposure or carbon dioxide addition. These results suggest that acute heat stress had no dramatic effect on plasma enzymes, metabolites and electrolytes of laying hens.

Effects of heat stress on Na+,K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-activated ATPase, and Na(+)-ATPase activities of broiler chickens vital organs

Na+,K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-activated ATPase, and Na(+)-ATPase activities of brain, heart, kidney, and small and large intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress (41 degrees C, 65% relative humidity for 6 h) and thermoneutral (25 degrees C, 65% relative humidity) conditions were determined. Brain and kidneys were found to have significantly higher Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities than those of heart and intestinal mucosa. Mg(2+)-activated ATPase and Na(+)-ATPase activities in the intestinal mucosa were higher than those of brain, kidneys, and heart under thermoneutral conditions. While there was a significant inhibition of total ATPase, Na+,K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-activated ATPase, and Na(+)-ATPase activity of small and large intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress, the inhibitory effect was limited to total ATPase and Na+,K(+)-ATPase enzymes in kidneys. Heat stress produced a significant increase only in Mg(2+)-activated ATPase activity of the heart, without a remarkable change in all forms of ATPase activity in the brain. Heat stress significantly decreased the ratio of Na+,K(+)-ATPase to Mg(2+)-ATPase in the heart, kidneys, and small and large intestinal mucosa. The percentage of Na(+)-ATPase in Na+,K(+)-ATPase of brain, heart, and kidneys did not significantly change during heat stress, but the ratio in small and large intestinal mucosa increased significantly during heat stress. The severe disturbances in both serum electrolytes and acid-base balance observed in previous heat stress studies could partly be mediated by direct or indirect effects of heat stress on Na+,K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-activated ATPase, and Na(+)-ATPase activities of kidneys, and small and large intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens.

Magnesium-aspartate-hydrochloride reduces weight loss in heat-stressed laying hens

Two separate experiments were conducted to determine the ability of magnesium aspartate hydrochloride (Mg-Asp-HCl) to antagonize the effects of thermal stress in laying hens. In both experiments, hens were exposed to either a cyclic ambient temperature of 27 C to 35 C (hyperthermic group) or 23 C (control group) for 7 days. In Experiment 1, hens were given a single injection of either saline, 40 mg, or 80 mg Mg-Asp-HCl. Experiment 2 hens received a single injection of saline, 40 mg Mg-Asp-HCl, or twice daily injection of 40 mg Mg-Asp-HCl. In both experiments, heat-stressed hens had elevated body temperature and reduced body weight, feed consumption, and circulating mean Mg concentrations. Hyperthermic hens also had reduced egg weights in Experiment 1. A single daily injection of 40 mg of Mg-Asp-HCl significantly reduced body weight loss in heat stressed hens by 41 and 51%, in Experiment 1 and 2, respectively, when compared with heat-stressed hens not receiving Mg-Asp-HCl (controls). The Mg-Asp-HCl treatment did not affect overall feed intake, egg production, or body temperature in either experiment. The highest dose of Mg-Asp-HCl (80 mg) elevated circulating magnesium concentrations. A single daily injection of 80 mg of Mg-Asp-HCl or twice daily injections of 40 mg Mg-Asp-HCl did not provide any additional benefit when compared with a single daily dose of 40 mg. The antistress effects of Mg-Asp-HCl are apparent in these experiments as evidenced by the increased body weight of heat-stressed hens. Use of this compound may prove to be beneficial in maintaining the performance characteristics of poultry exposed to elevated ambient temperature.

High chronic ambient temperature stress effects on broiler acid-base balance and their response to supplemental ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium carbonate

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of heat stress on acid-base status and the birds' response to supplemental KCl and KCO3. The corn-soybean meal fish-meal basal ration (.73% K+) contained more K+ and Cl- than is recommended by the National Academy of Sciences for chicks reared under near optimal conditions (24 C and 55% relative humidity). Chicks reared under continuous thermostress (35 C, 70% relative humidity) exhibited panting phase blood alkalosis (pH of 7.46). Supplementing drinking water with .2% NH4Cl reduced panting phase blood pH to normal values and increased live weight gain (23%) and feed efficiency (7.7%). Supplementing drinking water with .15% KCl also increased (P less than .05) live weight gain (46%) and feed efficiency (15.4%) but did not affect (P less than .46) blood pH. A significant (P less than .01) interaction existed between NH4Cl and KCl for body weight gain. Adding .2% NH4Cl to broiler drinking water reduced the level of KCl required in drinking water to optimize weight gain to .1% KCl. Potassium chloride alone, or with NH4Cl, can alleviate some consequences of heat stress, but supplementing drinking water with a high level of NH4Cl (.5%) decreased (P less than .05) blood pH to acidotic levels and reduced body weight gain. Potassium chloride supplementation exacerbated NH4Cl toxicity. Potassium carbonate reduced (P less than .05) body weight gain indicating that the response may not be attributed to K+ alone. Beneficial effects of NH4Cl therapy for heat stressed broilers are speculative.

Chronic heat stress and respiratory alkalosis: occurrence and treatment in broiler chicks

The occurrence of respiratory alkalosis and potential benefit derived from treatment were examined in thermostressed 4-week-old broiler chicks. Blood pH was greater (P less than .05) in heat-stressed (32 C) panting birds (7.395) than either nonpanting (7.28) or birds raised at 24 C (7.28). Acute thermostress, obtained by elevating ambient temperature from 32 to 41 C over a 20-min period further elevated (P less than .05) blood pH to 7.521. Chronic heat-stressed broiler chicks suffer from intermittent respiratory alkalosis during panting; with acute heat stress, chicks pant continuously and suffer from alkalosis. Including .5% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in the diet of birds subjected to chronic heat stress enhanced body weight gain by 9% even though it tended (P less than .10) to increase blood pH in nonpanting birds. Adding .3 or 1% ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) to diets decreased blood pH (P less than .01) to 7.194 and increased (P less than .05) body weight gains by 9.5 and 25%, respectively. Effects appeared linear with NH4Cl dose to 1% NH4Cl, but 3% NH4Cl elevated weight gains by only 8% and precipitated blood acidosis (pH 7.09) in nonpanting birds. Supplementing the 1% NH4Cl diet with .5% NaHCO3 increased weight gains an additional 9%. Manipulating sodium: chloride ratios by addition of calcium chloride increased body weight gain 8% and slightly reduced severity of alkalosis. Data indicate that blood alkalosis limits growth rate of broiler chicks reared under chronic thermostress and that the respiratory alkalosis and weight gain depressions attributed to thermostress can be partially alleviated dietarily.

Thermal panting and respiratory alkalosis in the laying hen

1. Changes in respiratory rate (f), rectal temperature (Tr) and blood acid-base values were measured in laying hens exposed to ambient temperatures (Ta) of 32, 35, 38 or 41 degrees C. 2. At Ta 32 degrees C there was no panting. At Ta 35 degrees C panting occurred without any increase in Tr but there was a slight alkalosis (pH 7.55). 3. At Ta 38 degrees C Tr increased and panting was accompanied by moderate alkalosis (pH 7.58). 4. At Ta 41 degrees C Tr increased considerably and severe alkalosis developed (pH 7.65). 5. From the relation between Tr, f and pH it is concluded that some degree of alkalosis is a normal response to panting in the laying hen.

Comparison of brachial venous and mixed blood gas tensions and pH values in the chicken

Differences in blood gas tensions and pH between brachial venous blood (BVB) and mixed venous blood obtained from the pulmonary artery (PAB) were compared in anesthetized male White Leghorn chickens to determine if BVB as obtained in routine venipuncture cold be used to estimate mixed venous values of pO2, pCO2, and pH. When paired samples were compared over the range of 25 to 68 mm Hg, brachial pO2 was 5.7 mm Hg higher (P less than .001) than PAB pO2. Brachial pCO2 was 4.25 mm Hg higher (P less than .001) than PAB pCO2 over the range of 17 to 56 mm Hg. Brachial pH was .066 units lower (p less than .001) than comparable values for PAB over the range of 7.2-7.6 pH units. Regression equations are given for estimating mixed venous blood gas tensions and pH values from blood samples taken from the brachial vein.