Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

I. Poultry House Environment.

Aerial. IL conducted research to evaluate possible methods to reduce ammonia that was generated from an on farm composting system. Sodium bisulfate (PLT®) was tested at 100% of recommended application level (150 pounds per 1000 square feet of surface [T-1]) and 150% of recommended level (T-2). Composting laying hen manure was collected at a commercial laying hen farm that housed a total of approximately 1.2 million birds. Samples were collected into 18 new plastic 5-gallon containers (14 H x 11.5 D) and a sealed cover was placed over the containers for transport to the emissions calorimeters (EC), located in the Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL) at the University of Illinois. Six replicate samples were collected from each of three different areas of the composting process in which manure had been composting for approximately one day, one week, and three weeks. In each of the three composting areas approximately 55 grams of PLT® was evenly distributed over the surface of two of the samples (Treatment-1), another two samples were treated with 83 grams of PLT® (Treatment-2), and the remaining two served as untreated controls (zero). Ammonia emissions from all compost treatment samples were determined for a one-hour period in each of the three EC, over approximately five hours.

Mean AE was 5.02, 4.89, and 3.68 for the zero, T-1, and T-2 levels of PLT® treatments when evaluated over both one day and one week measurement periods after storage in the 5-gallon containers. There was not a difference between T-1 and T-2; however, when PLT® treatments (AE = 1.09) were compared to zero PLT® (AE = 2.10) the values were different. AE measurements after one week of storage at ERL were 3.24, 17.03 and 2.63 for the manure that had been composting on the farm for one day, one week, and three weeks, respectively. PLT® had no effects on AE at the one week of storage measurement period even when the one-week-old compost samples were dropped from the analysis. Moisture (30.0 plus-minus 1.0%) and temperature (38.2 plus-minus 0.63 C) were not influenced by PLT® treatment and both moisture and temperature were higher for the compost samples that had been composted for a week on the farm.

These data will be used to establish the beneficial effects of composting to reduce AE from laying hen manure. An obvious benefit from AE inhibiting treatments is demonstrated and an obvious need for more information in relation to application level and frequency of application is needed for proper management. Economic and environmental value of composted manure can also be used for inclusion into models that can be used for business decisions.

II. Physiological and Behavioral Responses to Management Practice

Beak Trimming. MN conducted research on the practice of beak-trimming in turkeys. The practice of beak-trimming in turkeys was examined relative to welfare concerns and cannibalism in cooperation with H. Xin and R. Cook (IA), I. Estevez and E. Hoerl (MD), and M. Beck (NE). The objectives of this study are to assess the method of beak trimming and feed form on turkey behavior. The hypothesis is that feed form and beak-trimming will modify feeding and aggression behavior. Male Large White commercial turkey poults were obtained from a hatchery following beak trimming by hot blade, electric arc, and infrared methods, along with a set of birds that were not beak-trimmed. The poults were randomly assigned to 16 replicate floor pens per beak treatment, with 8 pens each fed mash or crumbled pelleted feed to 18 weeks of age. Behavior observations were conducted using Observer software package (Noldus) and a time budget was created for each focal bird. Three focal birds per pen were observed, for a total of 24 replicate focal birds per feed/beak-trim type. Statistical analyses were conducted with SAS. Time budgets were primarily effected by period of observation (age) and feed form. As age of the turkey increased less time was spent feeding, drinking and resting. Time spent walking and standing increased most likely associated with sexual development of the toms. The form of the feed offered modified the time budget. Results indicate that poults fed the mashed feed spent a larger percentage of their time feeding than those fed pellets (9.3 vs. 2.9%), along with less time resting and standing. Beak-trim treatment did not affect the time budget, nor were there any interactions of beak trim treatment with feed form.

Bill Trimming. CA conducted a study to determine the effects of a commercial bill-trimming to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. Pekin ducks are often bill-trimmed to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism, but this practice has been criticized because of the resulting potential for acute and chronic pain. The goal of this experiment was to compare two different bill-trimming methods, hot blade trimming with cautery (TRIM) and cautery only (tip-searing; SEAR), on the behavior, bill morphology, and weight gain of Pekin ducks. Ducklings (N = 192, 96 per sex) were trimmed at the hatchery and assigned into 12 floor pens (3.66 m X 0.91 m) by treatment. Behavior was evaluated by scan sampling, and plumage condition scored using a 0 to 3 scoring system. Thirty-six ducks were randomly euthanized at 3 and 6 wk of age, and their bills collected for examination. Following fixation and decalcification, the bills were embedded in paraffin wax and sectioned longitudinally. Alternate sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Massons trichrome for the connective tissues; and Bielschowsky's silver impregnation, Bodian's, and Holmes' staining for the nerve fibers. Trimmed ducks performed fewer bill-related behaviors and rested more than untrimmed ducks (NOTRIM) during the first 2 weeks post-trim. SEAR and NOTRIM showed similar patterns of weight gain, but TRIM had a lower rate of gain than SEAR during the first week post-trim and than NOTRIM for 2 weeks post-trim. Feather scores of NOTRIM were significantly worse than those of TRIM or SEAR by 18 d, and continued to deteriorate at a greater rate than in trimmed ducks throughout the study. Both trimming methods caused connective tissue proliferation in the bill stumps, but TRIM caused thicker scar tissue than SEAR. No neuromas were found using either trimming method, but there were more nerve fibers in the SEAR than the TRIM bill stumps. These results suggest that there is acute pain associated with both trimming methods but that SEAR may be a preferable method, causing less check in weight gain and fewer bill morphological changes while still being effective in minimizing feather pecking damage.

Induced Molt. Induced molting. IL conducted a study which evaluated the effects of feeding molt diets for a varying number of days. Laying hens were fed several molt diets for < 28 days, = 28 days, or > 28 days and compared these to a 10-day feed withdrawal period to induce molting. For this study, 504 Hy-Line W-36 hens (69 weeks of age) were housed in a cage layer house of commercial design and allocated randomly to six replicate groups of 12 hens each (4 adjacent raised wire cages, 30 x 46 cm, containing 3 hens per cage, 72 square inches per hen) per treatment. The treatments were: 1) Fasted for 10 days, then fed a 16% protein molt diet for 18 days (10-day fast); 2) Fed a 94% corn ad libitum for 35 days (Corn 35); 3) Fed a 47% corn:47% soybean hulls diet ad libitum for 21 days (SH 21); 4) Fed a 47% corn:47% soybean hulls diet ad libitum for 28 days (SH 28); 5) Fed a 47% corn:47% soybean hulls diet ad libitum for 35 days (SH 35); 6) Fed a 71% wheat middlings:23% corn diet ad libitum for 21 days (WM 21); 7) Fed a 71% wheat middlings:23% corn diet ad libitum for 28 days (WM 28). The total length of the experiment lasted 44 weeks (4 weeks for the molt period and 40 weeks for the postmolt egg production period).

Body weight loss for hens on the feed withdrawal treatment was 25.2% on Day 10 of the molt period. On Day 21 of the molt period hens on the Corn:SH 21 and WM:Corn 21 treatments lost 13 and 2% of body weight, respectively. Hens on the Corn:SH 28 and WM:Corn 28 treatments lost 21 and 8% of body weight. And, the hens fed the Corn and Corn:SH 35 for 35 d lost 17 and 28% body weight, respectively. These results show that the hens fed the SH 21, 28, and 35 diets produced less eggs than those fed the WM 21 and 28 diets from Weeks 2 to 5. When considering the total experimental period of Weeks 1 to 44, the hens fed the SH 21, 28, 35, and WM 21 diets produced equally as well as those hens which were fasted for 10 days (10-day fast). In summary, feeding a soybean hulls-corn diet for 21, 28, or 35 days resulted in cumulative and postmolt egg production that was similar as the 10-day feed withdrawal. Feeding a wheat middlings-corn diet for 21 days also resulted in comparable egg production to the 10-day feed withdrawal treatment. Feeding a corn diet for 35 days yielded the lowest postmolt egg production.

Nutrition. MN in cooperation with IL studied the nutritional value of DDGS. The nutritional value of corn derived distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was examined by determining the amino acid digestibility in cooperation with IL as well as assessing its performance through feeding trials. It was hypothesized that variable solubles addition to the wet grains prior to drying could effect the nutrient composition of the dried product and perhaps change the dynamics of the drying process to effect product quality. Batches of corn distiller dried grains were produced with varying levels of solubles (syrup) added back to the wet grains (mash) and then dried. The batches produced contained syrup added at approximately 0, 30, 60, and 100% of the maximum possible addition of syrup to mash. Actual rates of syrup addition were 0, 12, 25, and 42 gal/minute. Dryer temperature decreased with the decrease in rate of solubles of addition. Samples of each lot of material were taken and were chemically analyzed. The results indicate that the level of solubles addition has most of its effect on particular particle size and color of the dried product. Particle size was greatly affected with larger and more variable particle size with the highest level of solubles addition. The larger particles (syrup balls) were readily apparent in the 100% batch. Content of fat and ash increased with solubles addition. The TMEn content increased with solubles addition. Mineral content, especially for magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, chloride, and sulfur increased as the level of solubles addition increased. Protein and amino acid content showed very little change in the various products. True amino acid digestibility coefficients of the essential amino acids tended to be negatively correlated with solubles addition. The results indicate that solubles addition has the largest effect on particle size, color, and; contents of fat (and thus TMEn) and minerals.

A feeding trial was conducted to examine different inclusion levels of poultry byproduct meal (PBM) and DDGS and their combined effect on market tom performance during 5-19 wks of age. Large White male turkey poults (Nicholas strain) were randomly assigned to pens (10/pen) at 5 wks age and fed one of the following diet treatments (T): 1. Corn and soybean meal control; 2. As T1 with PBM (8% ); 3. As T1 with PBM (12%); 4. As T1 with DDGS (10%); 5. As T1 with DDGS (20%); 6. As T 2 and T4; 7. As T2 and T5; 8. As T3 and T4; and, 9. As T3 and T5. Each diet was fed to 10 replicate pens. At 19 wks of age, dietary treatment significantly affected 19-wk body weight and feed efficiency (5-19 wks) (P<.001) (Table 2). The body weight of the corn-soy control diet (T1) averaged 20.18 kg. Diets containing PBM (8 or 12%) or DDGS (10 or 20%) were not significantly different from the control. BW of turkeys fed diets containing PBM (8 or 12%) in combination with 20% DDGS was less than that of the control by 3.3%. A significant interaction existed for inclusion of PBM and DDGS (P<.02) for feed efficiency. Feed/gain of turkeys fed diets containing PBM (8 or 12%) or DDGS (10 or 20%) were not significantly different from the control. However, the feed/gain increased for turkeys fed diets containing PBM (8 or 12%) in combination with 20% DDGS, which were significantly different from the control by 5 to 6 points. In summary, performance of turkeys fed 20% DDGS diets was not different from the control except when used in combination with high levels of PBM.

Gustafson, L., H-W. Cheng, J.P. Garner, E.A. Pajor, and J.A. Mench. 2006. Effects of bill-trimming on the behavior, bill morphopathology, and weight gain of Muscovy ducks. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. In press. Koelkebeck, K.W., C.M. Parsons, P. Biggs, and P. Utterback. 2006. Nonwithdrawal Molting Programs. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 15:483-491. Kassube, H., E. Hoerl Leone, I. Estevez, H. Xin, and S. Noll. 2006. Turkey beak trim and feed form. 2. Effect on turkey behavior. Poultry Sci. 85(Suppl 1):17. Noll, S. L., C. Parsons, and B. Walters. 2006. What's new since September 2005 in feeding distillers co-products to poultry. In Proceedings 67th Minnesota Nutrition Conference. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. Noll, S. L., and J. Brannon. 2006. Inclusion levels of corn distillers grains with solubles and poultry byproduct meal in market turkey diets. Poultry Sci. 85(Suppl 1):106. Noll, S. L., and H. Xin. 2006. Turkey beak trim and feed form. 1. Effect on turkey performance. Poultry Sci. 85(Suppl 1):17. Rost, Kenneth F. 2005. Canola Meal in Turkey Diets, M.S. Thesis, University of Minnesota.