Poultry or Avian Science Commons^™

Evaluating Long-Term Direct And Correlated Selection Response In White Plymouth Rock Chickens Selected For High Or Low 8-Week Body Weight, Sylvia Harrison

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The increasing demand for poultry meat has led animal breeders to engage in artificial selection of chickens as a way to increase the productivity of poultry. Long-term experiments have been designed to measure rates of genetic response to a trait under selection, and correlated traits, as well as gauge possible selection limits.

Two studies were conducted to evaluate response to selection for body weight (BW) in chickens. The chickens were selected for high or low BW at 8 weeks of age. Those that met the criterion were selected as parents for the subsequent generation. In the first study the population …

Avian And Mammalian Facilitative Glucose Transporters, Mary Shannon Byers, Christianna Howard, Xiaofei Wang

Biology Faculty Research

The GLUT members belong to a family of glucose transporter proteins that facilitate glucose transport across the cell membrane. The mammalian GLUT family consists of thirteen members (GLUTs 1–12 and H+-myo-inositol transporter (HMIT)). Humans have a recently duplicated GLUT member, GLUT14. Avians express the majority of GLUT members. The arrangement of multiple GLUTs across all somatic tissues signifies the important role of glucose across all organisms. Defects in glucose transport have been linked to metabolic disorders, insulin resistance and diabetes. Despite the essential importance of these transporters, our knowledge regarding GLUT members in avians is fragmented. It is clear that …

Neurotensin And Cholecystokinin Contract Gallbladder Circular Muscle In Chickens, Teresa F. Degolier, D. R. Brown, Gary E. Duke, M. M. Palmer, J. R. Swenson, Robert E. Carraway

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The contractile effects of neurotensin (NT) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on isolated circular smooth muscle strips of chicken gallbladder were investigated. The NT (0.25-300 nM) produced concentration-dependent contractions on smooth muscle with an EC50 of 8.5 nM (95% confidence limits = 5.3-13.6 nM). In comparison, CCK-8 produced concentration-dependent contractions with an EC50 of 13 nM (95% confidence limits of 9-20 nM). There were no statistical differences in contractile responses when comparing NT and CCK-8 at equimolar concentrations. The NT appears to act directly on smooth muscle tissue in the chicken; the contractile responses were not blocked by 10 μM atropine …

Release Of Avian Neurotensin In Response To Intraluminal Contents In The Duodenum Of Chickens, Teresa F. Degolier, Robert E. Carraway

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Peripheral and hepatic-portal plasma levels of neurotensin (NT) in fed and fasted chickens were determined using RIA. Portal levels of NT1-13 (fed = 61.3 ± 3.9 fmol/mL; fasted = 44.5 ± 3.9 fmol/mL) were significantly higher than peripheral levels (fed = 8.2 ± 3.3 fmol/mL; fasted = 7.8 ± 3.0 fmol/mL) collected from the wing vein, indicating that some NT is metabolized in the liver. Portal plasma levels of NT collected from fed birds were also significantly higher than portal plasma levels of NT collected from fasted birds. Neurotensin, as identified by HPLC, exhibited a 2-fold increase in plasma extracts …

Prevalence And Antimicrobial Resistance Of Pathogenic Bacteria In Chicken And Guinea Fowl, Agnes Kilonzo-Nthenge, Samuel N. Nahashon, Fur-Chi Chen, Nathaniel Adefope

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

This study was conducted to compare the presence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter, Salmonella spp., and other enteric bacteria between chickens and guinea fowls. Birds were reared on enclosed concrete floor housing covered with pine wood shavings litter material. Chicken (n = 40) and guinea fowl (n = 40) carcasses, drinking water (10 mL; n = 40), and litter (10 g; n = 40) were aseptically collected randomly from a poultry farm and analyzed within 1 h of collection. Individual pens served as experimental units and were replicated twice. Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and other enterobactericeae were isolated and identified …

Eyespray Vaccination: Infectivity And Development Of Immunity To Eimeria Acervulina And Eimeria Tenella, H. David Chapman, Tim E. Cherry

Faculty Publications

The infectivity of a coccidiosis vaccine and its ability to immunize chickens against two species of Eimeria was examined. The vaccine was administered to newly-hatched chicks by spraying directly onto the eye. The method resulted in a high proportion of chicks infected with E. acervulina and E. tenella. Vaccinated birds reared in cages in the absence of reinfection did not develop immunity to either species by 4 wk of age, but birds reared in floor pens developed immunity to both E. acervulina and E. tenella.

Developing Rapid-Feathering Chickens, I. L. Williams, H. L. Wiegers

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

The object of this circular is to acquaint the poultry producer, hatchery operator, or any other person endeavoring to develop improved strains of chickens with a satisfactory method for eliminating slow-feathering individuals from his flock.

Poultry Progress: What Are Good Chickens?, F. E. Mussehl

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

The desire for improvement is one of the highest of human virtues. Folks everywhere want good chickens. The poultry business is a competitive enterprise, and it is imperative that we have the best stock possible for the particular job to be done. But what are good chickens? Is there confusion about the term? Perhaps we can clarify the picture by asking one or two questions.