Effects of experimental Ascaridia galli (Schrank, 1788) inoculation in chickens : a thesis /
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A&M University],
[1970]
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| Subjects: |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: Experiments involving starting, growing and laying periods in chickens were conducted to determine the effects of Ascaridia galli inoculation on performance traits from 30 to 150 days of age and during three consecutive 28-days egg laying periods. Two groups of birds were inoculated with 150 +- 10 infective effs of A. galli at 30 and 60 days of age respectively. A third group served as uninfected control chickens. At 60 days of age the birds inoculated when 30 days old averaged 599.3 g in weight, 344.5 g in weight gain, and 3.43 respectively for the same traits during this time period. The differences were statistically significant at the 0.05 level of probability. The average body weights when the pullets were 150 days old were significantly lower in birds weights when the pullets were 150 days old were significantly lower in birds inoculated when 30 days old (1137.4 g), when compared with birds in the control group (1190.1 g). Birds inoculated when 60 days old weighted less than chickens in the control groups (average 1150.1 g), but this difference was not statistically significant. There was no statistical difference in feed consumption either at 30 - 60 days of life or at 90 to 150 days of life. Feed efficiency, however, was significantly lowered by Ascardia galli in the inoculated groups both for the starting and growing periods. During the laying phase of the experiment there was no statistical difference in body weight, feed consumption, egg size, or shell thickness. Birds inoculated with Ascardia galli when 30 or 60 days old, had a rate of laying of 48.90% and 47.41% respectively, from 151 to 234 days of age. The control group, during the same period, reached 55.16% production. The differences between the control group and the treatment groups were statistically significant at the 0.05 level of probability. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) also were the differences found for feed efficiency. Efficiency of feed utilization was measured as the number of kilograms of feed required to produce one kilogram of eggs. The total average mean for this trait during the period tested was: 3.61 for group 1 (inoculated with A. galli when 30 days old); 3.53 for group 2 (inoculated with A. galli when 60 days old); and 3.09 for group 3 (control). Hough-unit scores were lower in group 2; however, from the data collected, it is not possible to accurately determine whether this was due to Ascardia infection. Similarly, as determined for the growing period, there was no statistical difference in mortality during the laying phase of the experiment. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Veterinary Parasitology". "Submitted to the Graduate College of the Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science January 1970". |
| Physical Description: | xii, 57 leaves : tables, graphs ; 28 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |