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Kamal MAM, Atef M, Khalf MA, Ahmed ZAM. Newcastle viral disease causation web correlations with laying hen productivity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16021. [PMID: 38992055 PMCID: PMC11239807 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65854-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental conditions profoundly impact the health, welfare, and productivity of laying hens in commercial poultry farming. We investigated the association between microclimate variations, production indices, and histopathological responses to accidental Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection within a controlled closed-house system. The study was conducted over seven months in a laying hen facility in Cairo, Egypt. Microclimate measurements included temperature, relative humidity (RH%), air velocity (AV), and the temperature humidity index (THI) that were obtained from specific locations on the front and back sides of the facility. Productivity indices, including the egg production percentage (EPP), egg weight (EW), average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, were assessed monthly. During an NDV outbreak, humoral immune responses, gross pathology, and histopathological changes were evaluated. The results demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) variations in EPP and EW between the front and back sides except in April and May. AV had a significant (p = 0.006) positive effect (Beta = 0.346) on EW on the front side. On the back side, AV had a significant (p = 0.001) positive effect (Beta = 0.474) on EW, while it negatively influenced (p = 0.027) EPP (Beta = - 0.281). However, temperature, RH%, and THI had no impact and could not serve as predictors for EPP or EW on either farm side. The humoral immune response to NDV was consistent across microclimates, highlighting the resilience of hens. Histopathological examination revealed characteristic NDV-associated lesions, with no significant differences between the microclimates. This study underscores the significance of optimizing microclimate conditions to enhance laying performance by providing tailored environmental management strategies based on seasonal variations, ensuring consistent airflow, particularly near cooling pads and exhaust fans, and reinforcing the importance of biosecurity measures under field challenges with continuous monitoring and adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohamed Atef
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211, Egypt
| | - M A Khalf
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211, Egypt
| | - Zakia A M Ahmed
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211, Egypt
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Bello A, Mochel JP, Jajor P, Bobrek K, Świtała M, Poźniak B. Population Pharmacokinetics and Absolute Oral Bioavailability of Lasalocid after Single Intravenous and Intracrop Administration in Laying Hens. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:13348-13359. [PMID: 38829852 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Lasalocid sodium is a polyether carboxylic ionophore agent authorized by the EU for use as a coccidiostat in broilers, turkeys, and pullets up to 16 weeks of age, except for laying hens. However, laying hens are the most common nontarget species exposed to lasalocid sodium, mainly due to cross-contamination from feed mills. This exposure may result in potential drug residue deposition in eggs, which could potentially expose consumers to the drug. The breeds commonly used for commercial egg production in Poland are Isa Brown and Green-legged Partridge hens, which have been found to significantly differ in egg-laying performance. This variability may also affect the pharmacokinetics of lasalocid. Data on lasalocid plasma pharmacokinetics in laying hens are lacking. In this study, we aimed to determine typical population pharmacokinetic parameters, absolute oral bioavailability, and how breed may influence the pharmacokinetics of lasalocid. Twenty-layer hens of the two breeds were used in this study. Lasalocid was administered orally at a single dose of either 1 mg or 5 mg/kg body weight or intravenously at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight, in a crossover design with a three-week washout period between study periods. Blood samples were collected for 72 h, and lasalocid concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using nonlinear mixed effects modeling. Standard numerical and graphical criteria were used to select the best model, and a stepwise covariate modeling approach was used to determine any influencing factors. The best model was a three-compartment mammillary model with first-order absorption, transit compartments, and linear elimination. The estimated absolute oral bioavailability was low (36%). It was found that breed significantly influenced not only absorption but also the elimination of lasalocid. This study revealed that lasalocid absorption and elimination varied between the two breeds. This variability in pharmacokinetics may result in breed-related differences in drug residue accumulation in eggs, and ultimately, the risk associated with consumer exposure to drug residues may also vary.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bello
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - J P Mochel
- Department of Pathology, Precision One Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - P Jajor
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - K Bobrek
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Bird and Exotic Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław 50-375, Poland
| | - M Świtała
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - B Poźniak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
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Leigh RJ, Corrigan A, Murphy RA, Taylor-Pickard J, Moran CA, Walsh F. Yeast mannan rich fraction positively influences microbiome uniformity, productivity associated taxa, and lay performance. Anim Microbiome 2024; 6:9. [PMID: 38438939 PMCID: PMC10913240 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-024-00295-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternatives to antibiotic as growth promoters in agriculture, such as supplemental prebiotics, are required to maintain healthy and high performing animals without directly contributing to antimicrobial resistance bioburden. While the gut microbiota of broiler hens has been well established and successfully correlated to performance, to our knowledge, a study has yet to be completed on the effect of prebiotic supplementation on correlating the mature laying hen productivity and microbiota. This study focused on establishing the impact of a yeast derived prebiotic, mannan rich fraction (MRF), on the cecal microbiota of late laying hens. This study benefitted from large sample sizes so intra- and intergroup variation effects could be statistically accounted for. RESULTS Taxonomic richness was significantly greater at all taxonomic ranks and taxonomic evenness was significantly lower for all taxonomic ranks in MRF-supplemented birds (P < 0.005). Use of principal coordinate analyses and principal component analyses found significant variation between treatment groups. When assessed for compositional uniformity (an indicator of flock health), microbiota in MRF-supplemented birds was more uniform than control birds at the species level. From a food safety and animal welfare perspective, Campylobacter jejuni was significantly lower in abundance in MRF-supplemented birds. In this study, species associated with high weight gain (an anticorrelator of performance in laying hens) were significantly lower in abundance in laying hens while health-correlated butyrate and propionate producing species were significantly greater in abundance in MRF-supplemented birds. CONCLUSIONS The use of prebiotics may be a key factor in controlling the microbiota balance limiting agri-food chain pathogen persistence and in promoting uniformity. In previous studies, increased α- and β-diversity indices were determinants of pathogen mitigation and performance. MRF-supplemented birds in this study established greater α- and β-diversity indices in post-peak laying hens, greater compositional uniformity across samples, a lower pathogenic bioburden and a greater abundance of correlators of performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Leigh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
| | | | | | | | - Colm A Moran
- Alltech SARL, Rue Charles Amand, 14500, Vire, France
| | - Fiona Walsh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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Anene DO, Akter Y, Groves PJ, Horadagoda N, Liu SY, Moss A, Hutchison C, O'Shea CJ. Association of feed efficiency with organ characteristics and fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome in laying hens. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5872. [PMID: 37041185 PMCID: PMC10090132 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor feed efficiency (FE) in hens impacts body weight (BW) and may reflect suboptimal health. Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS) is mostly observed in laying hens and affects egg production and hen performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of FE and BW with organ characteristics, liver composition and incidence of FLHS of 150 individually housed ISA Brown hens ranked on the basis of feed conversion ratio (FCR) attained from early lay. At 45 weeks, 10 birds per FE group (HFE-High feed efficient; MFE-medium feed efficient; LFE-low feed efficient) were randomly selected and euthanized. Hen BW was positively associated with feed intake and FCR. The HFE hens had a lower abdominal fat pad and liver weight compared to LFE hens. FLHS lesion score was higher (worse) in the LFE than HFE hen group and was moderately positively associated with BW and abdominal fat pad, but strongly positively associated with liver weight. Liver pathology of LFE hens showed hepatocytes with abnormal retention of lipids causing distended cytoplasmic vacuoles compared to the HFE hens. Hens which exhibited poorer FE in early lay had heavier abdominal fat pads, heavier, fatter livers and were more prone to FLHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Onyinye Anene
- School of Biosciences, Department of Animal Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE512RD, UK
| | - Yeasmin Akter
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - Peter John Groves
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, Poultry Research Foundation, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - Neil Horadagoda
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - Sonia Yun Liu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - Amy Moss
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 82351, Australia
| | - Christine Hutchison
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
| | - Cormac John O'Shea
- School of Biosciences, Department of Animal Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE512RD, UK.
- Department of Bioveterinary and Microbial Sciences, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest-Athlone, Co Westmeath, N37 HD68, Ireland.
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Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for selection within Ugandan indigenous chickens. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023; 55:100. [PMID: 36840813 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03513-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The high genetic variation within indigenous chickens (IC) which provides an opportunity to select superior stock for sustainable production and conservation is under-exploited. This study is aimed at estimating heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients of productive and reproductive traits of Ugandan IC as a basis for selection. Data on traits were collected across two consecutive generations, weight (W) and shank length (SL) of chicks at hatching (HW) as well as at 2 (W2; SL2), 4 (W4; SL4), 6 (W6; SL6), 8 (W8; SL8), and 12 (W12; SL12) weeks of growth. Body weights at onset of lay (WFE) were also measured. In addition, egg number (EN-60), egg weight (EW), clutch number (CLN-60), and clutch size (CLS-60) over a period of 60 days were recorded. Genetic parameters were estimated using the univariate animal model analysis with restricted maximum likelihood procedure using the variability package of R, version 4.1.1. Heritability of traits ranged from 0.30 and 0.72 except SL4 (0.02), SL12 (0.14), and EN-60 (0.17). The traits EN-60 and W4 were negatively phenotypically correlated (- 0.49). Body weight at first egg was highly genetically correlated (0.99) with SL8. Egg number was significantly, negatively, and genetically correlated (- 0.96) with SL12. In conclusion, shank length is a potential phenotypic marker when selecting for live weight at onset of lay and egg yield. The shank length could, therefore, permit selection of superior chickens at an early age.
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Clarkson JM, Paraskevopoulou A, Martin JE. A decade on: where is the UK poultry industry for emergency on-farm killing? Poult Sci 2023; 102:102604. [PMID: 36958061 PMCID: PMC10041559 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions of poultry are farmed intensively every year across the United Kingdom (UK) to produce both meat and eggs. There are inevitable situations that require birds to be emergency killed on farm to alleviate pain and suffering. In Europe and the UK, emergency methods are regulated by the European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 and The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (England 2015; Scotland 2012; Wales and Northern Ireland 2014). Cervical dislocation has been reported to be the most widely used method prior to these legislative changes which took place from 1 January 2013. Based on limited scientific evidence and concern for bird welfare, these legislative changes incorporated restrictions based on bird weight for both manual (≤3 kg) and mechanical (≤5 kg) cervical dislocation, and introduced an upper limit in the number of applications for manual cervical dislocation (up to 70 birds per person per day). Furthermore, it removed methods which showed evidence of crushing injury to the neck. However, since legal reform new scientific evidence surrounding the welfare consequences of cervical dislocation and the development of novel methods for killing poultry in small numbers on farm have become available. Whether the UK poultry industry have adopted these novel methods, and whether legislative reform resulted in a change in the use of cervical dislocation in the UK remains unknown. Responses from 215 respondents working across the UK poultry industry were obtained. Despite legal reform, manual cervical dislocation remains the most prevalent method used across the UK for killing poultry on farm (used by 100% of farms) and remains the preferred method amongst respondents (81.9%). The use of alternative methods such as Livetec Nex® and captive bolt guns were available to less than half of individuals and were not frequently employed for broilers and laying hens. Our data suggests there is a lack of a clear alternative to manual cervical dislocation for individuals working with larger species and a lack of gold standard methodology. This risks bird welfare at killing and contributes to inconsistency across the industry. We suggest providing stakeholders with practical alternatives prior to imposing legislative changes and effective knowledge transfer between the scientific community and stakeholders to promote positive change and protect bird welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine M Clarkson
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; School for Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Paraskevopoulou
- School for Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica E Martin
- School for Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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Vakhrameev AB, Narushin VG, Larkina TA, Barkova OY, Peglivanyan GK, Dysin AP, Dementieva NV, Makarova AV, Shcherbakov YS, Pozovnikova MV, Bondarenko YV, Griffin DK, Romanov MN. Selection-driven chicken phenome and phenomenon of pectoral angle variation across different chicken phenotypes. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Hens That Exhibit Poorer Feed Efficiency Produce Eggs with Lower Albumen Quality and Are Prone to Being Overweight. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102986. [PMID: 34680005 PMCID: PMC8533006 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The contemporary hybrid layer is an efficient producer of eggs, which is a source of high-quality nutrients. However, there is a lack of scientific knowledge on how feed efficiency (FE), an important measure of hen productivity, differs between individual hens during laying life and its association with other hen performance and egg quality traits. This study sought to investigate the production traits, egg composition and quality of laying hens in mid-lay when ranked based on FE in early-lay. The results showed that feed to egg conversion ratios (FCR) exhibited in early-lay were maintained until at least 40 weeks, with feed intake being the major driver of the difference in FE, not the mass of the egg. Further, hen and egg quality traits are associated during mid-lay, with high feed efficient hens having a lower body weight but producing eggs whose albumen has a higher height, Haugh unit and amino acid concentration. These results may provide important information to poultry breeders and egg producers towards improving the economics of egg production and generally improve management decision making, which is usually made based on accepting the expected average performance of a cohort of animals. Abstract Feed efficiency (FE) is an important measure of productivity in the layer industry; however, little is known about how FE differs between individual hens during the egg-laying cycle and the implications for egg quality parameters. Individual 25-week-old ISA Brown hens were observed for 42 days, ranked into three FE groups (n = 48 per High (HFE), Medium (MFE) and Low (LFE) FE groups and then monitored later in the laying cycle from 35–40 weeks. The groups exhibited different feed to egg conversion ratios (p < 0.001) from 35–40 weeks. Average daily feed intake and body weight were highest (p < 0.001) in the LFE group compared to the MFE and HFE groups, while albumen height, Haugh unit and amino acid concentrations of the albumen were significantly higher in the HFE groups compared to the LFE cohort (p < 0.001). This study concludes that FE status established in early lay is a stable variable until at least 40 weeks of age, and overweight, mid-laying hens that had poor FE produced inferior egg albumen quality measurements and composition. The distinct traits of the highly efficient hens and the poor feed efficient hens may provide important information to improving productivity in egg production.
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