Background: The immune response of aged broiler breeder hens is influenced by many factors including obesity and aged lymphatic organs, but may improve by increasing the bioavailability of various nutrients such as zinc (Zn). Dietary supplementation of phytase can improve Zn availability in senescent broiler breeder hens. Aims:</st...

We report the complete genome sequence of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) isolate PDRC-59831, which causes myeloid leukosis and hemangiomas in chickens. This is an American ALV-J isolate, which was found in a 38-week-old broiler breeder chicken on a farm in Georgia in 2007.

Considerable savings can be realized and performance can be improved by formulating poultry feeds based on the daily feed intake and nutrient needs of the chicken. Programmes have been developed for commercial layers, broiler breeders, and replacement pullets for commercial egg production. Programmes have also been suggested for broiler breeder replacements for this purpose. Suggestions have be...

Reoviruses are important pathogens responsible for poor growth performance and silent losses in the poultry industry. They are associated with many disease and syndromes such as malabsorption (runting and stunting syndrome), respiratory diseases and immunosuppression. Broiler birds are most susceptible to viral infections during the early post hatching period. Therefore, the transfer of materna...

Published data on 4-week-long administration of extra thyroxine (T4) in broiler breeder hens to alleviate the cold-induced ascites in their offspring suggested that long-term maternal hyperthyroidism would affect the gastrointestinal tract morphology. Broiler breeder hens (n=70) were reared in individual cages and allotted to control and hyperthyroid groups (five replicates of seven ...

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of four different levels of dietary probiotic (protexin) on productive traits and egg quality of broiler breeder hens. One hundred sixty female 64-week-old broiler breeders (Hubbard classic) were involved in this experiment. The birds were randomly assigned to control Group A (unsupplemented diet), Group B (0.25% protexin supplemented d...

A study was conducted to examine the effect of yeast culture residue (YCR) on the suppression of aflatoxicosis in broiler breeder hens. One hundred twenty, 35-wk-old, Cobb broiler breeder hens of the same cross were fed diets supplemented with aflatoxin (AF) (0 or 3 mg/kg) and YCR (0 or 2 lb/ton) singly and combined in a 2 × 2 factorial designed experiment. The birds were randomly assigned to p...

avian influenza is an important disease of poultry with the potential to cause major epidemics resulting in significant economic losses. the presence of avian influenza viruses (aiv) in chickens in iran has not been previously reported. an avian influenza outbreak in broiler, layer and breeder farms occurred during a very hot summer in july 1998. three aiv isolates designated as 101, 102 and 10...

The effects of environmental temperature (ET) and dietary ME on core body temperature (CBT) and production efficiency were evaluated in broiler breeder hens. A total of 192 Ross 708 broiler breeder hens were individually caged in one of 6 temperature-controlled chambers (32/room) at 20 wk of age. A biotelemetry sensor was surgically implanted abdominally to measure CBT of 8 birds/tmt every 10 m...