Search

We examined the weight distribution of skeletal muscles of the red jungle fowl, then compared these values with those of domesticated populations to determine how muscle distribution has changed by selecting breeding. Sonia, Fayoumi, and Rhode Island Red were selected for comparison from livestock breeds, while Japanese Shamo and Thai fighting cocks were selected from cockfighting groups. Principal component analysis was applied using body size-free data. The mass distribution of muscles clearly differed between the wild, livestock, and cockfighting groups, demonstrating that muscle distribution has changed after selecting breeding, coupled with functional demands of each group. The red jungle fowl, which has the ability to fly, could be clearly distinguished from the flightless domesticated populations due to differences in flight pectoral muscle size. The cervical muscles in the wild population were smaller than in the domesticated groups; these do not contribute to flight. The gluteal muscles were larger in the fighting cock group, functionally coupled to their traditionally preferred upright posture. Wild bird populations typically exhibit reduced weight of their hind limbs, associated with flight, but as the red jungle fowl displays largely terrestrial behavior, these muscles are similar in arrangement and relative size to those of the livestock groups. We showed that the mass distribution pattern of skeletal muscles expresses selecting breeding strategy and clearly reflects the specific traits for each group.

BACKGROUND: Egyptian goose breast meat has been found to be very tough compared to the meat of other well-known fowl species. In attempting to clarify the toughness of the meat, the physical and biochemical changes during post-mortem conditioning (14 days) was investigated. RESULTS: Although there was increased cathepsin (B, B & L and H) activity, together with a decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in myofibrillar fragmentation lengths (32-25 μm) with conditioning, no change (decline) in shear force values was observed. The higher (P ≤ 0.05) shear force of the male breast portions may be linked to the higher (P ≤ 0.05) concentrations of total and insoluble collagen. CONCLUSIONS: No significant change (decline) in shear force values was observed. Conditioning of Egyptian goose meat as a means of improving the overall toughness cannot therefore not be proposed. The higher shear force and lower sensory tenderness of the male breast portions, as previously observed, may be linked to higher concentrations of total and insoluble collagen.

Most CLA chicken feeding trials used cis,trans (c,t) and trans,cis (t,c) CLA isomers to produce CLA-rich eggs, while reports of trans,trans (t,t) CLA enrichment in egg yolks are limited. The CLA yolk fatty acid profile changes and the 10-12 days of feeding needed for maximum CLA are well documented, but there is no information describing CLA accumulation during initial feed administration. In addition, no information on CLA accumulation rates in different hen strains is available. The aim of this study was to determine a mathematical model that described yolk CLA accumulation and depletion in three hen strains by using t,t CLA-rich soybean oil produced by photoisomerization. Diets of 30-week Leghorns, broilers, and jungle fowl were supplemented with 15% CLA-rich soy oil for 16 days, and eggs were collected for 32 days. Yolk fatty acid profiles were measured by GC-FID. CLA accumulation and depletion was modeled by both quadratic and piecewise regression analysis. A strong quadratic model was proposed, but it was not as effective as piecewise regression in describing CLA accumulation and depletion. Broiler hen eggs contained the greatest concentration of CLA at 3.2 mol/100 g egg yolk, then jungle fowl at 2.9 mol CLA, and Leghorns at 2.3 mol CLA. The t,t CLA isomer levels remained at 55% of total yolk CLA during CLA feeding. However, t-10,c-12 (t,c) CLA concentration increased slightly during CLA accumulation and was significantly greater than c-9,t-11 CLA. Jungle fowl had the smallest increase in yolk saturated fat with CLA yolk accumulation.

BACKGROUND A pilot-scale production was developed to produce oligopeptide powder from black-bone silky fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson) muscle (BSFP) by two-step enzymatic hydrolysis and multistage separation. The resultant BSFP was assessed for antioxidant activities against four free radicals (hydroxyl, 1,1-dipheny-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and peroxyl) and against the peroxidation of linoleic acid in a lipid peroxidation model system. After separation by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), five major fractions of BSFP were tested for DPPH radical scavenging activity and subjected to mass spectrometry to identify the active peptides. RESULTS BSFP showed potential antioxidant activity in four assay systems. Three RP-HPLC fractions produced higher antioxidant effect than BSFP, with Fraction 4 showing the strongest activity. A total of 18 peptides were identified, and two peptides – Leu-Trp-Arg and Asn-Met – had strong scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 2.28 ± 0.05 and 4.65 ± 0.09 mg mL−1, respectively. Asn-Met is a novel antioxidative peptide that has not been previously reported. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the pilot-scale production of BSFP was a practical way to produce peptides with high value and potential antioxidant activity. BSFP and its antioxidative peptides can be a source of natural antioxidant and used as a food additive. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Contents This study was conducted to explore the influencing factors of ova in vitro fertilization (IVF) and transfer of the fertilized ova into the oviduct of recipient hens. The efficiency of fertilization was compared using three aspects: (i) the different time of ova collection and transfer, (ii) egg-laying period of recipient hen; and (iii) semen volume. The following results are observed: 72%, 40% and 0% of ova were found in ovarian sac in 30∼40 min, 50∼60 min and more than 90 min post-oviposition, respectively; 20%, 18%, 14% and 5.8% of ova were fertilized with 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 ml semen, respectively; and 33% and 100% of healthy chickens were hatched from fertile ova with 0.1 and 0.5 ml of semen, respectively. All oocytes obtained from ovary and mid-oviduct were unfertilized. Embryos were transferred into recipient hens 30 min ± 10 min post-oviposition, and 70% of shelled eggs were produced. There were no eggs produced in the other transfer times. This demonstrated that live chicken can be obtained by IVF of ova collected shortly after oviposition. It was important that the ovum was transferred into the oviduct infundibulum of recipient hens immediately or shortly after oviposition.

Hen housing (cage or cage-free) did not impact overall abundances of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago) (Acari: Macronyssidae), or chicken body lice, Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae). Cage-free hens received a dustbox with sand plus diatomaceous earth (DE), kaolin clay or sulphur. Weekly use varied from none to 100% of hens; 73% of hens used the dustbox at least once. Ectoparasite populations on dustbathing hens (users) were compared with those on non-user cage-free and caged hens. All materials reduced ectoparasites on user hens by 80-100% after 1 week of dustbox use. Diatomaceous earth and kaolin failed to reduce ectoparasites on non-user hens, and ectoparasites on user hens recovered after dustbox removal. A sulphur dustbox eliminated mites from all hens (including non-users) within 2-4 weeks. Residual sulphur controlled mites until the end of the experiment (up to 9 weeks), even after the dustbox was removed. Louse populations on hens using the sulphur dustbox were reduced in 1-2 weeks. Residual sulphur effects were less evident in lice, but the use of a sulphur dustbox by a higher proportion of hens extended louse control to all hens. This is the first experimental study to show that bird dustbathing in naturally and widely available dust materials (particularly kaolin) can suppress ectoparasites and thus the behaviour is probably adaptive.

Focus on the enrichment of eggs and poultry meat with polyunsaturated fatty acids has increased given their important roles in the human health. The inclusion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially n-3 fatty acids, n-3 FA) is achieved by different biological methods. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of inclusion of different oils into the feed on the production performances and fatty acids composition of the meat in Taihe Silky Fowl. A total of 80 fowls were selected at 8 weeks and randomly divided into four groups and fed with basal diet, basal diet + 4% fish oil, basal diet + 4% soybean oil and basal diet + 4% palm oil within 3 weeks respectively. The results showed that: the fowls fed with the diet inclusion of 4% fish oil had higher total gain, average daily gain, the second and the third week average daily gain than those in control group (p< 0.05). Also, inclusion of fish oil could improve the content of C22:5 n-3 and C22:6 n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the meat significantly compared with the other three groups (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, C18:3 n-3 and C18:4 n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were also higher than in the other three groups (p< 0.05 and 0.01). Oils Supplementation could enhance C14:0 and C16:0 (p< 0.05) level, but they did not affect the total saturated fatty acids in the meat. Compared with the control group, fish oil inclusion could lower the C18:2 n-6 level, higher the C18:3 n-6, C22:4 n-6 and C22:5 n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the meat (p < 0.05). Moreover, diets supplied with 4% fish oil reduced the total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids level and enhanced the total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids level in the meat, which resulted in that the ratio of n-3/n-6 was improved, and could meet the need of human body.

The biology of fear is central to animal welfare and has been a major target for selection during domestication. Fear responses were studied in female red junglefowl (RJF), the ancestor of domesticated chickens. A total of 31 females were tested in a ground predator test, an aerial predator test and a tonic immobility (TI) test, in order to assess their level of fearfulness across different situations. Two to six variables from each test were entered into a principal component (PC) analysis, which showed one major fearfulness component (explaining 27% of the variance). Based on the PC scores, four high- and four low-fearful birds were then selected for gene expression analysis. From each of these birds, the midbrain region (including thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary, mesencephalon, pons, nucleus tractus solitarii and medulla oblongata), was collected and global gene expression compared between groups using a 14k chicken cDNA microarray. There were 13 significantly differentially expressed (DE) genes (based on M > 1 and B > 0; FDR-adjusted P < 0.05) between the fearful and non-fearful females. Among the DE genes, we identified the neuroprotein Axin1, two potential DNA/RNA regulating proteins and a retrotransposon transcript situated in a well-studied quantitative trait loci (QTL) region on chromosome 1, known to affect several domestication-related traits. The differentially expressed genes may be part of a possible molecular mechanism controlling fear responses in fowl.

ummary Examination of 250 diseased fowls, 50 fowls slaughtered for meat and 100 apparently healthy fowl showed that only nine diseased (3.6 percent) and two apparently healthy fowls (2.0 percent) were positive for Salmonella. None of the fowls slaughtered for meat yielded Salmonella. A total of 17 Salmonella strains belonging to five serotypes (S. anatum, S. typhimurium, S. infantis, S. virchow and S. bareilly) were isolated. The Public Health significance of some of these serotypes is discussed. Zusammenfassung Salmonelleninfektionen beim Hausgeflugel in Punjab Nach bakteriologischer Untersuchung von 250 kranken Tieren, 50 Schlachttieren und 100 gesunden Tieren, konnte nur bei 9 kranken Tieren (3,6%) und 2 gesunden Tieren (2, 0%) Salmonellen nachgewiesen werden. Die insgesamt isolierten 17 Salmonella-Stamme gehorten folgenden 5 Serotypen an: S. anatum, S. typhimurium, S. infantis, S. virchow und S. bareilly. Die Bedeutung der Serotypen im Hinblick auf die offentliche Gesundheit wird diskutiert.

Zusammenfassung Nach Impfung und Infektion mit Newcastle Disease- und Huhnerpockenvirus konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen thymektomierten und nicht thymektomierten Huhnern in der Impfreaktion, der humoralen Antikorperbildung, dem Immunisierungsvermogen, dem Krankheitsbild und in der Mortalitat nachgewiesen werden. Bemerkenswert ist, das bei den thymektomierten Huhnern nach Infektion mit Huhnerpocken die Anzahl der positiven Prazipitationsproben besonders bei den vaccinierten Tieren etwas geringer war und das 15 Wochen nach der Vaccination mit Hitchner B1 ND-Virus der Neutralisations- (0,05 > P > 0,01) und der Hamagglutinationshemmungstiter ebenfalls bei den thymektomierten Huhnern niedriger waren als bei den nicht thymektomierten Huhnern. Summary The influence of thymectomy in the fowl on antibody production against Newcastle disease (ND) and fowl pox (FP) virus After inoculation and infection with the virus of ND and FP no significant differences were detected between thymectomized and not thymectomized fowls in respect of the reaction to vaccination, formation of humoral antibodies, degree of immunity, disease pattern and mortality. It is worth pointing out that in the thymectomized fowls infected with FP the number of positive precipitation tests, particularly in the vaccinated birds, was somewhat less than in the control birds and that 15 weeks after vaccination witch Hitchner B1 ND virus the neutralisation 0.05 > P > 0.01) and HI titres were also lower in the thymectomized birds. Resume L'influence de la thymectomie sur la formation d'anticorps contre le virus de la maladie de Newcastle (ND) et de la variole aviaire chez la poule Apres vaccination et inoculation du virus de la maladie de Newcastle et de la variole aviaire aucune difference significative entre les poules thymectomisees et non thymectomisees concernant la reaction vaccinale, la formation d'anticorps humoraux, le degre de l'immunisation, les symptomes et la mortalite. On remarqua que chez les poules ayant subi la thymectomie, apres infection par le virus de la variole aviaire le nombre des resultats de precipitation positives etaient un peu moins eleve surtout chez les animaux vaccines, que chez les poules non thymectomisees, et que 15 semaines apres la vaccination par le virus Hitcher B1 (Newcastle Disease), les titres de neutralisation (0,05 > P > 0,01) et d'inhibition de l'hemagglutination etaient egalement plus bas chez les poules thymectomisees. Resumen Influjo de la timectomia en la gallina sobre la formacion de anticuerpos frente al virus de la enfermedad de Newcastle y de la difteroviruela de la gallina Tras vacunacion e infeccion con virus de la enfermedad de Newcastle (EN) y difteroviruela de la gallina no se pudieron establecer diferencias significativas entre las gallinas timectomizadas y las no timectomizadas en la reaccion vacunal, la formacion humoral de anticuerpos, la capacidad inmunizante, en el cuando nosologico ni en la mortalidad. Merece destacarse que en las gallinas timectomizadas tras infeccion con viruela de la gallina era algo menor el numero de las pruebas positivas de precipitacion, en especial en los animales vacunados, que en las gallinas no timectomizadas, y que 15 semanas tras la vacunacion con el virus Hitchner B1 de la EN el titulo de neutralizacion (0,05 > P > 0,01) y de inhibicion de la hemaglutinacion tambien era menor en las gallinas timectomizadas.

Reproductive-effort theory predicts that parents of any given age should expend more parental effort (1) as their residual reproductive value declines, and (2) as the reproductive value of offspring increases. An observational and experimental study of nest defense by captive red jungle fowl hens was used to examine these two predictions. Both young and old individuals significantly increased defense of the second nest compared to the first nest within a season; this pattern occurred for the defense of both eggs and chicks. Old hens showed significantly greater defense of both eggs and chicks in each of the nests than did young hens. Both young and old hens were significantly more defensive of chicks than eggs in each of two clutches of a season. Hens also reduced their nest defense significantly at the end of a two to three-day period after their chicks were replaced with eggs, and increased their nest defense after eggs were exchanged for chicks. Hens given four chicks showed more vigorous defense than hens given two chicks. When the brood size of hens with four chicks was reduced to one chick, the hens responded by exhibiting less vigorous nest defense. These patterns of nest defense in jungle fowl were not confounded by parental experience of hens, or differences in offspring quality that are related to time of breeding, maternal age, sire genetic quality or vulnerability of offspring to weather.

The chicken lysozyme gene encodes a hydrolase that has a key role in defence, especially in ovo. This gene was resequenced in global chicken populations [red, grey, Ceylon and green jungle fowl (JF)] and related bird species. Networks, summary statistics and tests of neutrality indicate that although there is extensive variation at the gene, little is present at coding sites, with the exception of one non-synonymous site. This segregating site and a further fixed non-synonymous change between red JF and domestic chicken populations are spatially close to the catalytic sites of the enzyme and so might affect its activity.

Zusammenfassung Es wird uber das Vorkommen von Ribonuklease im Huhnerei berichtet. Nur der alkalische Typ der Ribonuklease konnte mit Sicherheit nachgewiesen werden. Er findet sich ausschlieslich im Eiklar unbefruchteter Eier, wahrend im Eiklar befruchteter Eier keine Ribonuklease vorkommt. Sie fehlt vollstandig im Eidotter befruchteter und unbefruchteter Eier. Trypsin-Inhibitor ist zumindest ein Hemmstoff fur die gefundene Ribonuklease-Aktivitat. Das lokalisierte Auftreten und das Verschwinden des Enzyms nach der Befruchtung wird in einen Zusammenhang mit den molekularbiologischen Vorgangen bei der Fertilisation gebracht. Ribonuklease scheint eine Kontrollfunktion fur die Protein-Biosynthese vor der Befruchtung auszuuben.

Dominance affects mating and reproductive success in many group-living species. Potential mechanisms include subordinates being inherently less attractive and social constraints imposed by dominant individuals. To test the former possibility, we measured morphology in 45 male fowl, Gallus gallus, prior to group formation. Males were then assigned to social groups (three males and three females in each). None of the measured traits predicted subsequent social status, suggesting that subordinates were not inherently unattractive. We then manipulated social constraints in each group to test if subordinates were socially constrained. We removed either the alpha (experimental) or the gamma male (control) for 40 min and observed the effect on the beta male’s reproductive behavior. Controls accounted for putative group size and disturbance effects, and ensured that the only difference between treatments was the relative dominance of the remaining male. In each trial, we measured the beta male’s courtship effort and his mating success, as well as his proximity to females and to the remaining male. Results show that social context did not affect mating success, but had a significant impact on courtship behavior. Beta males courted significantly more often when they had exclusive access to a female, as opposed to when another male was nearby. Furthermore, their courtship effort was higher if the nearby male was a fellow subordinate, as opposed to the dominant male. We conclude that both the proximity and social status of nearby males affects, either directly or indirectly, the courtship efforts of subordinate male fowl.

431 cultures of "avium-like" mycobacteria (ALM) were isolated from wild and domestic animals during 1974--76 at the National Veterinary Institute, Stockholm. Of these, 50 isolates from pigs were studied by growth-chromogenicity, pathogenicity, and biochemical tests. Furthermore, thin-layer chromathography was performed, and on some isolates serotyping. All 50 isolates belonged to Runyon's group III and were pathogenic for chicken; none was capable of splitting oleic acid from Tween 80. 47 gave tellurite reduction within a period of three days; one was arylsulphatase-positive after three days and a further four after 14 days. The biological and biochemical tests permit assignation of the 50 isolates to the M. avium-intracellulare complex. The lipid patterns of the isolates examined were analysed by thin-layer chromatography. Thirty-five of the isolates showed a lipid pattern similar to that of A 2 of the fowl reference strain; three belonged to lipid type A 1 and four to A 3. Eight could not be typed. Of 22 isolates, 14 could be assigned to M. avium serotypes.

The possible role of PI3-K in the reversible temperature-dependent immobilization of fowl sperm motility was investigated by using PI3-K inhibitor (LY294002) and its inactive analogue (LY303511). The existence of the PI3-K in fowl spermatozoa was also confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Fowl sperm motility in TES/NaCl buffer remained negligible at the avian body temperature of 40 degrees C but was maintained vigorously when the temperature was decreased to 30 degrees C. At 30 degrees C, no stimulation or inhibition of motility was observed after the addition of 2 mM CaCl2 and 10 microM LY294002 or LY303511: around 70-80% of spermatozoa remained motile. In contrast, at 40 degrees C, the motility of spermatozoa was activated immediately after the addition of Ca(2+), but the subsequent addition of LY294002 inhibited the motility again. The addition of LY303511 did not appreciably affect the Ca(2+)-supplemented sperm motility, which was maintained for at least 15 min. The ATP concentrations of spermatozoa after the addition of LY294002 + Ca(2+) or LY303511 + Ca(2+) were almost the same values compared with those of Ca(2+) alone at 40 degrees C, suggesting that the addition of LY294002 was not simply affecting membrane damage or inhibiting energy production in the spermatozoa, but may be acting on some part of the motility-regulating cascade. Immunoblotting of sperm extract using an antibody to PI3-K revealed a major cross-reacting protein of 85 kDa, which corresponds to the molecular weight of the subunit of PI3-K. These results suggest that PI3-K may be positively involved in the calcium-regulated maintenance of flagellar movement of fowl spermatozoa at 40 degrees C.

Summary A starch gel electrophoretic technique has been described which utilized a pH 8.9 Tris-citrate gel buffer and facilitated the resolution of a new serum esterase zone of fowl. This zone was shown to be controlled by allele EsC, the third in the series EsA, EsB, and EsC. Allelic frequencies were determined in five egg-type strains and seven meat-type strains. EsA was predominant in egg-type birds while EsB was the most frequent allele in meat-type birds.

Summary By a variety of electrophoretic procedures it has been found that Gallus gallus, whether as jungle fowl or as chickens, differs consistently from Sonnerat's jungle fowl, G. sonnerati, in three egg white proteins: G3 ovoglobulin, G2 ovoglobulin and glutamyl peptidase. The electrophoretic patterns of egg white hybrids between G. gallus and G. sonnerati are identical to those obtained after simpiy mixing the egg whites; there is no evidence for hybrid protein zones. Although Japanese data on serum amylase can be interpreted as indicating introgressive hybridization in the origin of the domestic fowl, so far the egg protein data are negative in this respect.

8-L-Homoarginine-vasotocin and its 1-deamino derivative were synthesized by the solid phase method. Both compounds possessed high activities in the uterus contraction and fowl depressor assays and showed higher pressor activities than the corresponding vasopressins. Homoarginine-vasotocin, unexpectedly, was a more potent antidiuretic agent than its deamino analogue.

Of the eight fractions (G-I-G-VIII) obtained from galline, a protamine from rooster sperm nuclei, the complete amino acid sequences of two fractions G-I and G-V have already been reported. Other fractions of galline purified repeatedly on the column of Bio-Gel CM-30 were submitted to structural analyses. The complete amino acid sequences of three (G-II, G-III and G-VII) of the fractions and the partial chemical structures of two (G-VI and G-VIII) of the fractions were established from the results of analyses of the tryptic and chymotryptic peptides together with those of end groups and terminal sequences. Remarkable similarities have so far been found in the sequences of these fractions. Combining these results with those complementarily explained in the following paper, it was finally confirmed that the intact galline molecule is composed of only one molecular species (G-VIII) and that fractions (G-I-G-VII) were derived from G-VIII by the action of an inherent protease in the preparation process. Consequently, the total amino acid sequence of the intact galline is concluded to be as follows: H-Ala-Arg-Tyr-Arg-Ser-Arg-Gly-Arg-Ser-Arg-Ser-Arg-Arg-Thr-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Pro-Arg-Ser-Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Pro-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Tyr-Gly-Ser-Ala-Arg-Arg-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ser-Gly-Gly-Val-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Tyr-Gly-Ser-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-65Tyr-OH.

Millettia pachycarpa Benth (Leguminosae) has a usage in traditional medicine system practiced among the Lushai tribes of Mizoram, a state in North East India, who customarily consume the aqueous extract of the root peel of the plant to get rid of intestinal worm infections. The crude ethanol, methanol, and acetone fractions of the plant were assayed against Raillietina echinobothrida, the intestinal cestode parasite of domestic fowl, to authenticate the putative anthelmintic efficacy and cestocidal potential in particular of the plants. In vitro exposure of the worm to the extract at a concentration of 25 mg/mL phosphate buffered saline (at 37 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C) revealed distortion and disruption of mitochondria, nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear membrane, basal lamina, and tegumental vacuolization in the distal cytoplasm leading to scar formation in the surface. The possible use of the plant as a potential anthelmintic against cestode parasite is discussed.

We employed macroscopic and ultrastructural techniques as well as intratracheal casting methods to investigate the pattern of development, categories, and arrangement of the air conduits in the chicken lung. The secondary bronchi included four medioventral (MVSB), 7-10 laterodorsal (LDSB), 1-3 lateroventral (LVSB), several sacobronchi, and 20-60 posterior secondary bronchi (POSB). The latter category has not been described before and is best discerned from the internal aspect of the mesobronchus. The secondary bronchi emerged directly from the mesobronchus, except for the sacobronchi, which sprouted from the air sacs. Parabronchi from the first MVSB coursed craniodorsally and inosculated their cognates from the first two LDSB. The parabronchi from the rest of the LDSB curved dorsomedially to join those from the rest of the MVSB at the dorsal border. Sprouting, migration, and anastomoses of the paleopulmonic parabronchi resulted in two groups of these air conduits; a cranial group oriented rostrocaudally and a dorsal group oriented dorsoventrally. The neopulmonic parabronchial network formed through profuse branching and anastomoses and occupied the ventrocaudal quarter of the lung. There were no differences in the number of secondary bronchi between the left and right lungs. Notably, a combination of several visualization techniques is requisite to adequately identify and enumerate all the categories of secondary bronchi present. The 3D arrangement of the air conduits ensures a sophisticated system, suitable for efficient gas exchange. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Positive effects of Bacteria-mineral water (BMW) produced from bio-reacted manure on plant growth and crop seed germination has been observed in agriculture practices. The experiment was conducted to examine the effects of BMW produced from bio-reacted fowl dung on seed germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Seeds were soaked in BMW at concentrations of 100, 10, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.025, and 0% (control) and then incubated at 25°C ± 1°C in a seed germinator for 7 days. All BMW treatments not only enhanced germination energy and final germination percentage of wheat and rice seeds, but also significantly improved (P < 0.05) seed vigor index (VI). Compared to control, treatment with 0.25% BMW had significant effects (P < 0.05) on final germination percentage and increased significantly seed germination percentage (7.34%) and germination energy (8.67%) of wheat seeds. There were strong correlations between germination energy and final germination percentage (P < 0.05), germination index (P < 0.05), VI (P < 0.05), water absorption rate (P < 0.01), and storage reserve transform rate (P < 0.01). While for rice seeds, 0.25% and 0.125% BMW treatments significantly improved (P < 0.05) final germination percentage by 8% separately, and germination energy enhanced 8.66% and 9.33% respectively. There were strong correlations between germination energy (and final germination percentage) and other parameters except for water adsorption rate and storage reserve loss rate. BMW consistently showed positive effects on crop seed germination. 0.25% BMW treatment may be the best concentration to stimulate wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds germination, while 0.125-0.25% BMW would be the most suitable concentration range for rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds.

Summary Results are presented indicating a linear relationship between irradiation dose (10–60 kGy) and the quantity of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone produced in irradiated frozen (-46°C) chicken meat. 2-Dodecylcyclobutanone was found in chicken meat sterilized (at -40°C) by gamma and electron beam irradiation 12 years previously and used for toxicity clearance. After freeze-drying the irradiated chicken samples still contained 2-dodecylcyclobutanone indicating that it was present in the diets tested. The compound was not detected in chicken meat sterilized by thermal processing 13 years ago. In addition, there was evidence that 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone was also present in the irradiation sterilized samples.

Objective and sensory methods were used to compare low-salt frankfurters containing enzyme-modified mechanically deboned fowl (MDF) with normal-salt (2%) and low-salt (0.5%) MDF frankfurter controls, a low-salt MDF pH control and a commercial chicken frankfurter. MDF was modified with Milezyme AFP 2000. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) in reheated yield between the enzyme-modified treatment, the normal-salt control, and the commercial frankfurter. Enzymatic modification resulted in improved texture and had no adverse effect on cured meat color or flavor when compared to other low-salt treatments. Microbial numbers increased faster on the enzyme-modified low-salt frankfurter than on the normal-salt control.

The gene constitution of polymorphisms of the four calpain genes (µ-calpain, m-calpain, p94, and µ/m-calpain) were analyzed in South-East Asian native chickens, White Leghorn and Broiler commercial chickens, and Red and Green jungle fowl. Polymorphisms were detected at all loci in chickens and Red jungle fowl, but only for CAPN1 (µ-calpain gene) in Green jungle fowl. CAPN2 and CAPN1.5 are linked on chicken chromosome 3, and the genotype for these loci were treated as haplotype. Some combinations of calpain loci were tested using principal component analysis, and the best combination (CAPN1, CAPN3, and CAPN1.5) was determined. The proportion of polymorphic loci (Ppoly) and heterozygosity ( ) were 1.00 and 0.316‐0.465 in domestic chickens and red jungle fowl, and 0.33 and 0.137 in Green jungle fowl, respectively. GST values suggested that the degree of subdivision among native chickens was relatively low except for Thailand, which was highest. Pair-wise FST testing, dendrogram and principal component analysis from the results of calpain loci showed that the four South-East Asian native and commercial chicken populations were close genetically.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is one of the main regulators for melanocytes, and the adenohypophysis is one of the major tissues for the synthesis of this hormone. The Silky fowl is a characteristic breed of chicken with hyperpigmentation throughout the body. The involvement of the adenohypophysis in the hyperpigmentation of this breed is not known. In the present study, the proportion of melanocyte stimulating hormone-immunopositive cells (MSH cells) in the adenohypophysis was immunocytochemically compared between Silky, Red Cornish × New Hampshire (RN) crossbred and Japanese bantam cockerels at 15 weeks of age. After the body and gland were weighed, the adenohypophyseal cells were enzymatically dispersed and immunostained for α-MSH, and the immunopositive MSH cells were counted. The weights of the body and adenohypophysis were heaviest in the RN crossbred, followed by the Silky and lightest in the bantam cockerels. In contrast, the ratio between adenohypophysis and bodyweight was much larger in the Silky and the bantam than in the RN crossbreed (P

The rock fowl is an endangered species and its food and feeding ecology was studied in the forest zone of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. The methods used were direct observation, and fragmentation analysis of faecal and crop content of samples collected during both the wet and dry seasons. The results showed that rock fowl feed on a wide range of species of insects, fruits and flower buds. In the wet season, animal resources represented 54 and 62% of the adult and chick diet, respectively, whereas in the dry season, animal food resources represented about 60% of both adult and the chick diets. There was a significant difference (P

The yolk splanchnopleure and chorioallantoic membrane of oviparous reptiles transport calcium from the yolk and eggshell to the developing embryo. Among oviparous amniotes, the mechanism of calcium mobilization to embryos has been studied only in domestic fowl, in which the mechanism of calcium transport of the yolk splanchnopleure differs from the chorioallantoic membrane. Transport of calcium is facilitated by calbindin-D28K in endodermal cells of the yolk splanchnopleure of chickens but the chorioallantoic membrane does not express calbindin-D28K. We used immunoblotting to assay for calbindin-D28K expression in yolk splanchnopleure and chorioallantoic membrane of the corn snake, Elaphe guttata, to test the hypothesis that the mechanism of calcium transport by extraembryonic membranes of snakes is similar to birds. High calbindin-D28K expression was detected in samples of yolk splanchnopleure and chorioallantoic membrane during late embryonic stages. We conclude that calbindin-D28K is expressed in these extraembryonic membranes to facilitate transport of calcium and that the mechanism of calcium transport of the chorioallantoic membrane of the corn snake differs from that of the chicken. Further, we conclude that calbindin-D28K expression is developmentally regulated and increases during later embryonic stages in the corn snake. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 302B:000–000, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Under similar environmental conditions, 100 male Shaver-Starbro hybrid chickens, 100 male Mulard cross-line ducklings and 100 male Landaise goslings kept in 30 metabolic cages from the first day of life (10 birds of each species separately per cage) were chosen for the study. The animals were fed semi ad libitum diets with crude protein content and energy density similar to that used for poultry species, avoiding feed residues. During the first 21 days of life they received starter diets and from day 22 to 42 grower diets. Maize accounted for 23-40% and barley constituted 10-18%. Wheat accounted for 20.0% in starter diets and 10-18% in grower diets. Resorption of yolk sac residues, performance, development of the intestinal tract in young chickens, ducklings and goslings were assessed. During the first 5 days of life intensive absorption of yolk sac ingredients was observed. On day 7, residues of the yolk sac were found in more than 30% of chickens compared with approximately 10% in geese. In ducklings residues of the yolk sac were not found. On day 16 unabsorbed yolk sacs were found in approximately 10% of chickens. Liver and pancreas weighed the highest in geese and in ducks; in chickens the weight of these organs was significantly lower (p < 0.01). The relative values calculated to 100 g of metabolic body weight show that the average small intestine in chickens was significantly longer (p < 0.01) than in ducks or geese. The intestinal tract developed earlier in the chicken than in the water fowl.

We examined the internal morphology, location of protein, and identity and location of elements, in avian urate-containing spheres in 9 species of birds. The urine spheres were collected from voided samples. The spheres ranged in size from 0.5-5.0 mm, except in the domestic fowl, where they ranged up to 10 mm in diameter. The internal morphology of the spheres was examined using freeze-fracture microscopy. Protein location within the spheres was identified using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The urine spheres were analyzed for content and internal location of elements using Energy Dispersal System Analysis (EDS). Internally, the spheres consisted of a central nidus surrounded by 3-4 concentric narrow rings of protein. Elements found within the spheres included nitrogen, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, chloride and sulfur; however, only nitrogen, potassium and chloride were common in the spheres of all species. Nitrogen comprised the majority of the elemental content of the spheres (77-90%) followed by potassium (8-45%), with all other ions present in trace amounts. Unlike protein, the location of elements was random within the spheres. Protein and urate are both negatively charged and known to associate to form the spheres and as potassium is the only cation common to all spheres, it too may play a role in their formation. J. Exp. Zool. 301A:579-587, 2004. r 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.