Hemolytic and antibacterial activities of eight serial concentrations ranged from 5-666 µg/mL of saponin-rich extracts from guar meal (GM), quillaja, yucca, and soybean were tested in 96-well plates and read by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plate-well as 650 nm. Hemolytic assay used a 1% suspension of chicken red blood cells with water and phosphate buffered saline as positive and negative controls, respectively. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli were evaluated using ampicillin and bacteria without saponin-rich extract as positive and negative controls, respectively. The 100% MeOH GM and commercial quillaja saponin-rich extracts were significantly the highest in both hemolytic and antibacterial activities against all bacteria at the same concentration tested. Soybean saponin-rich extract had no antibacterial activity against any of the bacteria at the concentrations tested while yucca saponin-rich extract had no antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacteria at the concentrations tested. GM and quillaja saponin-rich extracts were hemolytic, while yucca and soybean saponin-rich extracts were not hemolytic at the concentrations tested. No saponin-rich extract source had antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium or E. coli at the concentrations tested. Both GM and quillaja saponin-rich extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Saponin-rich extracts from different plant sources have different hemolytic and antibacterial activities.

Saponin-rich GM extract was prepared by refluxing 25 g of GM with 250 ml of EtOH/H2O (1:1, v/v) for 3 h then filtering and distilling EtOH at 50 °C. The refluxed extract was partitioned with equal volume of BuOH obtaining crude saponin-rich GM extract with 4.8 ± 0.6% DM of GM that was purified by RP-HPLC eluting 20%, 60% and 100% MeOH fractions with 2.04 ± 0.32%, 0.91 ± 0.16% and 1.55 ± 0.15% DM of crude saponin-rich GM extract, respectively. Further purification of 100% MeOH fraction using NP-HPLC eluted four peak sub-fractions at 16, 39, 44 and 46 min. All saponin-rich GM fractions eluted were evaluated for both haemolytic and antimicrobial activities using 96-well plates in eight concentrations. Results indicated that only 100% MeOH fraction and its 16 min peak sub-fraction exhibited both haemolytic and antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli, but 20% and 60% MeOH fractions stimulated Lactobacillus spp. growth.

Induced molting of laying hens is a practice used by commercial egg producers to increase the productive lifetime of their flock. However, the conventional method of inducing molt, which involves removal of feed, water, or both as well as a reduction in photoperiod to less than a natural day has drawn criticism due to animal welfare and food safety concerns. The objective of this study was to explore the efficacy of diets containing high levels of guar meal (GM) in inducing molt and reducing susceptibility to Salmonella Enteritidis colonization in late-phase laying hens. Late-phase (68 wk old) Lohmann laying hens were either full-fed standard laying hen diets (nonmolted control), induced to molt by feed withdrawal, or full-fed standard laying hen diets containing 20% GM with or without 250 units/kg of mannanase Hemicell supplementation. On the fourth day of treatment, all hens were orally challenged with SE (1.65 x 10(7) cfu). Hens were killed and evaluated for Salmonella colonization and differences in organ weights 5 d postinoculation. Salmonella Enteritidis present in crop, liver, ovary, and cecal contents were significantly reduced by feeding GM with enzyme supplementation compared with feed withdrawal hens. No significant differences were observed in reproductive tract weights of molted groups, although a difference in liver weight was detected. Results indicate that feeding diets containing 20% GM are as effective as complete feed withdrawal with respect to inducing molt with the added benefit of improved resistance to Salmonella Enteritidis colonization and translocation.

A 5x5 Latin square experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding low concentrations of guar germ or a combination of guar germ and hull (guar meal) in high-production laying hen diets. A total of 125 Lohmann laying hens (21 wk old) of similar BW were randomly assigned to 5 blocks. Each block was divided into 5 experimental units, consisting of 5 hens per unit. Hens were fed either a nonguar control diet, or 1 of 4 diets containing either 2.5 or 5% guar germ, or 2.5 or 5% guar meal over a 20-wk trial period (five 4-wk periods). No significant differences were observed when feeding either 2.5 or 5% guar germ or meal (P>0.05) on hen-day egg production or feed consumption. Significant differences in egg weight, total egg mass per hen, and feed conversion ratio were detected in hens fed 2.5% guar meal, whereas they remained unchanged for diets containing either level of guar germ or 5% guar meal. Feeding either level of guar germ or guar meal did not affect shell quality (shell thickness, egg breaking force, and specific gravity), Haugh units, or egg yolk color (L*, a*, b*). The results showed that both guar germ and guar meal can be fed to high-production laying hens at up to 5% without adverse effects on laying hen performance.

Guar gum production yields a high protein guar meal that can be subdivided into germ and hull fractions. Feeding high concentrations of guar meal reduces body weight and feed efficiency in chickens due to the presence of a residual guar gum. Two experiments determined the upper feeding levels of guar meal and the hull and germ fractions in broiler chickens. An industrial source beta-mannanase (Hemicell) also was fed in combination with guar meals. Experiment 1 utilized a 3 x 4 factorial design to feed broiler chickens diets containing guar germ, guar hull, or guar meal at 4 levels (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0%) compared with a negative control diet. Results indicated that any of the 3 guar meals could be fed at a 2.5% dietary inclusion rate without adversely affecting broiler chicken growth to 6 wk of age. In experiment 2, a 4 x 2 factorial design consisting of the 3 by-products meals at 5% inclusion and soybean meal control with and without enzyme tested whether Hemicell could increase inclusion rates without decreasing broiler growth or feed consumption to 6 wk of age. Addition of Hemicell to feed had no effect on measures of growth in chickens fed the control diet. Hemicell significantly improved feed:gain ratio of diets containing 5% of each fraction of guar meal versus the untreated diets. Feed:gain ratio for the Hemicell-treated 5% germ fraction diet was improved to control diet levels. Results indicated that the upper feeding level of guar meal and germ and hull fraction of guar meal is 2.5%, and addition of beta-mannanase (Hemicell) increases the upper feeding level for the germ fraction to 5%.

We studied the affects of storage period and egg weight on the hatchability of 314 ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs. Eggs were stored at 20 degrees C and 65% RH before incubation at the Poultry Research, Teaching and Extension Center at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). Eggs were classed by storage period (< or = 5, > 5 < or = 10, > 10 < or = 15, or > 15 < 24 d) and egg weight (< or = 1,450, > 1,450 < or = 1,650, or > 1,650 g) to determine the influence of storage period and egg weight on hatchability, egg weight loss, incubation period, and absolute and relative chick weights. Eggs were incubated at 36.5 to 37.0 degrees C and 25% RH through 38 d of incubation and 36 degrees C and 30% RH thereafter. Mean egg weight loss was greater from eggs of the longest storage period group (> 15 < 24 d) at 21 or 38 d when compared with eggs of the shorter storage periods, but there were no differences at 7, 14, or 28 d among all storage period groups. Mean hatchability was higher in eggs stored < or = 10 d than eggs stored > 15 < 24 d, but hatchability of eggs stored >10 < or = 15 d was not different from eggs stored < or = 10 d or > 15 < 24 d. Incubation period was longer, and absolute and relative weights were higher in eggs stored >15 d than was observed in eggs stored < or = 15 d. Negative correlations were detected between egg weight and moisture loss at 38 d (-0.55) and between hatch time and moisture loss (-0.25). Hatchability was higher in small eggs than medium eggs (< or = 1,650 g). A positive correlation was observed between chick and egg weights (0.84). The results indicated that storage period and egg weight affected egg weight loss. Our results suggested that the most effective storage period was less than 15 d to maintain hatchability for ostrich eggs when incubated at 36.5 to 37.0 degrees C with 25% RH.

A complete nutrient characterization of three possible products of guar bean processing does not apparently exist in the literature. Guar meal is a high-protein byproduct produced during extraction of galactomannan gum from the guar bean. During the extraction process, two fractions are produced (germ and hull). Germ and hull fractions are usually combined to form the marketed product, guar meal. Analyses characterized the nutrient, trypsin inhibitor, and galactomannan gum content of the three guar meal byproducts to determine which fraction is more valuable as an ingredient in poultry diets. Analyses indicated that the germ fraction is most appropriate for inclusion in poultry diets. Trypsin inhibitor activity previously reported as an antigrowth factor associated with guar meal was negligible and not considered to be a significant factor limiting its use in poultry feeds.

The impact of incubation temperature on egg weight loss, embryonic mortality, incubation period, hatchability, and chick weight in 394 ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs was studied. Eggs were obtained from 3 farms in Texas. Three incubation temperatures (36.5, 37.0, or 37.5 degrees C) with relative humidity ranging from 20 to 30% were used. Results showed that incubation of fertile eggs at 36.5 degrees C increased hatchability and incubation period in comparison with other treatments. The incidence of dead in shell and total dead embryos was increased at 37.5 degrees C when compared with 36.5 degrees C. No differences in hatchability, incubation period, dead-in-shell embryos, and total dead embryos were observed between eggs incubated at 37.0 or 37.5 degrees C. Neither chick weight nor egg weight loss at 7, 14, 28, or 38 d of incubation was affected by incubation temperature, but egg weight loss at 21 d was lower for eggs incubated at 37.5 degrees C than for the other treatments. Results show that the most effective incubation temperature for the ostrich is lower than the most effective incubation temperature for most bird species.

Several feeding regimens are applied to improve performance of fertile egg production during times of heat stress. During a period of heat stress (34 to 36 degrees C), two feeding periods were used to measure the impact of feeding time on reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix cotunix japonica) between 44 and 60 wk of age. Each feeding time treatment had 25 individually caged male and female pairs. Quail were fed ad libitum between 0600 to 1400 or 1400 to 2200 h daily. Results indicated that feeding between 0600 to 1400 h reduced BW, fertility, hatchability, egg production, and egg specific gravity when compared with the effects of feeding between 1400 to 2200 h. Feeding time had no effect on total embryonic mortality, egg weight, or the period between subsequent ovipositions. The different feeding times affected the distribution curve of oviposition over time. An instrument designed to record oviposition time is described. Results showed that selection of the time of day for application of an 8-h restricted feeding regimen affected BW, fertility, hatchability, egg production, egg specific gravity, and oviposition time in Japanese quail.

High concentrations of guar meal in broiler chicken diets reduce body weight and feed efficiency. The increased intestinal viscosity that is responsible for reduced measures of performance results from residual guar gum present in guar meal. Two experiments were designed to study the effects of 2 guar meal fractions at 3 different concentrations, germ (0, 5.0, and 7.5%) and hull (0, 2.5, and 5.0%), and the effectiveness of a beta-mannanase at three levels (0, 1x, and 4x; 1x = 1.09 x 10(5) units/ kg) on broiler growth and feed conversion. Growth and performance were measured as a function of intestinal viscosity. Addition of the germ fraction to rations did not reduce body weight, although feed conversion ratio was increased at 7.5% of the diet. Intestinal viscosity also increased significantly at this level. Enzyme addition significantly reduced intestinal viscosity. Due to an interaction that was present between hull and enzyme concentration, each treatment was compared separately. Inclusion of the hull fraction significantly reduced body weight at both levels of inclusion and increased feed conversion ratio at 5% inclusion. Addition of the enzyme significantly increased body weight and reduced feed conversion ratio in diets containing guar hull fractions. Supplementation of beta-mannanase to feeds containing either fraction of guar meal reduced intestinal viscosity and alleviated the deleterious effects associated with guar meal feeding.

High concentrations of guar meal in poultry diets deleteriously affect growth, feed intake, and digesta viscosity. These effects are attributed to residual gum in the meal. A 2 x 5 factorial experiment investigated the impacts of two guar meal fractions (germ and hull) at five inclusion levels (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0%) on intestinal viscosity, measures of growth, and feed conversion in broiler chickens fed to 20 d of age. Growth and feed conversion ratio were not affected by inclusion of as much as 7.5% of the germ fraction into poultry diets, while inclusion of the hull fraction reduced growth at all concentrations. The hull fraction increased intestinal viscosity at all inclusion levels fed, although feed conversion was not affected until the inclusion rate exceeded 5.0%. The germ fraction significantly increased intestinal viscosity at 7.5 and 10% inclusion rates. When germ fraction was fed, relative organ weights remained constant through all concentrations except for the ventriculus and duodenum at 7.5 and 10% inclusion levels. Relative pancreas weight was significantly increased at the 10% level of the hull fraction. Increases in intestinal viscosity corresponded with growth depression. These results suggest that residual gum was responsible for some deleterious effects seen when guar meal was fed. The germ fraction was a superior ingredient when compared with the hull fraction. The guar meal germ fraction constituting as much as 7.5% of the diet supported growth and feed conversion measures similar to those observed with a typical corn-soybean poultry ration.

Reproductive performance of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was evaluated following feed restriction (100, 85, and 70% of ad libitum) between 2 to 5 wk of age with three replicates of 12, 2-wk-old chicks per replicate. Body weight, feed conversion, and leucocyte distribution were measured during feed restriction. After experimental feed treatment, BW, age at first egg, egg production, fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality were evaluated from five replicates of two females and one male per treatment. Feed-restricted female chicks had lower BW from 3 to 5 wk of age, but male weights were depressed only during the most severe restriction at 4 and 5 wk. No treatment differences were observed among BW within a sex from 6 to 13 wk. Body weights at first egg were significantly heavier for females fed 70% ad libitum than for birds on other treatments. Fertility, age at first egg, feed conversion, egg production, and egg weight were unaffected by feed restriction. Although hatchability was unaffected by feed restriction, percentage of late dead and total dead embryos were significantly reduced in eggs from restricted quail. Thirty quail fed 70% of ad libitum control intake had significantly increased egg specific gravity. Feed restriction increased the percentage of heterophils and basophils and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, whereas the percentage of lymphocytes and eosinophils decreased. Feed can be restricted to 85 or 70% of ad libitum feed intake from 2 to 5 wk of age without detrimentally affecting reproductive parameters between 6 to 13 wk of age.

The impact of acetyl salicylic add (ASA) on reproductive performance during periods of heat stress was studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). During a season when daily high temperatures averaged between 34 and 40 degrees C, four treatments each containing four replicates of five males and five females were given 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 g/L ASA in drinking water from 34 to 45 wk of age. At 39 wk of age control quail were lighter than quail fed ASA. Quail receiving 1.5 g/L ASA exhibited increased fertility, hatchability, and egg production and decreased late dead and total embryonic mortality. Early dead embryos, pips, chick weight, and egg weight were not different among treatments. The lumen of uterovaginal junction sperm host glands (UVJSHG) from control quail was apparently devoid of spermatozoa, whereas quail receiving 1.5 g/L ASA had the greatest apparent accumulation of spermatozoa. Control caudal infundibulum host glands (CPOI) were devoid of spermatozoa in contrast with CPOI from quail receiving ASA. Results show that UVJSHG lumens from quail receiving 1.5 g/L ASA had larger inside diameters than other treatment groups. However, the CPOI inside diameter and the outside diameters of both UVJSHG and CPOI were not affected by ASA. Adding 1.5 g/L ASA to the drinking water of quail under heat stress improved body weight, fertility, hatchability, embryonic mortality, egg production, egg specific gravity, and sperm storage capacity.

s of papers 91 yolk (YP), Haugh units (HU), yolk index (YI), shell percent (SP), shell thickness (ST) and egg specific gravity (ESG). The vitamin D influenced the parameters HU, YI, SP, ST, ESG when in thermoneutral temperature, the YI in a cycling heat stress and ST, ESG in constant heat stress. The vitamin C interfered on HU, SP, ST, ESG under thermoneutral temperature and on YI under cycling heat stress. Rectal and dorsal temperatures were not altered by different levels of vitamins D and C. These results indicate that vitamin D (3000 and/or 3500 UI/kg) were effective in improving the eggshell quality under thermoneutral temperature and constant heat stress while the vitamin C (200 and/or 400 ppm) were effective only under thermoneutral temperature. 1Sponsored by FAPESP