Poultry or Avian Science Commons^™

2021-2022 Christmas Bird Counts, Don Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

With the addition of the new Fort Niobrara circle, 19 counts were run during the 2021-2022 CBC season. Thirteen of them were run from December 14 through December 21 and the other six were done December 27 or later. The weather was mild to start the count period with almost all water open. As the count period progressed, the weather became more seasonable and much of the standing water froze, but conditions remained fairly benign with the exception of the Lake McConaughy count on January 2. Though it was cold but sunny on that day, the previous day’s snow and …

The Nebraska Bird Review Volume 90 Number 1, March 2022

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, Dec. 2021 - Feb. 2022 by W. Ross Silcock

2021-2022 Christmas Bird Counts by Don Paseka

Annual Color Photo Section

Annual Treasurer's Report for 2021 by Jan Johnson

Subscription and Organization Information

Impact Of Light Intensity Or Choice Of Intensity On Broiler Performance And Behavior, D. J. Aldridge, C. M. Owens, C. Maynard, M. T. Kidd, C. G. Scanes

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The optimal light intensities for broiler production and well-being have been investigated for some time. The use of a minimum 20 lux (lx) is mandated within the European Union (European Commission, 2000; European Union 2007). Light intensities below 20 lx are commonly used in the United States. There have been inconsistent effects of light intensities below 20 lx on broiler performance. The present study evaluated the performance of broiler chickens reared under 5, 10, and 20 lx or a choice between these intensities. The feed: gain ratio was the lowest for birds reared using 5 lx and the choice of …

Spirulina Platensis Meal Inclusion Effects On Broilers Fed A Reduced Protein Diet, G. J. Mullenix, C. J. Maynard, C. M. Owens, S. J. Rochell, W. G. Bottje, R. D. Brister, M. T. Kidd

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Apart from soybean meal, alternative sources of protein are a long-term concern facing commercial broiler producers. These alternative protein sources must be rich in protein, have a balanced amino acid profile, be highly digestible, be nutritionally safe for the bird, and ideally contain some other intrinsic value. Spirulina platensis is a microalgae that is growing in popularity due to its high protein level, health benefits, and environmental impact. Two experiments (in female and male Ross 708 broilers) were conducted to determine the effect of Spirulina inclusion in reduced crude protein diets on broiler growth, carcass yields, breast fillet color, breast …

0876: Lloyd Kiff Ornithology Collection, 1872-1997, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Lloyd Kiff graduated from Marshall University in 1964 and later taught as instructor in Zoology in the late 1960s. Kiff has worked as an ornithologist for more than 50 years. His father earned a master’s degree in organic chemistry and his mother earned a master’s degree in both biology and Library Science at Marshall. Kiff’s mother was also the editor for Bird Calls, a periodical issued by the Huntington Bird Club.

Lloyd Kiff has also published various works included in this collection, such as Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia (1960 and 1986) that can be …

Evaluation Of Live-Attenuated Histomonas Meleagridis Isolates As Vaccine Candidates Against Wild-Type Challenge, L. C. Beer, B.D.M. Graham, T. L. Barros, J. D. Latorre, G. Tellez-Isaias, A. L. Fuller, B. M. Hargis, C. N. Vuong

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Repeated serial in vitro passage of Histomonas meleagridis, the etiological agent of histomoniasis (blackhead) of turkeys, was demonstrated to markedly achieve attenuation and reduction of virulence as compared to the original wild-type isolate. Four experiments were performed to evaluate the route (oral vs. intracloacal) and age (day-of-hatch vs. d 14) for administration of attenuated H. meleagridis isolates as vaccine candidates against homologous or heterologous wild-type challenge. Attenuated H. meleagridis were developed from 2 different strains (Buford strain originating in Georgia; PHL2017 strain originating in Northwest Arkansas). Buford P80a (passage 80, assigned as isolate lineage “a” following repeated passage) was …

Whole-Genome Sequence And Interaction Analysis In The Production Of Six Enzymes From The Three Bacillus Strains Present In A Commercial Direct-Fed Microbial (Norum™) Using A Bliss Independence Test, Daniel Hernandez-Patlan, Bruno Solis-Cruz, Juan D. Latorre, Ruben Merino-Guzman, Miguel Morales Rodriguez, Catie Ausland, Xochitl Hernandez-Velasco, Oscar Ortiz Holguin, Ramiro Delgado, Billy Hargis, Pallavi Singh, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The three Bacillus strains present in Norum™ were initially selected by their excellent to good relative enzyme activity (REA) production score for amylase, protease, lipase, phytase, cellulase, β-glucanase, and xylanase. Further studies confirmed that the three isolates also showed an antibacterial activity, Gram-positive and Gram-negative poultry pathogens. Norum™ (Eco-Bio/Euxxis Bioscience LLC) is a Bacillus spore direct-fed microbial (DFM). The Bacillus isolates were screened and selected based on in vitro enzyme production profiles. Moreover, in chickens fed high non-starch polysaccharides, this DFM demonstrated to reduce digesta viscosity, bacterial translocation, increase performance, bone mineralization, and balance the intestinal microbiota. In the present …

Probiotics, Prebiotics, And Phytogenic Substances For Optimizing Gut Health In Poultry, Awad A. Shehata, Sakine Yalçın, Juan D. Latorre, Shereen Basiouni, Youssef A. Attia, Amr Abd El-Wahab, Christian Visscher, Hesham R. El-Seedi, Claudia Huber, Hafez M. Hafez, Wolfgang Eisenreich, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The gut microbiota has been designated as a hidden metabolic 'organ' because of its enormous impact on host metabolism, physiology, nutrition, and immune function. The connection between the intestinal microbiota and their respective host animals is dynamic and, in general, mutually beneficial. This complicated interaction is seen as a determinant of health and disease; thus, intestinal dysbiosis is linked with several metabolic diseases. Therefore, tractable strategies targeting the regulation of intestinal microbiota can control several diseases that are closely related to inflammatory and metabolic disorders. As a result, animal health and performance are improved. One of these strategies is related …

Snp-Based Breeding For Broiler Resistance To Ascites And Evaluation Of Correlated Production Traits, Katie Pepper Lee, Nicholas B. Anthony, Sara K. Orlowski, Douglas D. Rhoads

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

The goal of this study was to evaluate marker-assisted selection (MAS) in broiler chickens using previously mapped gene regions associated with ascites syndrome incidence. The second-generation MAS products were assessed for impact on ascites phenotype and whether there were associated changes in important production traits. Previously, we used whole genome resequencing (WGR) to fine-map 28 chromosomal regions as associated with ascites phenotype in our experimental ascites broiler line (Relaxed, REL) based on a hypobaric chamber challenge. Genotypes for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mapped regions on chromosomes 2 and 22, were used for MAS in our REL line. After …

Territory Holders Are More Aggressive Towards Older, More Dangerous Floaters, Walter H. Piper, Katherine R. Lee, Brian Hoover

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Animals that show aggression often risk injury and incur steep energetic costs. Thus, aggression should occur at such times and towards such opponents as to maximize fitness. We tested hypotheses predicting adaptive territorial aggression in the common loon, a species in which ease of observation of territory owners and floaters (prebreeders) seeking to evict them provide a rare window onto owner-floater competition. As predicted, older, more competitive floaters (4-year-olds and upwards) tended to intrude into territories that had produced chicks the previous year (and, hence, were of high quality). Older floaters also showed predicted increases in aggression and territorial yodeling, …

Effects Of Sunrise/Sunset Lighting On Corticosterone Levels In Coturnix Quail (Coturnix Coturnix), Hannah M. Feuerborn, Sara K. Orlowski

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Both genetics and environment play important roles in the growth, performance, and overall welfare of poultry species. Current commercial production practices typically do not mimic the natural environmental conditions of ancestral poultry species, specifically lighting. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of genetics and the effect of sunrise/sunset lighting on the stress response of 4 genetic lines of Coturnix quail. The 4 lines utilized in this study included high stress (H), low stress (L), stress control (R), and Arkansas randombred (A) quail lines. Day old chicks from these lines were placed in one of two environmentally controlled rooms. …

Time Course Investigation Of The Dermal Leukocyte Response To Lipoteichoic Acid In Chickens, Ian M. Gilbert, Jossie M. Santamaria, Gisela F. Erf

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a cell-wall polymer in Gram-positive bacteria that stimulates inflammation. Few studies have investigated in vivo immune response to LTA, and none of the in vivo studies have been performed in birds. For this project, the pulp (a skin derivative) of growing feathers (GF) of chickens was used to investigate the in vivo effects of intradermally injected LTA. In Study 1, GF of chickens were injected with 10 μL of differing concentrations of LTA (0.1, 1.0, 10, 100 or 250 μg LTA/mL; 3 chickens/dose). Growing feathers were plucked before injection (0 h) and at 6, 24, 48, …

Winter Wings: An Introduction To Environmental Education, Samuel G. Mothner

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Feed Additives And The Use Of A Novel Wood Boiler Heat Exchanger On Litter Quality, Broiler Performance, And Immune Status, Victoria Ayres

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of varying feed ingredients and heating systems on boiler performance metrics. Chapter Two investigated the effects of two corn-expressed phytases, differing in enzyme concentration within the grain (3,000 or 9,677 FTU/g), on broiler performance and tibia mineralization, when used as a component in pelleted feed. Dietary treatments included a positive control (PC), with industry-recommended levels of calcium and phosphorous, and a negative control (NC), lower in calcium and non-phytate phosphorous. Six diets containing corn-expressed phytase at high or low grain concentrations, formulated to 3,000, 6,000, or 9,000 FTU/kg, were …

Plant-Frugivore Interactions Across The Caribbean Islands: Modularity, Invader Complexes And The Importance Of Generalist Species, Maximilian G.R. Vollstädt, Mauro Galetti, Christopher N. Kaiser-Bunbury, Benno I. Simmons, Fernando Gonçalves, Alcides L. Morales-Pérez, Luis Navarro, Fabio L. Tarazona-Tubens, Spencer Schubert, Tomas Carlo, Jackeline Salazar, Michel Faife-Cabrera, Allan Strong, Hannah Madden, Adam Mitchell, Bo Dalsgaard

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Aim: Mutualistic interactions between plants and animals are fundamental for the maintenance of natural communities and the ecosystem services they provide. However, particularly in human‐dominated island ecosystems, introduced species may alter mutualistic interactions. Based on an extensive dataset of plant–frugivore interactions, we mapped and analysed a meta‐network across the Caribbean archipelago. Specifically, we searched for subcommunity structure (modularity) and identified the types of species facilitating the integration of introduced species in the Caribbean meta‐network.

Location: Caribbean archipelago (Lucayan archipelago, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles).

Methods: We reviewed published scientific literature, unpublished theses and other nonpeer‐reviewed sources to compile an extensive dataset …

Industrial Hemp As A Resource For Birds In Agroecosystems: Human–Wildlife Conflict Or Conservation Opportunity?, Emily A. Kotten, Iona Hennessy, Bryan M. Kluever, Zachary T. Brym, Bradley F. Blackwell, Lee A. Humberg, Page E. Klug

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.; hemp) is an emerging crop in the United States with little known about bird use or the potential for birds to become an agricultural pest. We identified birds associated with hemp fields, using repeated visits to oilseed plots in North Dakota, USA (n = 6) and cannabinoid (CBD) plots in Florida, USA (n = 4) from August to November 2020. We did not control for plot area or density; our observations were descriptive only. We observed 10 species in hemp, 12 species flying over hemp, and 11 species both foraging in and …

Investigation Of A Novel Throughput Agent On Production Rate And Pellet Quality And The Development Of A Lab-Based Method To Predict Salmonella Reduction In Poultry Feed, Utilizing Varying Feed Manufacture Parameters, Timothy Paul Boltz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate a novel throughput agent and its mechanisms on production rate and pellet quality. An additional experiment using lab-based methods and models was conducted to predict Salmonella reduction in mash broiler feed. Feed mill pellet production rate is of great importance to integrated meat bird production. Feed hygienics are also of increasing concern for poultry producers.

In chapter 2, the effect of AZOMITE® (AZM) and varying inorganic phosphate sources (IPS) on pellet mill production rate and pellet quality was assessed. It is documented that the naturally abrasive properties of inorganic phosphate sources may scour the …

Feed Conditioning Effects On Enzymes, Amino Acids, And Subsequent Broiler Performance, Elizabeth Ann Lynch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There are many things that can be done to improve broiler performance including, but not limited to, pelleting, proper Lys inclusion, and exogenous enzyme supplementation. Pelleting has the ability to improve feed form, reduce wastage, improve bird performance metrics, and decrease pathogens within the feed. Pathogen reduction can be further reduced by hygienic pelleting practices which include an increase in temperature or retention time within a conditioner or hygieniser. However, hygienic pelleting can degrade valuable AA and enzymes (more specifically for the current thesis research Lys and phytase) and make them unavailable to the animal. Supplementing Lys to account for …

A Subsurface Eddy Associated With A Submarine Canyon Increases Availability And Delivery Of Simulated Antarctic Krill To Penguin Foraging Regions, K. Hudson, M. J. Oliver, J. Kohut, Michael S. Dinniman, John M. Klinck, M. A. Cimino, K. S. Bernard, H. Statscewich, W. Fraser

OES Faculty Publications

The distribution of marine zooplankton depends on both ocean currents and swimming behavior. Many zooplankton perform diel vertical migration (DVM) between the surface and subsurface, which can have different current regimes. If concentration mechanisms, such as fronts or eddies, are present in the subsurface, they may impact zooplankton near-surface distributions when they migrate to near-surface waters. A subsurface, retentive eddy within Palmer Deep Canyon (PDC), a submarine canyon along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), retains diurnal vertically migrating zooplankton in previous model simulations. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of the PDC and its associated subsurface eddy increases …

Hotline Number To Reach And Offer Agricultural Information To Plain Anabaptists During The Covid-19 Workplace Closures, Emily Shoop, Carly Becker, Nathan Glenn Briggs, Danielle Smarsh

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The Penn State Extension Animal Systems Team developed a toll-free hotline phone number to convey short educational messages to maintain contact and outreach to Pennsylvania’s animal producing Amish, Mennonite, and other plain Anabaptist populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State Extension’s programming went largely online via webinars, online courses, and emails. This change in programming excluded a large sector of Pennsylvania farmers who do not use or have access to the internet and, as such, were liable to miss important best management practice reviews and timely updates in animal agriculture. The Animal Systems Hotline offered callers the choice to listen …