Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Aerial. IL conducted research to evaluate how soon after application of sodium bisulfate PLT® would ammonia emissions be affected from layer manure compost. PLT® was tested at 100% of recommended application level (150 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. of surface area). Composting laying hen manure was collected at a commercial laying hen farm that housed approximately 1.4 million birds. Samples were collected from the top 1-2 feet of the approximately three-four depth of compost. They were collected into 6 plastic 5-gallon buckets (14 H x 11.5 D), sealed, and transported to the Environmental Research Lab (ERL) at the University of Illinois. Two replicate samples were collected from each of three different areas of the composting process. Material was estimated to have been composting for approximately two days, and two separate areas that had been mixed and composted for about one week.

After being collected compost samples were maintained at 21°C for the remainder of the experiment. Ammonia emission levels were evaluated from a random sampling of compost from each treatment that was collected into pre weighed plastic tubs (5H x 7W x 11L). Ammonia emissions from all compost treatment samples were determined for a one-hour period in each of the two EC and prior to any PLT® application. Ammonia emissions were sampled six times each measurement period. The first ammonia samples were taken after the compost had been equilibrating in the EC for approximately one hour. We measured the AE from non-treated manure compost (control) and compost topically sprinkled with standard granular PLT® at a level representing 100% of recommended application level (150 pounds per 1000 square feet of surface). Topical sprinkling with standard granular PLT® without opening the EC was accomplished with a newly developed apparatus whereby the recommended level (36 g) of PLT® was distributed over the entire surface area of the compost sample. This allowed short interval measurement of AE over a time period before and after application of PLT®. On the initial AE measurement, the compost samples were placed into individual EC and following a 1-2 hour emission gas equilibrium period, AE were determined for both samples (treated and untreated). Following the initial measurements, one of the two samples (EC) was treated with PLT®. After the PLT® application, AE was measured at approximately 1, 5, and 30 minutes and one-hour post-treatment. Prior to the application of PLT® and after the initial measurements following EC equilibrium, a sham PLT® application was conducted. This allowed us to evaluate any emissions effects caused by PLT® application procedure.

Mean AE are reported as pounds of ammonia per day per ton of compost and expressed as AE throughout this report. Level of inference for difference between various treatments was set at P < 0.05. Prior to any PLT® application mean AE was greater for the two-day vs. one-week old compost (6.6 plus-minus 1.7 and 3.8 plus-minus 0.4, respectively). Mean moisture level was greater in samples from both one-week old locations than the two-day location (53, 56, and 44 %, respectively). This moisture difference may have been caused by the lack of straw (carbon source) degradation and mixing in the two-day old compost. Compost age and time after PLT® both affected AE but there was no compost age by PLT® or compost age by time after PLT® interactions. When the effect of time after application of PLT® is compared to compost that was top-dressed with PLT® there is a significant response within five minutes after PLT® application. There was no difference in AE during the entire experimental period when PLT® was not applied to the compost. We had an initial problem with remote topical distribution of PLT® on to compost samples in the EC that was caused by moisture accumulation on the surface of the application apparatus. The high level of solubility of the PLT® caused the applicator apertures to clog. Cleaning and drying the internal surfaces of the applicator surfaces with ethanol prior to use solved the clogging problem. The PLT® solubility may also be a potential problem during field application.

These data can be added to previously determined result that demonstrate how composting can be used to reduce AE from laying hen manure. An obvious benefit from AE inhibiting treatment is demonstrated and application immediately after compost mixing (a time when AE is greatest) is demonstrated. More information in relation to application level and frequency of application is obviously needed. When this research is finalized, economic and environmental value of composting manure can be used for inclusion into management decisions models.

Visual Responses. GA did work on broiler house lighting. In making broiler housing tighter for efficient heating and ventilation, it has resulted in the ability to control the amount of light provided to commercial broilers. The increased control over photoperiod and light intensity has many growers and companies searching for the lighting programs that will optimize broiler production. Another emerging issue is the influence that lighting has on broiler welfare. Very little information about lighting programs under commercial conditions on broiler welfare exists and a number of recommendations for lighting programs from various customer and animal welfare groups are being suggested to poultry companies. The need for science based recommendations is extremely important as lighting programs are an essential management tool to regulate broiler growth to lower the incidence of metabolic diseases. A two year research project has been completed where photoperiod and light intensity on broiler performance and welfare were evaluated. The birds are reared in pens at commercial density, provided standard diets and managed according to primary breeder recommendations. Light period and intensity are adjusted in each treatment and feed conversion, body weight and livability are monitored throughout the flock. The light intensity during the first week can influence 7 Day bird performance. Getting the birds off to a good start in the first week is crucial to obtain good market weights and feed conversion. In the current study light did not impact broiler performance beyond 21 days of age. It is important to remember that the environment the birds were exposes to was an ideal environment in terms of temperature, air quality and litter conditions. Under commercial conditions birds encounter several environmental challenges that can include elevated ammonia concentrations, temperature variations and poor litter quality. It is possible that lighting could play a larger role in improving bird performance under such conditions by encouraging birds to be more active resulting in finding out where feed and water sources are located. If other environmental conditions are maintained correctly, lighting is a good way to improve bodyweights and feed conversion in the first 7 to 10 days. Further work in this area is planned to identify the effects on bird stress. The bottom line would result in more pounds sold and more income for both the broiler company and grower.

Auditory Responses. CT did work on the effect of stress on the vocalization of captive poultry. Thirty six week old Single Comb White Leghorn chickens were divided into seven treatment groups of 25 birds each for a three month trial. Birds were housed in a litter floor pen at 252 sq in/bird. The treatments were: control, heat stressed (90 to 100°F), crowding (144 sq in/bird), human presence (walking around the pen), heat stress and human presence, heat stress and crowding and heat stress and handling (physically catching and holding a bird). During the application of the treatments, vocalizations of the birds were recoreded for an average of 45 minutes using a Sony PCM-M1 digital audio tape (DAT) recorder and a Shure prologue multidirectional microphone. The microphone was hung at 24 above the floor of the pen. Behavior of the birds during application of the treatments was recorded using a Cannon Optura digital video recorder.

The data is being analyzed using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) which is a statistical model in which the system being modeled is assumed to be a Markov process with unknown paramaters. The HMM is particularly suited for classifying time series data such as vocalization waveforms due to its ability to model non-linear temporal variations in the vocalizaitons. The HMM is initially trained using the Baum-Welch algorithm, which is an expectation maximizaiton algorithm.

The results indicate that the intensity of vocalizaitons of the chickens in our study increased compared to the control birds as a result of the application of an environmental stressor. The combination of heat and handling resulted in the highest intensity vocalizaitons.

The peak frequency of the vocalizations also increased due to exposure to the various environmental stressors compared to the control birds. The peak frequencies were not significantly different between the treatment groups, but were all significantly different from the control birds.

Spatial Responses. MD did work on space analysis and movement of poultry. Animal movement and space use plays an integral role in understanding the behaviour and habitat selection of free-ranging and captive animal populations. In captive animals, how individuals move and use the enclosed space can be severely restricted by factors such as the size of the enclosure, its design, and by the number of individuals housed together. The aim of this study was to investigate the specific effects of group size (GS), and enclose size (ES) on the movement and use of space of captive animals by using the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus as our animal model. This investigation could lead to new considerations in facility design to better suit the biological needs of captive animals. Eight groups of 40 male chickens were used; each group was temporarily divided into three GS (5, 10 and 20 birds) and tested in three different ES (5, 10 and 20 m²). Locations of four focal birds were collected through instantaneous scan sampling and were directly recorded as (X, Y) coordinates with a Tablet PC and the Chickitaizer^© software. From these locations we calculated net and total distance moved, mean, maximum and minimum step-lengths, and angular dispersion of the path of movement. To calculate long-term space use, three replications for each of three experimental GS were placed in nine 10 m² enclosures for one week. Locations of focal birds in each group were collected by ad libitum scan sampling for one hour and data were used to calculate core areas by the Animal Movement Analyst Home Range Extension for the Arc-View (v3.3) GIS. Mixed Model ANOVA was used to determine the effects of GS and ES on movement, while one-way ANOVA was used for core areas. Birds in larger ES had longer net distances, total distances, mean and maximum step-lengths while individuals in larger GS had longer net distances. We show that ES and GS had an effect on short-term movement patterns.

II. Physiological and Behavioral Responses to Management Practice

Nutrition. MN A preliminary study was conducted with IL to determine the effect of diet on ammonia emissions from chicken broiler manure. Manure was collected from broilers fed different types of diets (corn-soybean meal with and without dried distillers grains with solubles). The manure was frozen and subsequently shipped to the University of Illinois for the determination of ammonia release after thawing the samples. It was determined that freezing of the manure depressed microbial activity resulting in little ammonia release indicating that fresh sample of manure are needed for analyses.

Utilization of distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) was examined in diets containing a high inclusion level of poultry byproduct meal as well and fed to growing market tom turkeys. Amino acid digestibility was determined in cooperation with IL. The results indicated that digestible thr levels were critical to maintain optimal performance (body weight and feed conversion) during the growing period of 8-11 wks of age and as diet protein level decreased in diets containing large amounts of alternative protein sources which displace soybean meal.

Efficacy of avian pneumovirus vaccine (APV) was found to be dependent on method of administration. Protection after the first vaccination was obtained when administered via eye drop and spray cabinet. Sprayer application required two vaccinations to provide protection against APV. The results indicate that reports of vaccine failure in the field may be due to vaccination method and timing of disease exposure and not vaccine efficacy.

Data Analyses and Decision Analyses. MS did work on sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity analysis is a basic part of a mathematical programming solution and is helpful in making nutritional and economic decisions for a given feed formulation problem.. The terms shadow price and reduced cost are familiar linear program (LP) terms to feed formulators. Because of the nonlinear nature of stochastic programming (SP), a different approach is used to define shadow prices and reduced costs. The Lagrange multiplier is used instead of shadow price to describe marginal value of nutrients. Reduced Gradient is used instead of reduced cost to describe the price at which ingredients, not used in the formation, would enter the solution. A spreadsheet feed problem was setup with 11 ingredients and 11 constraints. LP and SP solutions were determined using the Excel Solver algorithm. Two problems compared LP and SP solutions at 50% and 69% probabilities for the protein constraint. All other constraints were held at a 50% probability. Results for the 50% probability comparison showed that the feed formulations, as expected, were exactly the same for both LP and SP. Wheat was not included in the solution. The LP reduced cost and the SP reduced gradient for unused wheat were equivalent. The LP Shadow prices and the SP Lagrange multipliers were the equivalent. Results for the 69% probability problem showed a difference in the formulated rations. The LP reduced cost was $34.25 and the SP reduced cost was $34.52 showing the respective amounts that the cost of wheat would have to be reduced to enter the solution. The shadow price and the Lagrange multiplier were $2.73 and $2.71 respectively for the amount of increase in ration cost that could be expected by a unit of change in the protein requirement. Some rounding error was noted with the results.

IL

Harrison, P.C., and K.W. Koelkebeck. 2007. Reducing ammonia emissions from poultry manure and compost. Proc. of Midwest Poultry Federation Convention. St. Paul, MN. 7 pages.

Koelkebeck, K.W., and K.E. Anderson. 2007. Molting layers  alternative methods and their effectiveness. Poult. Sci 86:1260-1264.

MD

Leone, E.N.H., I. Estévez, and M. Christman. 2007. Environmental complexity and group size: Immediate effects on the use of space by domestic fowl. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102:39-52.

Estévez, I., I.L. Andersen, and E. Naevdal. 2007. Group size, density and social dynamics in farm animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 103:185-204. (Invited paper, ranked #10 in the Top 25 Hottest Articles for the Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Sciences)

Estévez, I. 2007. Too many, too few: The effects of group size and density in captive animals. Preface, Special Issue of Applied Animal Behaviour Science 103:183-184. (Preface)

Leone, E.N.H. and I. Estévez. 2007. Patch discrimination as a function of handling time. Poultry Science 86:447-452.

Estévez, I. 2007. Density allowances for broilers: Where to set the limits? Poultry Science 86:1265-1272. (Poultry welfare symposium, Invited review paper)

Leone, E.H. and I. Estévez. 2007. Space use according to the distribution of resources and level of competition. Poultry Science (in press). *Received the Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award.

Leone, E.H. and I. Estévez. 2007. Economic and Welfare Benefits of Environmental Enrichment for Broiler Breeders. Poultry Science (in press).

Newberry, R.C., L.J. Keeling, I. Estévez, and B. Bilcik. 2007. Behaviour when young as a predictor of severe feather pecking in adult laying hens: the redirected foraging hypothesis revisited. Applied Animal Behavior Science (in press).

Estévez, I. 2007. Behavior and environmental enrichment in Broiler Breeders. In: Biology of Breeding Poultry. CAB (in press).

Leone, E.H., and I. Estévez. 2007. Separating the effects of group size, stocking density and pen size in broilers. Poultry Science, Poscal 86 (supplement 1), pp: 126.

Leone, E.H., and I. Estévez. 2007. Environmental enrichment improves broiler breeder welfare and reproductive performance. Proceedings of the 41st International Congress of the ISAE, Merida, July 30-August 3rd, 2007, pp 31.

Mallapur, A., I. Estévez, C. Miller, and M.C. Christman. 2007. Movement and use of the space in confinement: The effects of group size and pen size in broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus). Proceedings of the 41st International Congress of the ISAE, Merida, July 30-August 3rd, 2007, pp. 152.

MN

S. L. Noll and J. Brannon, 2007. Response of market turkey toms to dietary protein and threonine levels in diets containing corn distillers dried grains. Poult. Sci. 86 (Suppl. 1):68.

S. L. Noll, J. Brannon, and C. Parsons, 2007. Nutritional value of corn distiller dried grains with solubles (DDGs): Influence of solubles addition. Poult. Sci. 86 (Suppl. 1):68.

Ramakrishnan, M. A., B. T. Velayudhan, S. Anantharaman, S. L. Noll, D. A. Halvorson, K. V. Nagaraja, and S. Goyal, 2007. Effects of temperature and stabilizer on the viability of a live attenuated avian metapneumovirus vaccine. Avian Diseases 51:979-981.

Velayudhan, B. T., S. L. Noll, A. J. Thachil, D. P. Shaw, S. M. Goyal, D. A. Halvorson, and K. V. Nagaraja, 2007. Development of a vaccine-challenge model for avian metapneumovirus subtype C in turkeys. Vaccine 25:1841-1847.

MS

Roush, W.B., J. Purswell, and S.L. Branton, 2008. An adjustable nutrient margin of safety comparison using linear and stochastic programming in and Excel spreadsheet. Journal of Applied Poultry Research: In press.

Roush, W.B., J. Purswell, S. Branton, 2008. An adjustable nutrient margin of safety comparison using linear and stochastic programming in an Excel spreadsheet. To be presented at the International Poultry Scientific Forum, Atlanta Georgia.