Two experiments were conducted to study effects of dietary insoluble fiber (IF) on digestive enzyme function in layer poultry. In Experiment 1, 8 wk old pullets were fed a control diet (Group C) or a diet (Group IF) supplemented with 1% IF (Arbocel RC). After 5 wk, 6 pullets per group were killed and organ samples collected. The remaining pullets in Group C were divided into two groups: half were fed the control diet (Group C) and half were given the IF diet (Group C-IF). Similarly, half the pullets in Group IF continued on the IF diet (Group IF) and half on the control diet (Group IF-C). At 10 wk, organ samples were collected. BW at wk 5 (IF, 1364.8 g; C, 1342.9 g) and 10 wk (IF, 1678.1 g; IF-C, 1630.5 g; C-IF, 1617.1 g; C, 1580.4 g) were not different. At wk 5, the relative proventricular weight (0.41 g/100 g BW) and activities of pepsin (75.3 pepsin units/g proventriculus/min) and pancreatic general proteolytic activity (GP) (122.9 μmol tyrosine produced/g tissue) were greater (P < 0.05) than those of Group C (proventricular relative weight, 0.36; pepsin activity, 70.6; GP activity, 94.3). At wk 10, relative weights of liver and gizzard of Group IF were heavier (P < 0.05) than other treatments; activities of pepsin, GP, trypsin and chymotrypsin of IF pullets were significantly greater than other treatments as was mRNA expression for pepsinogens A (25.9 vs. 22.9) and C (13.1 vs. 10.8). In Experiment 2, 19 wk old hens were fed a control diet or a diet containing 0.8% IF (Arbocel RC) for 12 wk. Final BW after 12 wk was not different (IF, 1919.4 g; C, 1902.1 g). Pancreatic GP activity was greater (P < 0.05) in Group IF hens than Group C at wk 12 (122.2 vs. 97.0 μmol tyrosine released/min/g tissue)) as was relative gizzard weight (1.32 vs 1.10 g/100 g BW). The significantly improved digestive organ weights and enzyme activities in IF pullets may contribute to an improvement in feed utilization.

1. Production-induced osteoporosis in caged laying hens is thought to represent a major constraint to continued genetic development. 2. The relationship between body weight, egg production, skeletal abnormalities characteristic of osteoporosis, femur calcium and bone histology was examined in a flock of ISA Brown layers from 16 to 68 weeks of age. 3. Experiment 2 examined a flock of Lohmann browns for skeletal abnormalities characteristic of osteoporosis at 45 weeks of age and the severity of abnormalities was then related to body weight and production between 18 and 45 weeks of age. 4. Average body weight declined in the ISA flock between 35 and 45 weeks of age, which correlated with a loss of skeletal calcium reserves (15% to 20%) and with the induction of osteoporosis. Between 42 and 68 weeks of age, birds were able to replenish femur calcium levels. 5. Birds in the Lohmann flock showing severe skeletal abnormalities at 45 weeks of age experienced weight loss between 27 and 31 weeks of age, which was associated with a decrease in egg production of 18%. After 35 weeks of age, egg production of these birds recovered to similar levels as unaffected or mildly affected birds. 6. It seems likely that better standardisation of the equilibrium between growth, skeletal reserves, food intake and egg production can reduce osteoporosis, as well as improving the productive potential of modern laying strains.

1. Effects of food restriction on growth rate and relative growth rates of supply organs (liver, heart, lungs and kidneys, digestive tract) and demand organs (breast, back, thighs, abdominal fat) of broiler chickens were studied. 2. Birds were restricted in intake to 50% (group FI 50) or 75% (group FI 75) of ad libitum from 5 to 11 d of age; all birds were fed ad libitum from 12 to 39 d of age. 3. Relative growth rates from 12 to 39 d of age of group FI 50 were higher (P < 0.05) than group FI 75 and control group. 4. No significant differences in food conversion ratio, carcase fat and abdominal fat between groups were observed. 5. At 12 d of age, relative weight of the empty digestive tract of group FI 50 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control group and group FI 75. 6. The increased weight of the empty digestive tract may have contributed to the ability of the chickens to achieve compensatory growth after the restriction period.

The research described in this paper relates the changes in serum concentration of calcium, phosphorus, and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] to changes in tibial ash percentage and the incidence of endochondral ossification defects (EOD) in flocks of commercially reared broiler chickens at 14 d of age. Sequential studies of six Australian broiler flocks representing three major genetic lines were undertaken at weekly intervals from 1 to 28 d of age. Serum collected from birds was analyzed for total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and 1,25(OH)2D3. Tibial ash percentage was also determined at weekly intervals, and the incidence of EOD was determined at 14 d of age by examining sagittal sections of the proximal tibiotarsus. The EOD observed in the 14-d-old broiler chickens were characterized by enlarged zones of proliferating chondrocytes, similar to that which occurs during calcium- or vitamin D-dependent rickets. Three flocks had a 50% incidence of EOD at 14 d of age and were classified as severely affected. The other three flocks had incidences ranging from 12 to 16% and were classified as mildly affected. Broiler flocks severely affected with EOD (50% incidence at Day 14) had lower (P < or = .05) concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 than flocks mildly affected (12 to 16% incidence). Tibial ash percentages were lower (P < or = .05) in the severely affected flocks between Days 14 to 28, and it is likely that a lower rate of ash accretion between Days 7 to 14 precedes the development of the EOD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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