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G N Rowland

Publications and source records attributed to G N Rowland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Molecular characterization of Mycoplasma gallisepticum isolates from turkeys.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum was isolated from several turkey flocks at different locations in the United States that were clinically affected with respiratory disease. Five of these isolates from four series of outbreaks had patterns similar to the 6/85 vaccine strain of M. gallisepticum by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using three different primer sets, whereas with a fourth primer set (OPA13 and OPA14), only two of the isolates were similar to 6/85. Results obtained by sequencing portions of the pvpA, gapA, and mgc2 genes and an uncharacterized surface lipoprotein gene indicated that the field isolates had DNA sequences that ranged from 97.6% to 100%, similar to the 6/85 results. In some of the outbreaks there was an indirect association with the presence of commercial layers in the area that had been vaccinated with this vaccine strain, but there was no known close association with vaccinated birds in any of the outbreaks. Turkeys were challenged with two of the field isolates and with 6/85 vaccine strain. Turkeys challenged with the field isolates developed respiratory disease with airsacculitis and a typical M. gallisepticum antibody response, whereas birds challenged with 6/85 developed no respiratory signs or lesions and developed only a weak antibody response. Although these isolates were very similar to the 6/85 vaccine strain, it was not possible to prove that they originated from the vaccine strain-it is possible that they could be naturally occurring field isolates.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Subcutaneous feather tract denervation does not alter feather retention force ante- and postmortem in broilers.

To determine whether feather retention force (FRF) in 6-wk-old commercial broilers was influenced by the presence or absence of cutaneous innervation, nerve trunks for the pectoral and sternal feather tracts were severed unilaterally (left side) in Trial 1. In Trial 2, the sternal subcutaneous nerve trunk was severed either unilaterally (left or right side) or bilaterally. Four days postdenervation, FRF was determined bilaterally either antemortem (immediately prior to stunning) or 2 min after stunning and bleeding (postmortem). In Trial 1, the pectoral feather tract ante- and postmortem FRF values did not differ significantly for innervated or denervated tracts. In this trial, the sternal feather tract ante- and postmortem FRF values were 13% higher (44 g) for the denervated (left side) than for the innervated (right side) treatments. Partitioning this difference into the effects of sample side or innervation could not be attained because only the left side was denervated (left-denervation or right-innervated) in Trial 1. In Trial 2, both the left and right sternal feather tracts were represented in equal numbers for the innervated and denervated treatments, and there were no significant differences in FRF related to innervation, left and right side, or ante- and postmortem sample times. The presence or absence of cutaneous nerve innervation does not appear to influence FRF ante- or postmortem. This finding indicates that treatments disabling the central nervous system antemortem may lower FRF indirectly by altering cutaneous metabolism and therefore have been consistently unsuccessful in substantially altering postmortem FRF.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Influence of time off feed on broiler viscera weight, diameter, and shear.

The influence of time off feed on broiler viscera weight, intestinal diameter, and shear was studied by subjecting market-age male broilers (42, 44, or 48 d) to incremental feed withdrawal periods (0, 6, 12, 18, or 24 h). Body weight was determined prior to feed withdrawal and at the time of processing. After slaughter, scalding, and defeathering, the abdominal cavity was opened. Diameter and shear of the proventriculus-ventriculus junction, jejunum, and ileum segments were measured, as were gallbladder length and width. Thoracic and abdominal viscera, liver, and ventriculus weights were determined, and liver surface color was measured. Percentage body weight loss increased with longer feed withdrawal periods, as viscera, liver, and ventriculus weights decreased. Gallbladder length increased with time off feed, whereas its width did not change. Diameter of the proventriculus-ventriculus junction, jejunum, and ileum decreased with longer feed withdrawal periods. Shear values for the proventriculus-ventriculus junction, jejunum, and ileum were not influenced by time off feed. Positive correlations (P < 0.05 and r > 0.4) between viscera weight and intestinal diameter were detected. Correlations between all measured parameters and shear values were not significant. Liver color measurements indicated that longer feed withdrawal periods resulted in significant linear decreases in L* (lightness), +a* (redness), and +b* (yellowness). Longer feed withdrawal periods decreased viscera weight and intestinal diameter, which would lower the potential for cutting the intestine during automated evisceration. However, the resulting greater gallbladder length (5 mm) would increase the possibility of bile contamination during evisceration.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1997

Expression of growth factors in chicken growth plate with special reference to tibial dyschondroplasia.

Immunoreactive growth factors were identified in chick embryonic cartilage and bone, and in the growth plate of normal tibiotarsi and tibiotarsi affected with tibial dyschondroplasia (TD). A specific pattern of temporal and spatial expression was observed for each growth factor. Transforming growth factor beta and alpha (TGF beta and TGF alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were briefly expressed in chondrocytes of early chick embryos. Immunolabelling for TGF beta then gradually shifted into cartilaginous matrix and was not observed in cytoplasm of hypertrophic chondrocytes until the late embryonic and post-hatch stages. The distribution and intensity of TGF beta labelling was the same in chondrocytes of the TD and normal growth plate. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) labelling persisted from the early embryonic stage to the end of the mid-stage and then disappeared from chondrocytes. IGF-I appeared again in chondrocytes 1-2 days before hatching. After hatching, the labelling intensified in prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes. TD lesions displayed IGF-I in the distal region, mainly in chondrocytes around small blood vessels. EGF reappeared in proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes of the mid-embryonic stage. By day 18 after hatching, EGF was present mainly in prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes. EGF was demonstrated only in distal proliferative and early prehypertrophic chondrocytes of the dyschondroplastic growth plate. TGF alpha was identified in hypertrophic chondrocytes adjacent to the periosteum and in the distal tip of the mid-embryonic growth plate. With progressing ossification, TGF alpha labeling intensified in the embryonic hypertrophic chondrocytes. In the TD growth plate at day 18 after hatching, TGF alpha expression was limited to 1-3 concentric layers of chondrocytes surrounding blood vessels.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Feather retention force in broilers ante-, peri-, and post-mortem as influenced by carcass orientation, angle of extraction, and slaughter method.

Stunning and slaughter trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of carcass orientation (inverted or supine), angle of feather extraction (parallel or perpendicular to the carcass surface), and slaughter method (exsanguination without or with spinal cord transection) on feather retention force (FRF) in commercial broilers sampled ante-, peri-, and post-mortem. The pectoral, sternal, and femoral feather tracts were sampled before and after stunning contralaterally, with a maximum indicating force gauge, from broilers suspended on a shackle (inverted) or laying on a table (supine). For all trials and sample periods FRF was consistently greater in the femoral area (547 to 679 g) than in the pectoral area (273 to 391 g), with the sternal feather tract requiring the least force at 246 to 343 g. Feathers extracted parallel to the carcass resulted in consistently greater FRF (9 to 29%) than feathers extracted at a perpendicular angle, at all sample periods. Broilers suspended on shackles ante- and peri-mortem had higher FRF values (5 to 30%) than those restrained in shackles in a supine position on a table. Other parameters resulted in minor and inconsistent alterations in FRF. Electrical stunning, when not followed by bleeding, resulted in small reductions in FRF (up to 7%). Bleeding after stunning without or with spinal cord transection resulted in variable peri-mortem FRF changes (+7 to -11% and +11 to -11%, respectively). Only in the pectoral feather tract was there a significant increase (5 to 6%) in FRF as broilers went from the ante- to peri-mortem state. At 2 and 6 min after stunning and initiation of exsanguination, post-mortem FRF was unaffected by carcass orientation for the pectoral and femoral tracts.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1997

Feather retention force in broilers ante-, peri-, and post-mortem as influenced by electrical and carbon dioxide stunning.

Stunning and slaughter trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of stunning method (electrical 50 V alternating current, CO2 gas: 0 to 40% for 90 s or 40 to 60% for 30 s) on feather retention force (FRF) in commercial broilers. Feathers from the pectoral, sternal, and femoral feather tracts were sampled with a force gauge before stunning (ante-mortem) and contralaterally either after stunning (peri-mortem from 0.5 to 4 min) or after stunning and bleeding (post-mortem from 2 to 6 min). Prior to stunning, ante-mortem FRF values varied among assigned stunning methods only for the pectoral (7%) feather tract. After stunning, peri-mortem FRF values were higher only for the sternal tract (11% for 40 to 60% CO2 for 30 s); whereas after stunning and bleeding, post-mortem FRF values were lower than ante- or peri-mortem only for the sternal tract (10% lower for 40 to 60% CO2 for 30 s). Peri- and post-mortem FRF values did not differ among stunning methods for the pectoral and femoral feather tracts. Small changes in FRF values occurred from ante-mortem to peri-mortem (-1 to +12%), and from ante-mortem to post-mortem (-2 to +8%) across stunning methods. A significant increase was determined for only the pectoral tract (7%) from ante- to peri-mortem across stunning methods. Electrically stunned broilers that were not bled gained weight in excess of the 36 feathers removed (0.16%), apparently due to body surface water pickup during the brine-stunning process, whereas CO2-stunned broilers lost weight due to excretion of cloacal contents (-0.31 to -0.98%). The change in body weight among stunning methods was significant (P < 0.0233). Peri- and post-mortem FRF, in addition to bleed-out body weight loss, were not substantially influenced by electrical or CO2 stunning methods, and, therefore, carcass defeathering efficiency may not differ after scalding.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Dietary 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol has variable effects on the incidences of leg abnormalities, plasma vitamin D metabolites, and vitamin D receptors in chickens divergently selected for tibial dyschondroplasia.

Three experiments were conducted to examine the efficacy of dietary 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [(1,25-(OH)2D3)] on the development of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in chickens divergently selected for high (HTD) and low (LTD) incidences of TD. In Experiment 1, chickens from the two lines were fed two calcium levels (0.75 and 1.0%), with and without 5 micrograms/ kg dietary 1,25-(OH)2D3. In Experiment 2, both lines were fed diets containing 1.0% calcium and 0, 5, 10, or 15 micrograms/kg 1,25-(OH)2D3. The addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3 did not reduce the overall incidence of TD in Experiment 1, but did reduce the incidence of severe TD from 69 to 48% in the chickens receiving the 0.75% calcium diet. In this experiment, LTD chickens had higher plasma phosphorus and bone ash. No line differences were noted between plasma vitamin D metabolites or intestinal vitamin D receptors. In Experiment 2, 5 micrograms/kg of 1,25-(OH)2D3 decreased the incidence of TD from 94 to 76% and number three scores from 69 to 44% (P < or = 0.001). Higher amounts of 1,25-(OH)2D3 further decreased TD, but there was a reduction in body weight above 5 micrograms/kg. Plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25-(OH)D3] and 1,25-(OH)2D3 were higher and intestinal vitamin D receptors were lower in HTD chickens than in LTD chickens. Plasma 1,25-(OH)2D3 was not affected by dietary treatment, but 25-(OH)D3 was reduced by dietary 1,25-(OH)2D3. Experiment 3 was conducted to examine effects of line and dietary 1,25-(OH)2D3 on plasma vitamin D metabolites and intestinal and growth plate receptors. No effect of genetic line or dietary 1,25-(OH)2D3 was observed for vitamin D receptors concentration or plasma 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels. Plasma 25-(OH)D3 was reduced when 1,25-(OH)2D3 was fed. These results indicate that HTD chickens are somewhat responsive to dietary 1,25-(OH)2D3, but this treatment failed to prevent the lesion in a large portion of the population.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

Effects of dietary calcium and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on the development of tibial dyschondroplasia in broilers during the starter and grower periods.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether dietary 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3] can prevent tibial dyschondroplasia in broiler chickens throughout the growing period when withdrawn from the grower diet. The birds were reared in floor pens with pine shavings to 6 wk in Experiment 1 and 5 wk of age in Experiment 2. Calcium was fed at .65 or 1.00% and 1,25-(OH)2D3 was fed at 0 or 5 micrograms/kg to 3 wk of age. Half the birds consuming 1,25-(OH)2D3 were then fed 0 microgram/kg until the end of the experiments. The higher level of calcium decreased the incidences of tibial dyschondroplasia and severe lesions and increased bone ash. Dietary 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased bone ash at both levels of calcium at 3 wk and the end of the experiments when supplemented for the duration of the studies. When 1,25-(OH)2D3 was fed, tibial dyschondroplasia was reduced in Experiment 2 only at 3 wk. Tibial dyschondroplasia was decreased at 5 wk in Experiment 2 when .65% calcium was fed with or without 1,25-(OH)2D3 from 3 to 5 wk of age. There were no treatment effects on plasma calcium, dialyzable phosphorus, or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. Plasma 1,25-(OH)2D3 was decreased at 3 and 5 wk in Experiment 2 when 1.00% calcium was fed. The results of Experiment 2 suggest that 1,25-(OH)2D3 can prevent tibial dyschondroplasia caused by inadequate calcium when fed for only 3 wk. The bone ash observed when 1.00% dietary calcium is fed is equal to that obtained when 5 micrograms/kg 1,25-(OH)2D3 is fed with .65% calcium for the entire growout period.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Avian keratoacanthoma (dermal squamous cell carcinoma) in broiler chicken carcasses.

Multiple lesions of dermal squamous cell carcinoma are found at a low frequency (0.04%) in the carcasses of young meat-type chickens at slaughter. For this study, affected carcasses (n = 308) were removed from the processing line, and lesions were characterized by size, distribution, and morphology. Carcasses were also sexed and examined for evidence of metastasis. Nodular (n = 297) and ulcerative (n = 1,707) lesions were counted and examined. Most lesions were present in the pectoral, dorsopelvic, and femoral feather tracts. Few lesions (n = 11) were found in wing tracts. Mean diameter was 5.4 mm for ulcerative lesions and 3.1 mm for nodular lesions. Histologic sections of ulcerative (n = 579) and nodular (n = 113) lesions were examined. Small nodular lesions originated from hyperplastic feather follicle epithelium. Nodules contained keratin-filled cysts lined by squamous epithelium that were associated with isolated islands and infiltrating cords of dermal keratinocytes. Loss of surface epithelium resulted in noduloulcerative and ulcerative lesions. Invasion of underlying skeletal muscle and evidence of visceral metastasis were not present, but invasion through elastic laminae and into the subcutis was present in 20.5% (134/654) of the lesions examined. The nodular lesions in these carcasses were morphologically similar to early nodular lesions previously described in live chickens as avian keratoacanthomas. A retrospective study compared selected production parameters and disease condemnations to the prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma in 665 flocks of broiler chickens. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.0001) with the occurrence of airsacculitis but a negative correlation with increased age and condemnations for leukosis (P < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Histomorphometric bone properties of sexually immature and mature White Leghorn hens with evaluation of fluorochrome injection on egg production traits.

White Leghorn hens were injected i.p. with fluorochromes beginning at 18, 37, and 43 wk of age. Sections of the right femur were collected in ethanol and formalin approximately 2 wk later. Dynamic and static bone variables were determined in both age groups, and the effects of fluorochrome injection on egg production was assessed in the older hens. Fluorochrome bone labeling was nontoxic. Injection of fluorochrome did not affect BW or feed consumption in either age group or egg production traits in laying hens. Fluorochrome labeling was found in the femoral cortex of sexually immature hens. The mineral apposition rate of the periosteal surface was 3.08 micrometers/day and of the osteonal surface was 2.69 micrometers/day. No uptake of fluorochrome label was observed on the periosteal or osteonal surfaces of cortical bone of laying hens. Sexually mature hens had decreased femoral cortical widths, less percentage cortical bone, and more cortical endosteal surface than sexually immature hens. The diffuse labeling of the medullary bone of laying hens indicated active medullary bone mineralization. The central area of the femur cross-section inside of the cortex was examined. Sexually mature hens had less bone area, more bone perimeter, and more bone perimeter covered by osteoclasts in the lamellar cancellous and medullary bone compared with sexually immature hens. Results indicated that the development of osteopenia in hens with the onset and progression of lay may be related to increased resorptive surface of bone and loss of structural and nonstructural bone.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Calcium and phosphorus requirements of the very young turkey as determined by response surface analysis.

The first experiment was a central composite rotatable design with calculated calcium levels of 6.2, 7.0, 9.0, 11.0, and 11.8 g/kg diet and total phosphorus levels of 5.2, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 10.8 g/kg diet (2.8 g phytin-P/kg by analysis). This design involved three replicates for each rotatable point and fifteen replicates of the central point. The second experiment was a 4 x 4 factorial design with calculated Ca levels of 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, and 14.0 g/kg diet and calculated total P levels of 7.0, 9.0, 11.0, and 13.0 g/kg diet (2.5 g phytin-P/kg by analysis). There were four replicates for each treatment. In both 16 d experiments maize-soya-bean diets were used and each replicate consisted of one pen containing 10-d-old broad-breasted, white tom turkeys. The Ca and total P requirements for optimum growth were estimated to be 12.5 and 10.0 g/kg diet respectively. Bone ash was adequate at these levels of Ca and total P, but maximum bone ash was not achieved until much higher levels of Ca and total P were employed. At the required levels of Ca and total P for growth the incidences of Ca- and P-deficiency rickets were very low. There were no treatment effects on feed efficiency. Increasing dietary Ca decreased the incidence of the Ca-deficiency lesion. There was a quadratic response due to dietary total P on both P-deficiency rickets and plasma dialysable P; intermediate levels of dietary P resulted in low incidence of the P-deficiency lesion and high levels of plasma dialysable P. There was a strong negative correlation between the incidence of P-deficiency rickets and plasma dialysable P. Percentage retention was very low at high levels of dietary P and low levels of Ca which corresponded with slightly higher P-deficiency rickets and low plasma dialysable P. No such obvious relationships existed between Ca retention, incidence of Ca-deficiency rickets, and plasma Ca. The incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia was very low in the present study. There were pronounced dietary treatment effects on phytin-P retention; at 14 d percentage phytin-P retention treatment means ranged from 18 to 46 in Expt 1 and from 0 to 40 in Expt 2 with the highest retention of phytin-P at low levels at both Ca and total P.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of the Ruthenium hexammine trichloride method to other methods of chemical fixation for preservation of avian physeal cartilage.

Several methods of chemical fixation of avian physeal cartilage were compared. The Ruthenium hexammine trichloride method was compared to isotonic glutaraldehyde and neutral buffered formalin for light microscopy and paraffin embedment, and to two osmium-ferrocyanide methods and a combination of 1% glutaraldehyde and 4% formaldehyde for electron microscopy. Only the Ruthenium hexammine trichloride method prevented the loss of matrix proteoglycans and shrinkage of chondrocytes. In undecalcified paraffin-embedded cartilage, preservation of matrix and cellular detail was excellent, but Ruthenium hexammine trichloride interfered with Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. Glutaraldehyde gave more intense eosinophilia than neutral buffered formalin. Ultrastructurally, the Ruthenium hexammine trichloride method was the most consistent and gave the best overall fixation. Matrix elements and cellular and nuclear membranes were well preserved. It did result in vacuolation of the cytoplasm and mitochondria, and it increased granularity of the cytoplasm, chromatin, and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Other fixatives produced minimal vacuolation and finer granularity, but preservation was less consistent, cell/matrix contrast was often excessive, and they caused shrinkage of all chondrocytes. Large dilatations of the rough endoplasmic reticulum that appear to be cytoplasmic inclusions by light microscopy are described for the first time in avian cartilage.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Folate deficiency in chicks fed diets containing practical ingredients.

Development of folate deficiency was evaluated in young chicks fed diets containing corn and soybean meal as major constituents. Folic acid deficiency, as indicated by retarded growth and feed efficiency, could be produced in 18-day-old chicks. Chicks fed the basal diet had increased growth when given supplements of either folic acid, choline Cl, or DL-methionine, but not vitamin B12. Relative liver size (grams per 100 g of body weight) was reduced by a methionine or methionine plus choline supplement in two experiments but by folic acid in only one of two experiments. Plasma hemoglobin was reduced by folic acid or a methionine and choline supplement after 42 days on the diets. Folic acid deficiency can be produced in young chicks with a diet based on practical ingredients. Purified diets or very high levels of antibiotic feeding are not necessary to produce folic acid deficiency as long as low levels of methionine and choline are present in the basal diet.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1990

Effect of feeding isoniazid and cimetidine on growth and bone development in male broiler chicks.

Because previous studies indicated that cimetidine (CIMET) and isoniazid (ISON) may inhibit vitamin D metabolism in both rats and humans, experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of these drugs on growth and bone development in male broiler chicks. Chicks were fed a corn and soybean meal basal diet containing various levels of the drugs for 21 days. Body weight gain (BWG), feed consumption per bird (FB), tibia ash (TA), tibia breaking force (TBF), and plasma calcium levels were measured. In birds fed a diet supplemented with 1,100 ICU D3/kg, CIMET at up to 300 ppm resulted in a significant linear decrease in TA as the drug level increased. Birds fed ISON up to 405 ppm had inconsistent responses in TA and TBF. Body weight gain was only depressed with the highest level of ISON (405 ppm). The effects of feeding 0, 150, or 300 ppm CIMET were also investigated when chicks were fed 200 or 1,000 ICU per kg vitamin D3. The interaction between vitamin D3 and CIMET was significant for BWG, FCB, TA, and TBF. These were significantly reduced as the CIMET level increased for birds fed the low vitamin D3 diet but were not significantly affected when fed the high D3 diet. In another study in which chicks were fed a diet with 1,100 ICU vitamin D3, lowering the dietary Ca, or P, or both did not result in any effect of CIMET on the chicks. The results indicate that CIMET possibly interferes with normal bone formation in chicks by altering vitamin D3 metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of cimetidine on eggshell quality and plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in laying hens.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of feeding cimetidine (CIMET), ranging from 0 to 750 mg/kg, on vitamin D3 metabolism and eggshell calcification in laying hens fed two levels of vitamin D3 (500 and 2,000 ICU/kg). Final BW and feed intake were not significantly affected by either CIMET or vitamin D3 level. Feeding 500 and 750 mg of CIMET significantly decreased total egg production in hens fed either level of vitamin D3, but no differences were observed at lower CIMET levels. Tibia ash decreased significantly in hens fed 150 to 750 mg of CIMET, regardless of the vitamin D3 level. Plasma Ca and inorganic P concentrations were decreased in hens fed high CIMET levels (500 and 750 mg/kg) at Week 2, but no differences were observed at Week 4. Feeding CIMET (500 and 750 mg/kg) significantly decreased plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3) levels at Week 2 in hens fed both vitamin D3 diets but not at Week 4. Eggshell breaking force, shell thickness, and percentage shell weight were decreased significantly by CIMET in all experiments; however, in one experiment, shell quality recovered by Week 8. These results suggest that the CIMET-induced reduction in bone mineralization, eggshell quality, and plasma 25-OHD3 levels could be due to interference of CIMET with vitamin D3 metabolism in vitamin D3-replete laying hens. Shell quality decreased in CIMET-treated hens fed the higher vitamin D diet even though 250-HD3 plasma levels were three times higher than in hens fed the lower vitamin D diet, suggesting that CIMET affected shell quality through some mechanism other than inhibition of 250-HD3 synthesis.

Animal Feed↗