Browsing by Subject "Huhn"

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Bestimmung präcecaler Verdaulichkeitskoeffizienten für heimische Energie- und Proteinfuttermittel für die Bio-Hühnermast
(2016) Ritteser, Carolin; Grashorn, Michael
To improving the supply of slow growing broiler chicken in organic poultry production with essential amino acids the ileal digestibility (ID) of 15 organically cultivated feedstuffs was determined using a linear regression approach. The ID was determined for three and six week old chickens. The feedstuffs included common cereal species such as wheat, rye, spelt and summer barley, hull-less cereals such as naked barley and naked oats, forgotten cereals or pseudo-cereals such as brown top millet, pearl millet and buckwheat but also corn silage, strip waste of lentils, alfalfa leaves, and clover grass silage (extruded and untreated). The cultivars were added to a basal diet in 3 concentrations in exchange to corn starch. Therefore, the increase for crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) resulted from the cultivar only. Titanium dioxide was used as an indigestible marker. Each diet was fed ad libitum between day 15 and 21 d of age to 6 pens of 15 chickens or between day 36 and 42 d of age to 6 pens of 6 chickens, each. On day 21 and/or day 42 birds were killed by carbon dioxide, the chymus was collected and pooled for the 15 or 6 chickens per pen, respectively and analyzed on pen basis. Contents of crude protein, amino acids and titanium dioxide have been determined. The slope of the regression line between the amount of AA intake by feed and the amount of AA digested up to the ileum is considered to be the true ileal digestibility. The crude nutrient contents of the organically grown feedstuffs show different results in comparison to conventionally grown ones. The highest crude protein content was determined for lentils, followed by clover grass silage and dried alfalfa leaves. However, the alfalfa leaves also showed the highest content of crude fiber. Brown top millet, pearl millet, clover grass silage and alfalfa leaves contained the highest amount of methionine. The highest lysine contents were found for lentils, clover grass silage and alfalfa leaves. Values for digestibility of crude protein and amino acids varied strongly among the feedstuffs. Rye, spelt and the clover grass silages were digested only poorly by both, the three and the six week old broilers. This was probably caused by an increased content of antinutritional substances and crude fiber. Extrusion didn´t have any positive effect on the amino acids digestibility of the clover grass silage, it rather impaired digestibility. For buckwheat and clover grass silage the high contents of crude protein and amino acids were compensated by poor digestibility. Brown top millet, pearl millet, strip waste of lentils and especially alfalfa leaves turned out to be appropriate feedstuffs for an adequate protein and amino acids supply in broiler nutrition. Due to the high fiber content alfalfa leaves should be used carefully in the diet. Their high crude fiber content causes an increase in feed volume and this may result in a too low feed intake of broilers to fulfill their nutritional requirements. This again can cause growth disturbances. In general, digestibility values for the organically grown feedstuffs were found to be similar to the values of conventionally grown feedstuffs.
Comprehensive characterization of microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of quails and two high yielding laying hen breeds
(2023) Roth, Christoph Florian; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia
The microbiomes composition in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is subject to several changes and influences. In addition to breed, sex, or diet, age affects the GIT microbiome dynamics of laying hens and quails. From the first day, the microbiome develops and increases its bacterial load to thousands of species. Then, depending on the diet fed, the animals microbiome and associated active bacteria vary and directly influence the animals nutrient uptake and efficiency. Omics technologies give insights into changes in microbes in the GIT (crop, gizzard, duodenum, ileum, caeca). In addition, they can reveal how feed supplements such as calcium (Ca) or phosphorus (P) can affect host health and performance through alterations in the microbiome. The Japanese quail has been an established animal model for nutritional and biological studies in poultry for the last 60 years. In particular, its short development time makes it a convenient model for microbiome research. However, compared to broiler microbiome research, the quail microbiome is still poorly understood. Animals of the breed Coturnix japonica were housed under the same conditions, fed a diet with P below recommendation, and the ileum microbiota characterized. Microbiota relations with gender and higher or lower predisposition of the birds for PU, CaU, FI, BWG, and FC were described (Chapter II). In addition, these performance parameters influenced the relative average abundance of bacteria like Candidatus Arthromitus, Bacillus, and Leuconostoc. Gender affects specific bacterial groups of the GIT, such as Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Escherichia, and Clostridium, which differ in average abundance between male and female quails. Despite the comprehensive microbiota analysis, the interplay between animal genetics, diet, sex, and microbiome functionality is not yet understood. The laying hen breeds Lohmann LSL-Classic and Lohmann Brown-Classic are used worldwide. Little is known about the interaction with microbiome composition, performance, dietary effects, and changes during the productive life that might help develop feeding strategies and microbiome responses on a large scale. Because of the importance of P and Ca in poultry diet, the research in Chapter III was conducted to challenge laying hens with reduced dietary P and Ca and describe the effect on GIT active microbiota. The breed was the primary driver of microbial differences. A core microbiome of active bacteria, present along the complete GIT, was revealed for the first time and consisted of five bacteria detected in 97% of all samples, including digesta and mucosa samples (uncl. Lactobacillus, Megamonas funiformis, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus helveticus, uncl. Fuscatenibacter). Furthermore, significant microbial differences between the GIT sections and between the breeds were described. Minor dietary effects of the P and Ca reduction on the microbiota showed that a further decrease in Ca and P supplementation might be possible without affecting the gut microbial composition and bird performance. Furthermore, the microbiome of laying hens was characterized at five productive stages (weeks 10, 16, 24, 30, and 60) to analyze the age effect on the GIT microbiome (Chapter IV). Although the two breeds of laying hens were offered the same diet and housed under similar conditions, the active microbiota composition changed between the analyzed productive stages, the breed and the GIT sections. The major shift occurred between weeks 16 and 24 and supported the hypothesis of bacterial fluctuations due to the onset of the laying period. Those changes occurred mainly in the abundance of the genera Lactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus. However, it remains unclear whether the dietary changes, due to the development of the birds, influenced the microbiota shifts or if the anatomical and physiological modifications influenced the GIT microbiota. Furthermore, the shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed differences in regulatory functions and pathways between breeds, sections, and the two production stages. Different relative abundance levels of the microbial composition were observed between the RNA-based targeted sequencing and the DNA-based shotgun metagenomics. In conclusion, the comprehensive characterization of the microbiota in the GIT of quails and two high-yielding breeds of laying hens contributes to a broader knowledge of the microbiome dynamics within the fowl GIT. Age and breed play a more important role than diet in influencing the dynamics of microbial composition in laying hens, and individual performance and sex in quails. Research characterizing the microbiome in poultry and its effect on diet and host genetics will help improve feeding and breeding strategies in the future and reduce excretion of nutrients into the environment while ensuring overall animal health.
Development of high quality niche products from local chicken and pig genetic resources
(2016) Muth, Philipp; Valle Zárate, Anne
This thesis indicates that the application of non-conventional and/or slow-growing pig and chicken genotypes alone does not guarantee a superior and/or distinctive meat color and quality of the products. It appears that the valorization of monogastric meat products through niche marketing is critically dependent on matching the respective genotype with appropriate production methods, thus, for instance, highlighting the need for producers to be discerning in regard to the choice of slaughter age and feeding strategy. In the case that these premises are implemented, a distinguished positioning of meat products derived from local pig and chicken genetic resources can be realized, and, expanded by standards that also take the social and economic dimensions of food value chains into account, translated into a common pool resource as a basis for an alternative food network. Efforts should then be directed toward the elaboration of stable distribution channels and effective governance structures in the respective food network.
Impact of housing environment and rearing condition on the immune system and welfare of laying hens
(2021) Hofmann, Tanja Melanie; Stefanski, Volker
In recent years, consumers’ interest in modern farm animal husbandry and, above all, criticism of intensive production systems that can impair animal welfare, have increased sharply. From hatch, chickens are confronted by a wide range of environmental and social stressors that may confound homeostasis and impair their health and welfare. Not being able to deal with the environment can lead to an activation of the stress system, resulting in a release of neuroendocrine signals like glucocorticoids. These have the potential to modify the immune system and alter species-specific behavior with possible detrimental impacts on animals’ health and welfare. In this context, early-life conditions play a special role as they were shown to have long-term consequences for physiology and behavior in the later life. High stocking densities which activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis are said to be one of the largest welfare concerns in the poultry industry. Previous research has primarily focused on the effects of stocking density on broilers and adult laying hens, but few studies have focused explicitly on layer pullets, and none of them investigated long-term effects on the immune system. The understanding of short- and long-term consequences of environmental conditions during rearing on the immune system and behavior of layer pullets is essential for shaping an environment that avoids allostatic overload, thus promoting animal health and welfare. This doctoral thesis aimed to identify and evaluate potential immunomodulating factors in the housing environment of chickens. In order to achieve this, it summarizes and reviews important aspects of housing environments for the immune system in chickens. Furthermore, an existing flow cytometric method for the enumeration of leukocytes and discrimination of lymphocyte subsets in blood was adapted to lymphatic tissues. Moreover, short- and longterm consequences of stocking density during rearing on the immune system, stress hormone level and behavior in layer pullets were evaluated. The results are described in detail in three peer-reviewed manuscripts published in international journals. The literature analysis identified several housing conditions as immunomodulating factors. Light management was marked as an effective tool to modulate the immune response in chickens, as long light phases were demonstrated to lower adaptive cellular and humoral immune responses while certain light colors, especially of shorter wavelengths, promote some immune functions. Moreover, particularly high ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations pose a threat to chickens’ health by dampening the adaptive immune response and promoting inflammation. However, the interaction between housing environment and management is complex. Depending on the type of housing form, chickens are confronted with different social and environmental challenges, which in turn can have an impact on the immune and stress system. An understanding of immunosuppressive risk factors is essential for successful poultry management aiming to optimize health, welfare and economic efficiency. To broaden the assessment of immune status for scientific purposes, new staining- and gating strategies for avian lymphatic tissues were adapted to an existing flow cytometric method for blood. The adaptation process showed that the application of already established protocols to other tissues is possible, but has to be examined carefully as tissue-specific effects or cell-preparative procedures might lead to differences in possible combinations of antibody-fluorochrome conjugates. The results of the experimental study within this doctoral thesis demonstrate for the first time that stocking density during rearing has not only short- but also long-term impacts on the immune system in laying hens. Pullets reared at high stocking densities showed stress-related alterations in immune cell numbers and higher incidences of feather pecking that manifest in the laying period. This highlights the significance of early-life conditions for immunocompetence throughout the whole production cycle. Of particular interest is that the number of gamma-delta T cells was lower in the high-density group, which has not been investigated in any stress-related studies with chickens before. The present doctoral thesis provides a significant contribution to the improvement of health and welfare in poultry farming and forms a basis for further research about long-lasting consequences of rearing conditions on the immune system, especially in laying hens.
Novel bacterial species from the chicken gastrointestinal tract and their functional diversity
(2023) Rios Galicia, Bibiana; Seifert, Jana
The digestive system of chicken presents different physicochemical conditions along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), shaping an individual microbial profile along sections with different metabolic capacities and divergence on the adaptations to the environment. Efforts to obtain cultivable bacteria originating from the upper region of chicken GIT enrich the reference genome database and provide information about the site- specific adaptations of bacteria colonizing such GIT sections allowing to understand the metabolic profile and adaptive strategies to the environment. However, the lack of sufficient reference genomes limits the interpretation of sequencing data and restrain the study of complex functions. In this study, 43 strains obtained from crop, jejunum and ileum of chicken were isolated, characterised and genome analysed to observe their metabolic profiles, adaptive strategies and to serve as future references. Eight isolates represent new species that colonise the upper gut intestinal tract and present consistent adaptations that enable us to predict their ecological role, expanding our knowledge on the adaptative functions. Strains of Limosilactobacillus were found to be more abundant in the crop, while Ligilactobacillus dominated the ileal digesta. Isolates from crop encode a high number of glycosidases specialised in complex polysaccharides compared to strains isolated from jejunum and ileum. While isolates from jejunum and ileum encode a higher number of genes that interact with the host such as collagenases and hyaluronidases, indicating preferential persistence and adaptations along the GIT. These results represent the first repository of bacteria obtained from the crop and small intestine of chicken using culturomics, improving the potential handling of chicken microbiome with biotechnological applications
Sensorische Beurteilung von Zweinutzungshühnern in der Gemeinschaftsverpflegung Ergebnisse einer Verkostung des Gerichts „Halbes Brathähnchen“ in drei Kantinen in Baden-Württemberg
(2024-08-14) Gebhardt, Beate
Um Verbraucher*innen einen verinnerlichenden Zugang zum Zweinutzungshuhn anzubieten und deren sensorischen Beurteilung in einer größeren Stichprobe zu erfassen, wurde in der vorliegenden Studie eine Verkostung von Zweinutzungshahnenfleisch in der Gemeinschaftsverpflegung in Baden-Württemberg im Projekt ZweiWert konzipiert. In drei Kantinen bzw. Mensen in Baden-Württemberg wurde Hühnerfleisch im Gericht „Halbes Brathähnchen“ von den Gästen sensorisch beurteilt. In zwei Testessen wurde einmal das „Standardhuhn“ der Kantine und ein anderes Mal ein Zweinutzungshuhn der Genetiken „Coffee“ und „Cream“ der ökologischen Tierzucht gGmbH (ÖTZ) zubereitet. In der Blind-Verkostung war den Gästen die Reihenfolge der Genetiken unbekannt. Nach Datenbereinigung standen 600 Fragebögen für die Analyse zur Verfügung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen: Das Zweinutzungshuhn ist den meisten Gästen bisher unbekannt. Es besteht ein hohes Interesse über das Zweinutzungshuhn in Kantinen mehr zu erfahren und dessen Fleisch auszuprobieren. Ferner besteht eine hohe Bereitschaft an der Studie teilzunehmen. Das Fleisch des Zweinutzungshuhns hält sensorisch mit dem Standardhuhn der Kantinen mit – insbesondere im Geschmack. Saftigkeit und Zartheit sind die kritischen sensorischen Attribute. Flügel und Schlegel sind die kritischen Teile. Viele Gäste sind bereit, etwas mehr für das Zweinutzungshuhn zu zahlen. Die Wiederwahlabsicht des getesteten Fleisches ist in beiden Testessen hoch, teils ist die Wiederwahlabsicht beim Zweinutzungshuhn etwas geringer, teils gleich hoch mit dem Standardhuhn. Das EIP-Projekt mit dem Titel „Aufbau von Wertschöpfungsketten für Zweinutzungshühner in Baden-Württemberg“ (ZweiWert) wird vom Ministerium für Ernährung, ländliche Räume und Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg von 01/2022 bis 12/2024 gefördert. Projektpartner sind der Naturlandverband Baden-Württemberg, mehrere Fachgebiete der Universität Hohenheim und viele Partner aus der landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugung und Vermarktung.