title: Molting in Salmonella enteritidis-challenged laying hens fed alfalfa crumbles. III. Blood plasma metabolite response.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine an alfalfa crumble diet as an alternative molt diet and compare the physiological response of hens to the responses of feed-deprived molted hens. Hens >50 wk old were placed into 6 treatment groups (12 hens per group in trial 1 and 10 hens per group in trial 2): nonmolted Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis positive (FF+), nonmolted Salmonella Enteritidis negative (FF-), feed withdrawal Salmonella Enteritidis positive (FW+), FW Salmonella Enteritidis negative (FW), alfalfa Salmonella Enteritidis positive (ALC+), and ALC Salmonella Enteritidis negative (ALC-). Each hen in the Salmonella Enteritidis-positive groups was challenged on the fourth day of the study with 1 mL of 10(6)-cfu Salmonella Enteritidis. Blood was collected on d 2, 5, 9, and 12 of the trial. Blood plasma was collected and metabolite concentrations were analyzed for glucose, calcium, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, and triglycerides. The feed intakes of the FF hens were 4- to 6-fold greater (P <or= 0.05) than those of the ALC birds in both trials. Over the 12 d of molt, the FW+ hens lost more (P <or= 0.05) BW than all other groups except the FW- hens, whereas the FW-, ALC-, and ALC+ hens lost more BW than the FF hen groups. Uric acid concentrations were generally lower in molted hens compared with the FF hen groups during the initial stages of molt. On d 9 of both trials, concentrations of calcium and total protein were higher (P <or= 0.05) in the FF hens than in the other groups. The FF hen groups exhibited higher (P <or= 0.05) concentrations of triglycerides than the FW and ALC groups in both trials on d 5, 9, and 12. Based on the results from these studies, ALC diets can limit some of the potential physiological stress indicators that accompany feed deprivation during an induced molt.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M University, Department of Poultry Science, College Station 77843-2472, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dunkley
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McReynolds
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Dunkley
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Kubena
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nisbet
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ricke
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D000455:Medicago sativa; D018978:Molting / Q000502:physiology*; D010058:Oviposition; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium