Two consecutive experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of diet on oocyst shedding and lesion development in replacement broiler breeders of 2 different genetic lines after coccidiosis vaccination. The first experiment was conducted on fresh pine shavings as the litter source, whereas the second trial was conducted on the used litter from the first experiment. Dietary formulation was based on either breeder-specific recommendations or formulations of a broiler integrator. Fecal samples were collected every other day beginning on d 6 and continuing throughout the experiment to determine oocyst shedding. Lesion assessment was performed at selected time points in both experiments to evaluate gross and microscopic intestinal lesions. In experiment 1, multiple peaks in oocyst output were observed in both genetic lines, with the first peak occurring at approximately 16 to 18 d after placement. This peak tended to have the highest observed magnitude and corresponded with the highest level of intestinal lesions observed during experiment 1. Oocyst cycling in experiment 2 followed a somewhat different pattern. Peaks were delayed and at a lower magnitude. Dietary interactions were observed in both experiments, with amount and duration of oocyst shedding and severity of lesion development being influenced by diet in both male and female genetic lines. Increased lesion severity was observed in both genetic lines fed the integrator diet as compared with the breeder-recommended diet; however, the relationship of shedding and diet was dependent on genetic line and sex. Therefore, nutrient density affects oocyst cycling and lesion development during coccidiosis vaccination in replacement broiler breeders.

For many economically important diseases of poultry, there is an increasing interest to develop drug-free alternative control strategies against many infectious diseases due to increasing consumersâ€TM concerns about chemical residues in poultry meat. One promising new avenue to achieve this goal is the use of natural and herbal products, hyperimmune IgY antibodies, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), or probiotics to enhance host defense against microbial infections. Recent studies from our laboratory provided clear evidence that dietary supplements which enhance innate immunity decreased immunopathology associated with infections with pathogenic enteric pathogens. In this report, molecular changes associated with enhanced innate immunity following dietary immunomodulation will be presented using microarray analysis. Alternative prevention and/or treatment measures such as non-chemical dietary supplements that effectively enhance productivity and activate non-specific immunity will help limit the use of antibiotics. However, there is a critical need for more fundamental research to understand poultry immune system and host-pathogen immunobiology in order to develop effective disease prevention strategy.

M1 Performance and mortality rate of various broiler breeds reared in Ogun State after brooding stage to slaughter. A. A. Mako*1, O. I. Abiola-Olagunju2, O. A. Ogunwole2, R. A. Hamzat3, O. K. Awobajo1, A. O. Igbosanu1, and R. O. Ettu1, 1Tai Solarin, University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, 2Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 3Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

females-RB”). At 65 wk of age 285 hens (153 from BB and 132 from RB) were housed in individual cages and fed a commercial layer ration (17% crude protein, 2800 kcal AMEn/kg, 3.7% calcium and 0.66% total phosphorus) except during the induced molting periods. Productive performance traits were recorded daily from 71 to 88 wk of age. At 0, 5, 10 and 30 days from the beginning of treatments, 10 birds were selected randomly per treatment per period and injected intramuscularly with 1 ml of 10% sheep red blood cell’s (SRBC’s) suspension prepared in 0.9% physiological saline to measure the antibody production titer against SRBC’s and Newcastle Disease Virus. Results indicated that induce molting improve productive performance whereas, no differences were detected between molting methods. Non-molting group recorded lower values for egg rate (48.0 vs. 59.7 vs. 60.8%; P < 0.0001) and feed conversion ratio (4.74 vs. 2.88 vs. 2.95; P < 0.0001) compared to Zinc and California methods, respectively. Hens molted with California method recorded higher antibody titer against SRBC’s (8.04 vs. 5.96 vs. 5.21; P < 0.0001) than hens treated with Zinc method or non-molting hens, respectively. However, the antibody titer against Newcastle Disease Virus was not affected. Hens of RB have lower productive performance but higher antibody titer against SRBC’s (7.56 vs. 5.25; P < 0.0001) than BB hens, respectively. We conclude that both molting methods have the same impact on hen’s productivity and California is better than Zinc for affecting humoral immune response. In addition, RB hens have lower productive performance but higher immunity than BB hens.