2038
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
Whittow, G. C , P. O. Sturkie and G. Stein, Jr., 1964. Cardiovascular changes associated with thermal polynea in the chicken. Am. J. Physiol. 207: 13491353.
Wilson, W. O., and A. Woodard, 1955. Some factors affecting body temperature of turkeys. Poultry Sci. 34: 369-371.
H . J. K O H N E AND J. E . JONES
Department
of Poultry Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631 (Received for publication March 17, 1975)
ABSTRACT Turkey hens were exposed to stepwise increases in ambient temperature from 21° C. to 25° C. to 30° C. to 35° C. at two-week intervals. Dietary calcium levels of 1.54, 2.01 and 2.48 percent were fed. Acid-base balance, plasma electrolytes and production performance were studied. The temperature increase caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma sodium, calcium, and magnesium, and in egg production, shell thickness and egg weight and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma potassium. There was no significant change in the acid-base balance of the blood as measured by blood P 0 2 , PCO z and pH. Egg production was not significantly correlated to blood gas activities or feed consumption but was significantly (|R| > 0.50, P < 0.01) correlated to plasma calcium and magnesium levels. Dietary calcium levels had no influence on the parameters measured. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 2038-2045, 1975
INTRODUCTION
O
N E of the more noticeable effects of environmental stress is that of increasing ambient temperature on subsequent egg production. Mitchell and Kosin (1954) and Thomason et al. (1972) have shown that moderate increases in ambient temperature have a depressing effect on turkey egg production and egg size. In 1964, Mueller et al. reported that high ambient temperatures (34° C.) cause a small shift in the acid-base balance of laying hens in the direction of respiratory alkalosis, and that this resulted in a 12 percent decrease in shell thickness. Reduction in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PC0 2 ) which is associated with rePublished with the approval of the Director of the South Carolina Experiment Station, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. as Technical Contribution No. 1242.
spiratory alkalosis has been related to electrolyte movement (especially potassium) across cell membranes (Fenn and Asano, 1956; Brown and Goot, 1963; Lade and Brown, 1963). Conrad (1939) reported an increase in temperature from 21° C. to 32° C. caused a 25 to 30 percent decrease in serum calcium. He suggested that the influence of high ambient temperatures on blood calcium may be mediated through food intake. Mueller (1959) found that by adjusting the calcium level in the feed as the ambient temperature increased, and feed consumption decreased, he maintained relatively constant blood calcium levels in chickens. Mongin (1968) reviewed the literature on acid-base balance and egg shell formation and stated that calcium is the first limiting factor in shell formation and carbonate ion production is second. He suggested that the thinning of egg shells in hot weather is due to hyperven-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Acid-Base Balance, Plasma Electrolytes and Production Performance of Adult Turkey Hens under Conditions of Increasing Ambient Temperature
TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS
tilation of the lungs with a resultant loss of blood carbon dioxide. This study was designed to determine if increasing ambient temperatures would affect certain physiological parameters in the egg producing turkey. Three different calcium levels were fed to determine whether or not dietary calcium level would influence blood acid-base balance, plasma electrolyte levels or production performance of the turkeys.
Ninety adult female Broad Breasted White (Nicholas strain) turkeys were used in this experiment. These birds were kept on a limited lighting regime (6L-18D) until housing at 33 weeks of age. They were housed in individual cages in the environmental chamber facilities previously described by Parker et al. (1972). Two identical trials were run utilizing 45 turkey hens per trial. Each trial lasted 12 weeks from the time the birds were housed in the chambers. Three chambers were used in each trial (15 birds per chamber). Two of the chambers were used to produce a stepwise increase in ambient temperature over time while a third chamber was kept at a constant temperature throughout the experimental period. The birds in this third chamber were designated as the control group. At the time of housing, the turkeys were placed randomly in the cages of each chamber. Three different diets were then randomly assigned to equal numbers of birds in each chamber. The diets were formulated so that their calculated analysis was the same except for total calcium content which was 1.54, 2.01 and 2.48%. The turkeys were given feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. They were kept on a lighting regime favorable for egg production (14L-10D). The ambient temperature was 21 ± 0.1° C.
with 60 ± 2.0% relative humidity (R.H.) in all three chambers for six weeks after housing. After this period, the ambient temperature in two of the chambers was increased, at two-week intervals, to 25 ± 0.1, 29 ± 0.2 and 35 ± 0.3° C , respectively. The temperature in the third chamber was kept constant at 21 ± 0.1° C. A relative humidity of 60 ± 2.0% was maintained in all three chambers for the entire experimental period. Beginning four weeks after housing, the individual feed consumption and egg production records were recorded daily. All other parameters were monitored on individual birds at four time periods during the trial period. These parameters included plasma levels of sodium, potassium, total calcium, magnesium, chloride, inorganic phosphorus and blood pH, P C 0 2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) and P 0 2 (partial pressure of oxygen). For these measurements, 15 ml. of blood was drawn from the wing vein of each bird using a heparinized vaccutainer tube. The first blood samples were drawn during the sixth week after housing in the chambers. The three subsequent groups of blood samples were drawn from control and treatment turkeys during the second week after each increase in ambient temperature to allow for an acclimation period. All blood samples were drawn between 8 and 10 A.M. so that any effect of diurnal variation would be minimized. Nestor et al. (1972), in a study on diurnal variations of plasma calcium, in turkey hens, reported no differences in plasma calcium levels for blood samples taken at 7 and 10 A.M. To corroborate this report, blood samples were drawn at 8:00 A.M., 8:30 A.M., 9:00 A.M., 9:30 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. from 10 turkey hens acclimated to a constant 21° C. temperature within the chambers. The samples were taken from two birds at each time interval per day for five consecutive days. They were analyzed for plasma electrolytes and blood gas activities. It was determined (Table 1) that there was no significant
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
MATERIALS AND METHODS
2039
2040
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
TABLE 1.—Mean values of plasma electrolytes and blood gas activities from ten adult female turkeys maintained at 21° C. 8:00 A.M. Sodium (mg. %)'* Potassium (mg.
%)'*
9:00 A.M. 338
9:30 A.M. 336
10:00 A.M. 334
15.9
16.0
16.2
16.3
16.7
3.1
3.2
3.0
2.8
2.8
23.0
23.4
23.6
23.6
23.8
118
118
119
119
117
4.6
4.5
4.6
4.6
4.6
51.2
50.3
50.6
52.5
52.6
55.3 7.35
54.9 7.35
56.2 55.9 7.36 7.35 1 No significant difference was found between any of the samples. *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma. 56.3 7.36
diurnal variation when the blood samples were taken between 8 and 10 A.M. A Model 160 Corning Blood Gas System was used for determining the pH, P C 0 2 and P 0 2 activities of whole blood immediately after each sample was drawn. All of these determinations were made at a blood temperature of 41° C. The blood samples were then centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1000 x g and the plasma was removed. A portion from each plasma sample was then analyzed for concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Perkin-Elmer, 1966). The Shales and Shales (1941) method was used for determining the concentration of chloride in the plasma samples. A spectrophotometric adaptation based on the methods and modifications of Fiske and Sabbarow (1925) and Roe and Whitmore (1938) was used in the determination of plasma concentrations of inorganic phosphorus. All determinations were made in duplicate. Each egg was weighed on a pan balance and then a piece of the shell was measured for thickness using a paper micrometer. A
piece of the shell from the equator of each egg was used for the thickness determination because the equator tends to be the thinnest but most uniform area (Tyler and Geake, 1965) and corresponds to the weakest part of the shell (Hunt and Voisey, 1966). An effort was made to remove all of the shell membrane before the thickness measurement was made. The data were compiled and analyzed statistically according to the methodology of Barr and Goodnight (1972).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The data for the control groups, as seen in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5, show that dietary calcium had no significant influence on the parameters measured. This supports the observations of Sullivan and Gehle (1962) that dietary calcium levels of 1.8, 2.8, 3.8 and 4.8% did not significantly affect serum calcium levels. Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 also show that the dietary level of calcium did not significantly influence the measured parameters for the treatment groups within each period. However, there was a tendency for
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Magnesium (mg. % ) ' * Total calcium (mg. % ) ' * Chloride (mEq./l.) 1 Inorg. phos. (mg. % ) ' * Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg)' Venous P C 0 2 (mm.Hg) 1 Venous p H '
8:30 A.M. 336
337
2041
TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS
TABLE 2.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 1 Treatment (21° C.)
Control (21° C.) % Calcium in diet Number of birds 340.0 12.5 25.3 3.2 117.0 5.0 55.1 56.0 7.4 57.1 36.3 91.0
2.01 10
2.48 10
± 4.6 345.1 ± 8.4 342.0 ± 6.0 ± 1.0 11.9 ± 1.1 12.5 ± 1.5 ± 4.5 23.0 ± 4.6 23.8 ± 4.6 ± 0.3 3.4 ± 0.5 3.2 + 0.1 118.0 ± 2.9 ±2.6 119.3 ± 2 . 6 ± 0.9 4.3 ± 0.3 4.5 ± 0.5 48.4 + 4.1 ±6.6 49.6 ± 4.8 ± 3.8ab 55.1 ± 4 . 8 a b 59.7 ± 4.0a ±0.1 7.4 ± 0.1 7.4 ± 0 . 1 ± 13.4 55.5 ± 12.4 47.9 ± 13.6 ± 2.4 36.3 ± 2 . 1 36.9 ± 2.5 ±9.0 92.3 ± 8.5 94.0 ± 10.0
890 ± 9 0 a
770 ± 70b
860 ± 70ab
1.54 20 340.0 12.5 26.7 3.3 116.4 4.4 52.0 53.9 7.4 48.0 36.0 92.4
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.01 20 4.7 1.0 4.4 0.2 2.5 0.4 4.8 4.4b 0.1 13.2 3.9 9.5
800 ± 6 0 b
342.0 12.7 26.8 3.2 118.5 4.5 52.7 50.9 7.4 48.0 37.2 95.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.48 20 6.9 1.8 4.5 0.4 2.5 0.4 4.9 6.3b 0.1 13.7 2.0 9.0
344.2 13.4 26.6 3.4 118.2 4.7 47.5 53.5 7.4 48.3 36.9 93.1
1040 ± 90a
± 6.6 ± 1.5 ±4.6 ±0.2 ±2.6 ±0.5 ±5.0 ± 6.1b ±0.1 ± 11.6 ± 3.6 ± 9.0
940 ± 9 0 a
'Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma. TABLE 3.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 2 Treatment (25° C.)
Control (21° C.) % Calcium in diet Number of birds Sodium (mg. % ) ' * Potassium (mg. %)* Total calcium (mg. %)* Magnesium (mg. %)* Chloride (mEq./l.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) 1 Venous PCO z (mm.Hg) 1 Venous pH Hen day prod. (%) Shell thickness (mm.) Egg weight (gms.) Feed consump. (gin. /bird)'
1.54 10 343.3 12.7 29.9 3.4 117.0 4.5 52.9 56.1 7.4 49.4 37.3 91.2
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.01 10 3.0a 1.3 4.8a 0.4 2.7 1.2 6.7a 4.9b 0.1 16.2 2.1 8.5
1140 ± 100b
346.6 11.8 25.7 3.4 117.8 4.0 43.8 61.1 7.4 49.3 36.7 92.0
± ± ± ± + ± + ± ± ± ± ±
2.48 10
1.54 20
2.01 20
2.48 20
8.5a 343.2 + 4.2a 399.1 ± 4 . 5 a b 336.2 ± 5.3b 338.8 ± 3.3ab 13.2 + 1.4 13.0 + 1.6 12.3 ± 0.9 12.4 ± 1.5 1.2 25.0 ± 4.4ab 4.6ab 23.8 + 4.3ab 24.0 ± 4.3ab 22.4 ± 4.0b 3.2 ± 0.2 3.2 ± 0 . 3 3.3 + 0.3 0.3 3.1 + 0 . 2 118.6 ± 2 . 6 118.6 ± 2.5 116.6 ± 2.6 120.0 + 3.1 3.0 4.5 ± 0.3 4.3 ± 0.6 4.3 ± 0.3 3.9 ± 0.4 0.6 50.5 ± 5.8a 54.1 ± 2 . 3 a 53.4 + 8.3a 44.0 + 7.0b 6.2b 5.1a 59.0 ± 4.2ab 59.0 ± 8.5ab 58.7 ± 5.5ab 64.8 + 8.2a 0.1 7.4 + 0.1 7.4 + 0.1 7.4 ± 0 . 1 7.4 ± 0 . 1 47.9 ± 10.6 42.8 ± 1 3 . 1 42.3 ± 10.0 40.2 ± 6.8 7.7 36.3 ± 2.6 36.1 + 1.5 36.7 ± 1.5 36.4 ± 2 . 1 0.8 93.2 ± 9.4 95.1 ± 9 . 0 92.0 ± 9.8 94.1 ± 9 . 5 8.0
1360 ± 120a
1360 + 130a
1350 ± 120a
1360 ± 140a
1410 + 130a
•Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma.
the group fed 2.48% calcium to maintain a slightly higher hen-day production and plasma calcium level as the ambient temperature increased from 30 to 35° C. Perhaps an even higher dietary calcium level would have had a significant effect on these parameters under the high temperature conditions.
Since dietary calcium levels did not significantly influence the results, the data from all three dietary treatments were combined, and a comparison was made among periods for control and treatment groups (Tables 6, 7). This comparison shows that there was no significant change in the plasma sodium
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Sodium (mg. %)* Potassium (mg. %)* Total calcium (mg. %)* Magnesium (mg. %)* Chloride (mEq./I.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous PCO z (mm.Hg) 1 Venous pH Hen day prod. (%) Shell thickness (mm.) Egg weight (gms.) Feed consump. (gm./bird) 1
1.54 10
2042
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
TABLE 4.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 3 Control (21° C.) % Calcium in diet Number of birds 342.0 12.5 24.4 3.6 117.2 4.3 52.2 55.4 7.4 40.8 38.7 92.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.01 10 7.1a 1.3b 4.8a 0.5 2.8 0.7 5.3a 4.6 0.1 11.6a 1.5 9.0
346.8 12.9 20.6 3.4 118.3 4.2 43.9 53.8 7.4 49.3 36.9 93.1
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
Treatment (30° C.) 2.48 10
10.0a 1.6ab 4.6ab 0.4a 2.6 0.4 6.8b 6.2 0.1 13.8a 1.7 8.0
1340 ± 140ab< 1270± 130b
342.9 12.4 21.8 3.3 119.0 4.1 53.3 57.4 7.4 43.7 36.6 94.5
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
1.54 20
2.01 20
2.48 20
7.5a 336.3 ± 5.4b 336.7 ± 4.1b 1.2b 12.9 ± 1.2ab 13.6 ± 1.3a 4.7a 18.0 ± 4.2b 16.1 ± 3.8b 0.3a 3.1 ± 0.4ab 2.6 ± 0.2b 2.9 118.4 ± 3.0 117.0 ± 2.9 0.6 3.8 ± 0.5 4.1 ± 0.4 4.9a 54.8 ± 5.0a 53.9 ± 3.5a 4.4 54.5 ± 6.3 53.6 ± 4.1 7.4 ± 0.1 7.4 ± 0.1 0.1 11.2a 13.8 ± 13.7b 16.4 ± 11.3b 2.2 34.4 ± 2.8 33.5 ± 2.5 10.0 86.0 ± 10.5 90.1 ± 10.9
1450 ± 120a
990 ± 100c
333.3 13.8 20.1 2.9 118.9 4.0 49.8 58.5 7.4 23.1 34.3 88.5
1130 ± 130c
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
3.0b 1.3a 4.6ab 0.4ab 3.2 0.6 3.2a 5.4 0.1 17.4b 2.6 10.3
1180 ± 120bc
1
Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma. TABLE 5.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 4 Treatment (35° 1C.)
Control (21° C.)
Sodium (mg. % ) ' * Potassium (mg. %)* Total calcium (mg. %)* Magnesium (mg. %)* Chloride (mEq./l.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous P C 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous pH Hen day prod. (%)' Shell thickness (mm.) 1 Egg weight (gms.)' Feed consump. (gm./bird) 1
342.6 12.6 16.6 3.2 117.0 4.2 51.3 58.2 7.4 27.3 35.6 93.1
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.5a 0.8 2.8 0.4 2.4 0.8 4.5 4.8 0.1 12.7a 1.0a 8.6a
1020 ± 100a
344.6 13.0 16.5 3.0 118.0 3.8 53.9 55.4 7.4 25.1 34.4 93.6
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
1.54 20
2.48 10
2.01 10
1.54 10
% Calcium in diet Number of birds
6.3a 1.4 2.8 0.3 2.6 0.2 1.2 3.3 0.1 16.3a 0.7ab 8.2a
930 ± 90a
345.5 12.6 16.5 2.8 119.5 3.9 50.6 58.7 7.4 28.5 34.9 95.1
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.5a 2.6 2.8 0.3 2.9 0.7 5.5 5.5 0.1 10.9a 1.8ab 9.8a
1040 ± 100a
333.6 13.1 15.1 2.9 116.5 3.7 54.0 54.4 7.4 5.6 34.6 80.6
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.48 20
2.01 20 5.6b 1.2 2.6 0.3 3.0 0.5 7.6 2.8 0.1 8.8b 2.2ab 12.6b
331.7 13.4 13.7 2.7 118.3 3.7 52.2 53.6 7.4 0.0
700 ± 90b
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.8b 331.2 + 4.7b 13.3 ± 1.2 1.8 15.3 ± 2.7 2.5 2.8 ± 0.3 0.2 119.0 ± 3.0 2.7 3.7 ± 0.4 0.3 50.4 ± 4.8 3.6 53.1 ± 3.3 3.4 7.4 ± 0.1 0.1 7.5 ± 10.9b 33.2 ± 1.9b 83.0 ± 11.9b
450 ± 80c
910 ± 100a
1
Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma.
and potassium concentrations of the control group over time. A temperature effect on plasma sodium and potassium was very evident though. The data demonstrate a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma sodium and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma
potassium as the ambient temperature rose to 30° C. Plasma calcium levels of the control group (Table 6a) increased slightly (2.5 mg. %) during period two, then dropped significantly (P < 0.05) by 4.5 mg. % during period three
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Sodium (mg. % ) ' * Potassium (mg. % ) ' * Total calcium (mg. % ) ' * Magnesium (mg. % ) ' * Chloride (mEq./l.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) 1 Venous P C 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous pH Hen day prod. (%)' Shell thickness (mm.) Egg weight (gms.) Feed consump. (gm./bird) 1
1.54 10
No. of birds 30 60 30 60 30 60 30 60
Sodium (mg. %)2* 1.2c 1.4b 1.3c 1.3b 1.4c 1.3a 1.7c 1.5ab 24.0 26.4 26.5 23.8 22.3 18.1 16.5 14.7
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
4.2ab 3.3a 4.5a 3.4ab 4.4b 4.5c 2. led 1.6d
Total calcium (mg. %)2* 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.4 2.8 3.0 2.8
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
0.4ab 0.3ab 0.3b 0.3b 0.4a 0.3c 0.3b 0.3c
Magnesium (mg.)2* 118.2 117.9 118.3 118.0 118.3 118.3 118.3 117.9
± 2.7 ±2.6 ± 2.9 ± 2.6 ± 2.8 ± 3.0 ±2.7 ±2.9
Chloride (mEq./l.) 4.6 4.6 4.3 4.4 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.7
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
0.7a 0.4a 0.8b 0.4b 0.6c 0.5c 0.6d 0.4d
Inorg. phos. (mg. %) 2
2
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
Period
21 21 21 25 21 30 21 35
30 60 30 60 30 60 30 60
No. of birds 50.8 50.7 47.1 52.7 48.0 52.8 52.1 52.2
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.4 4.9 6.6 5.5 6.9 4.0 4.3 5.3
Venous PO2 (mm.Hg) 2
Combined data from all three diets. Values in the same column having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05).
Control Treatment Control Treatment Control Treatment Control Treatment
Temp. (°C.) 58.2 52.8 58.1 62.5 55.9 56.2 58.6 53.7
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
4.6ab 5.2c 5.2ab 6.9a 5.2bc 5.3bc 5.6ab 3.2c
Venous PCO2 (mm.Hg) 2 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Venous pH
53.2 48.0 46.3 45.4 44.7 17.8 26.9 4.4
* ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
13.6a 12.6ab 11.6b 12.4b 12.4b 14. Id 13.1c lO.Oe
Hen day prod. (%)2
36.6 36.7 36.8 36.4 37.4 34.1 35.0 34.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.3a 3.1a 1.8a 2.0ab 1.9a 2.7b 1.4ab 2.0b
Shell thickness (mm.) 2
92.5 93.3 92.5 93.4 93.3 89.0 93.6 82.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
9.2a 9.3a 8.6a 9.4a 9.0a 10.5a 8.9a 12.3b
Egg weight (gms.) 2
800 930 1290 1370 1360 1100 1000 690
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
80cd 80bc 120a 130a 130a I20bc 100c 90d
Feed consumption (gms./bird) 2
TABLE 7.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups during the four data collection periods'
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
Potassium (mg. %)2*
Period Control 1 342.2 ± 6.6ab 12.4 Treatment 1 342.1 ± 6.0ab 12.9 Control 2 342.9 ± 7.6a 12.4 Treatment 2 338.1 ± 4 . 3 b 12.9 Control 3 344.6 ± 8.3a 12.7 Treatment 3 334.4 ± 4.2c 13.5 Control 4 344.2 ± 5.7a 12.7 332.2 ± 5.4c Treatment 4 13.2 1 Combined data from all three diets. 2 Values in the same column having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma.
Temp. CO 21 21 21 25 21 30 21 35
TABLE 6.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups during the four data collection periods'
http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015 •U
O
> >
z a 03 r o o D
>
m
H C 7a
>
SO
2044
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
at 21° C. (period one) to 45.4% at 25° C. (period two) to 17.8% at 30° C. (period three) to 4.4% at 35° C. (period four). These results agree with those of Mitchell and Kosin (1954) and Kosin and Mitchell (1955) who found a depressing effect of moderately and uniformly warm ambient temperature on the laying rate of the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey. Shell thickness and egg weight did not change significantly over time in the control group (Table 6b). For the treatment group, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in shell thickness as the temperature increased past 25° C. but egg weight was not significantly decreased until the ambient temperature reached 35° C. Each feed consumption value (Table 6b) represents the grams of feed consumed per bird within a two-week period. Feed consumption for the control group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher during periods two and three as compared to periods one and two. Ambient temperatures above 25° C. significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the feed consumption of the treatment groups as compared to the control groups. These data agree with the report by Parker et al. (1972) which stated that increasing ambient temperatures significantly reduced the feed consumption of adult female turkeys. When correlations were run on these data, it was found that acid-base balance (as described by P 0 2 , P C 0 2 and pH) was not significantly correlated to egg production, shell thickness or egg size in either the control or treatment groups. The only electrolytes which were significantly (|R| > 0.50, P < 0.01) correlated to egg production in the control or treatment groups were magnesium and calcium. Shell thickness or egg size was not significantly correlated to any of the plasma electrolytes measured. Feed consumption was not significantly correlated with egg production. These data show that a slow increase in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
and then dropped again by a significant amount (5.8 mg. %) during period four. The plasma calcium levels of the treatment group followed a similar decline as the control group except that the increasing ambient temperature made the decline much more pronounced. The magnesium concentration in the plasma of the control group (Table 6a) showed a significant (P < 0.05) fluctuation over the experimental period but no general trend. As the ambient temperature rose above 25° C. for the treatment group, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma magnesium levels. The data in Table 6a illustrates a significant (P < 0.05) and continuous decrease in plasma levels of inorganic phosphorus over time and also shows that there was no significant influence of increasing ambient temperature on the plasma levels of inorganic phosphorus. There was no significant change in the venous P C 0 2 activity of the control group over time (Table 6b). A temperature effect on venous P C 0 2 activity was evident though. The venous P C 0 2 activity rose significantly (P < 0.05) from 52.8 millimeters of mercury (mm.Hg) at 21° C. to 62.5 mm.Hg at 25° C. and then declined at a significant (P < 0.05) rate to 56.2 mm.Hg at 30° C. and 53.7 mm.Hg at 35° C. Plasma chlorides, venous P 0 2 and venous pH were not significantly affected by either time or temperature (Table 6b). Each egg production value (Table 6b) represents a two-week period of egg collection. The periods do not overlap but are sequential. Egg production for the control group showed a significant (P < 0.05) decline over time from 53% during period one to 46% during period two, and again from 44% during period three to 23% during period four. The decline in egg production was much more pronounced for the treatment group as the ambient temperature increased above 25° C. Egg production for this group declined from 48.0%
TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS
ambient temperature to as high as 35° C. does not produce a change in the acid-base balance of the blood as is the case of a rapid increase in ambient temperature (Mueller, 1966). The plasma electrolytes are affected by a slow increase in ambient temperature in the same way as they are by a fast increase in ambient temperature (Kohne and Jones, unpublished data) even though the turkeys have time to adapt to these slow increases in temperature.
The authors wish to express appreciation to Dr. W. E. Johnston, Jr., of the Experimental Station, Clemson University, for the statistical analysis on this data.
REFERENCES Barr, A. J., and J. H. Goodnight, 1972. A Users Guide to Statistical Analysis. Compiled by Jolayne Service. Student Supply Stores, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, N.C. Brown, E. B., Jr., and B. Goot, 1963. Intracellular hydrogen ion changes and potassium movement. Am. J. Physiol. 204: 765-770. Conrad, R. M., 1939. The effect of high temperature on the blood calcium of the laying hen. Poultry Sci. 18: 327-329. Fenn, W. O., and T. Asano, 1956. Effects of carbon dioxide inhalation on potassium liberation from the liver. Am. J. Physiol. 185: 567-576. Fiske,C. H., and Y. Sabbarow, 1925. The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. J. Biol. Chem. 66: 375-400. Hunt, J. R., and P. W. Voisey, 1966. Physical properties of egg shells. 1. Relationship of resistance of compression and force at failure of egg shells. Poultry Sci. 45: 1398-1404. Kohne, H. J., and J. E.Jones, 1974. Changes in plasma electrolytes, acid-base balance and other physiological parameters of adult female turkeys under conditions of acute hyperthermia. Poultry Sci. 54: 2034-2038. Kosin, I. L., and M. S. Mitchell, 1955. Ambient temperature as a factor in turkey reproduction. 1. The effect of preheating males and females on their
subsequent breeding pen performance. Poultry Sci. 34: 484-496. Lade, R. I., and E. B. Brown, Jr., 1963. Movement of potassium between muscle and blood in response to respiratory alkalosis. Am. J. Physiol. 204: 761764. Mitchell, M. S., and I. L. Kosin, 1954. The effects of controlled ambient temperatures on some factors associated with egg laying in turkeys. Poultry Sci. 33: 186-191. Mongin, P., 1968. Role of acid-base balance in the physiology of egg shell formation. World's Poultry Sci. J. 24: 200-230. Mueller, W. J., 1959. The effect of environmental temperature and humidity on the calcium balance and serum calcium of laying pullets. Poultry Sci. . 38: 1296-1301. Mueller, W. J., 1966. Effect of rapid temperature changes on acid-base balance in shell quality. Poultry Sci. 45: 1109. Mueller, W. J., R. Schraer and H. Schraer, 1964. Calcium metabolism and skeletal dynamics of laying pullets. J. Nutr. 84: 20-26. Nestor, K. E., S. P. Touchburn, M. A. Musser and E. C. Naber, 1972. Egg quality and reproduction in turkeys. 3. Variation in dietary calcium level. Poultry Sci. 51:669-677. Parker, J. T., M. A. Boone and J. F. Knecktges, 1972. The effect of ambient temperature upon body temperature, feed consumption and water consumption using two varieties of turkeys. Poultry Sci. 51:659-664. Perkin-Elmer, 1966. No. 990-9341, Supplements to Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Perkin-Elmer Corp., Norwalk, Conn. Roe, J. H., and E. R. Whitmore, 1938. Clinicopathologic application of serum phosphatase determinations, with special reference to lesions of the bones. Am. J. Clin. Path. 8: 233-254. Shales, O., and S. S. Shales, 1941. Titrametric procedure for chloride determination. J. Biol. Chem. 140: 879-884. Sullivan, T. W., and M. H. Gehle, 1962. Effect of ascorbic acid on the serum calcium level in laying hens fed graded levels of dietary calcium. Poultry Sci. 41: 1016-1017. Thomason, D. M., A. T. Leighton, Jr. and J. P. Mason, Jr., 1972. A study of certain environmental factors on the reproductive performance of large white turkeys. Poultry Sci. 51: 1438-1449. Tyler, C , and F. H. Geake, 1965. Egg shell thickness patterns as shown by individual domestic hens. British Poultry Sci. 6: 235-243.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
2045
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
Whittow, G. C , P. O. Sturkie and G. Stein, Jr., 1964. Cardiovascular changes associated with thermal polynea in the chicken. Am. J. Physiol. 207: 13491353.
Wilson, W. O., and A. Woodard, 1955. Some factors affecting body temperature of turkeys. Poultry Sci. 34: 369-371.
H . J. K O H N E AND J. E . JONES
Department
of Poultry Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631 (Received for publication March 17, 1975)
ABSTRACT Turkey hens were exposed to stepwise increases in ambient temperature from 21° C. to 25° C. to 30° C. to 35° C. at two-week intervals. Dietary calcium levels of 1.54, 2.01 and 2.48 percent were fed. Acid-base balance, plasma electrolytes and production performance were studied. The temperature increase caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma sodium, calcium, and magnesium, and in egg production, shell thickness and egg weight and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma potassium. There was no significant change in the acid-base balance of the blood as measured by blood P 0 2 , PCO z and pH. Egg production was not significantly correlated to blood gas activities or feed consumption but was significantly (|R| > 0.50, P < 0.01) correlated to plasma calcium and magnesium levels. Dietary calcium levels had no influence on the parameters measured. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 2038-2045, 1975
INTRODUCTION
O
N E of the more noticeable effects of environmental stress is that of increasing ambient temperature on subsequent egg production. Mitchell and Kosin (1954) and Thomason et al. (1972) have shown that moderate increases in ambient temperature have a depressing effect on turkey egg production and egg size. In 1964, Mueller et al. reported that high ambient temperatures (34° C.) cause a small shift in the acid-base balance of laying hens in the direction of respiratory alkalosis, and that this resulted in a 12 percent decrease in shell thickness. Reduction in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PC0 2 ) which is associated with rePublished with the approval of the Director of the South Carolina Experiment Station, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. as Technical Contribution No. 1242.
spiratory alkalosis has been related to electrolyte movement (especially potassium) across cell membranes (Fenn and Asano, 1956; Brown and Goot, 1963; Lade and Brown, 1963). Conrad (1939) reported an increase in temperature from 21° C. to 32° C. caused a 25 to 30 percent decrease in serum calcium. He suggested that the influence of high ambient temperatures on blood calcium may be mediated through food intake. Mueller (1959) found that by adjusting the calcium level in the feed as the ambient temperature increased, and feed consumption decreased, he maintained relatively constant blood calcium levels in chickens. Mongin (1968) reviewed the literature on acid-base balance and egg shell formation and stated that calcium is the first limiting factor in shell formation and carbonate ion production is second. He suggested that the thinning of egg shells in hot weather is due to hyperven-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Acid-Base Balance, Plasma Electrolytes and Production Performance of Adult Turkey Hens under Conditions of Increasing Ambient Temperature
TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS
tilation of the lungs with a resultant loss of blood carbon dioxide. This study was designed to determine if increasing ambient temperatures would affect certain physiological parameters in the egg producing turkey. Three different calcium levels were fed to determine whether or not dietary calcium level would influence blood acid-base balance, plasma electrolyte levels or production performance of the turkeys.
Ninety adult female Broad Breasted White (Nicholas strain) turkeys were used in this experiment. These birds were kept on a limited lighting regime (6L-18D) until housing at 33 weeks of age. They were housed in individual cages in the environmental chamber facilities previously described by Parker et al. (1972). Two identical trials were run utilizing 45 turkey hens per trial. Each trial lasted 12 weeks from the time the birds were housed in the chambers. Three chambers were used in each trial (15 birds per chamber). Two of the chambers were used to produce a stepwise increase in ambient temperature over time while a third chamber was kept at a constant temperature throughout the experimental period. The birds in this third chamber were designated as the control group. At the time of housing, the turkeys were placed randomly in the cages of each chamber. Three different diets were then randomly assigned to equal numbers of birds in each chamber. The diets were formulated so that their calculated analysis was the same except for total calcium content which was 1.54, 2.01 and 2.48%. The turkeys were given feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. They were kept on a lighting regime favorable for egg production (14L-10D). The ambient temperature was 21 ± 0.1° C.
with 60 ± 2.0% relative humidity (R.H.) in all three chambers for six weeks after housing. After this period, the ambient temperature in two of the chambers was increased, at two-week intervals, to 25 ± 0.1, 29 ± 0.2 and 35 ± 0.3° C , respectively. The temperature in the third chamber was kept constant at 21 ± 0.1° C. A relative humidity of 60 ± 2.0% was maintained in all three chambers for the entire experimental period. Beginning four weeks after housing, the individual feed consumption and egg production records were recorded daily. All other parameters were monitored on individual birds at four time periods during the trial period. These parameters included plasma levels of sodium, potassium, total calcium, magnesium, chloride, inorganic phosphorus and blood pH, P C 0 2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) and P 0 2 (partial pressure of oxygen). For these measurements, 15 ml. of blood was drawn from the wing vein of each bird using a heparinized vaccutainer tube. The first blood samples were drawn during the sixth week after housing in the chambers. The three subsequent groups of blood samples were drawn from control and treatment turkeys during the second week after each increase in ambient temperature to allow for an acclimation period. All blood samples were drawn between 8 and 10 A.M. so that any effect of diurnal variation would be minimized. Nestor et al. (1972), in a study on diurnal variations of plasma calcium, in turkey hens, reported no differences in plasma calcium levels for blood samples taken at 7 and 10 A.M. To corroborate this report, blood samples were drawn at 8:00 A.M., 8:30 A.M., 9:00 A.M., 9:30 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. from 10 turkey hens acclimated to a constant 21° C. temperature within the chambers. The samples were taken from two birds at each time interval per day for five consecutive days. They were analyzed for plasma electrolytes and blood gas activities. It was determined (Table 1) that there was no significant
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
MATERIALS AND METHODS
2039
2040
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
TABLE 1.—Mean values of plasma electrolytes and blood gas activities from ten adult female turkeys maintained at 21° C. 8:00 A.M. Sodium (mg. %)'* Potassium (mg.
%)'*
9:00 A.M. 338
9:30 A.M. 336
10:00 A.M. 334
15.9
16.0
16.2
16.3
16.7
3.1
3.2
3.0
2.8
2.8
23.0
23.4
23.6
23.6
23.8
118
118
119
119
117
4.6
4.5
4.6
4.6
4.6
51.2
50.3
50.6
52.5
52.6
55.3 7.35
54.9 7.35
56.2 55.9 7.36 7.35 1 No significant difference was found between any of the samples. *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma. 56.3 7.36
diurnal variation when the blood samples were taken between 8 and 10 A.M. A Model 160 Corning Blood Gas System was used for determining the pH, P C 0 2 and P 0 2 activities of whole blood immediately after each sample was drawn. All of these determinations were made at a blood temperature of 41° C. The blood samples were then centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1000 x g and the plasma was removed. A portion from each plasma sample was then analyzed for concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Perkin-Elmer, 1966). The Shales and Shales (1941) method was used for determining the concentration of chloride in the plasma samples. A spectrophotometric adaptation based on the methods and modifications of Fiske and Sabbarow (1925) and Roe and Whitmore (1938) was used in the determination of plasma concentrations of inorganic phosphorus. All determinations were made in duplicate. Each egg was weighed on a pan balance and then a piece of the shell was measured for thickness using a paper micrometer. A
piece of the shell from the equator of each egg was used for the thickness determination because the equator tends to be the thinnest but most uniform area (Tyler and Geake, 1965) and corresponds to the weakest part of the shell (Hunt and Voisey, 1966). An effort was made to remove all of the shell membrane before the thickness measurement was made. The data were compiled and analyzed statistically according to the methodology of Barr and Goodnight (1972).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The data for the control groups, as seen in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5, show that dietary calcium had no significant influence on the parameters measured. This supports the observations of Sullivan and Gehle (1962) that dietary calcium levels of 1.8, 2.8, 3.8 and 4.8% did not significantly affect serum calcium levels. Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 also show that the dietary level of calcium did not significantly influence the measured parameters for the treatment groups within each period. However, there was a tendency for
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Magnesium (mg. % ) ' * Total calcium (mg. % ) ' * Chloride (mEq./l.) 1 Inorg. phos. (mg. % ) ' * Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg)' Venous P C 0 2 (mm.Hg) 1 Venous p H '
8:30 A.M. 336
337
2041
TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS
TABLE 2.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 1 Treatment (21° C.)
Control (21° C.) % Calcium in diet Number of birds 340.0 12.5 25.3 3.2 117.0 5.0 55.1 56.0 7.4 57.1 36.3 91.0
2.01 10
2.48 10
± 4.6 345.1 ± 8.4 342.0 ± 6.0 ± 1.0 11.9 ± 1.1 12.5 ± 1.5 ± 4.5 23.0 ± 4.6 23.8 ± 4.6 ± 0.3 3.4 ± 0.5 3.2 + 0.1 118.0 ± 2.9 ±2.6 119.3 ± 2 . 6 ± 0.9 4.3 ± 0.3 4.5 ± 0.5 48.4 + 4.1 ±6.6 49.6 ± 4.8 ± 3.8ab 55.1 ± 4 . 8 a b 59.7 ± 4.0a ±0.1 7.4 ± 0.1 7.4 ± 0 . 1 ± 13.4 55.5 ± 12.4 47.9 ± 13.6 ± 2.4 36.3 ± 2 . 1 36.9 ± 2.5 ±9.0 92.3 ± 8.5 94.0 ± 10.0
890 ± 9 0 a
770 ± 70b
860 ± 70ab
1.54 20 340.0 12.5 26.7 3.3 116.4 4.4 52.0 53.9 7.4 48.0 36.0 92.4
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.01 20 4.7 1.0 4.4 0.2 2.5 0.4 4.8 4.4b 0.1 13.2 3.9 9.5
800 ± 6 0 b
342.0 12.7 26.8 3.2 118.5 4.5 52.7 50.9 7.4 48.0 37.2 95.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.48 20 6.9 1.8 4.5 0.4 2.5 0.4 4.9 6.3b 0.1 13.7 2.0 9.0
344.2 13.4 26.6 3.4 118.2 4.7 47.5 53.5 7.4 48.3 36.9 93.1
1040 ± 90a
± 6.6 ± 1.5 ±4.6 ±0.2 ±2.6 ±0.5 ±5.0 ± 6.1b ±0.1 ± 11.6 ± 3.6 ± 9.0
940 ± 9 0 a
'Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma. TABLE 3.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 2 Treatment (25° C.)
Control (21° C.) % Calcium in diet Number of birds Sodium (mg. % ) ' * Potassium (mg. %)* Total calcium (mg. %)* Magnesium (mg. %)* Chloride (mEq./l.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) 1 Venous PCO z (mm.Hg) 1 Venous pH Hen day prod. (%) Shell thickness (mm.) Egg weight (gms.) Feed consump. (gin. /bird)'
1.54 10 343.3 12.7 29.9 3.4 117.0 4.5 52.9 56.1 7.4 49.4 37.3 91.2
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.01 10 3.0a 1.3 4.8a 0.4 2.7 1.2 6.7a 4.9b 0.1 16.2 2.1 8.5
1140 ± 100b
346.6 11.8 25.7 3.4 117.8 4.0 43.8 61.1 7.4 49.3 36.7 92.0
± ± ± ± + ± + ± ± ± ± ±
2.48 10
1.54 20
2.01 20
2.48 20
8.5a 343.2 + 4.2a 399.1 ± 4 . 5 a b 336.2 ± 5.3b 338.8 ± 3.3ab 13.2 + 1.4 13.0 + 1.6 12.3 ± 0.9 12.4 ± 1.5 1.2 25.0 ± 4.4ab 4.6ab 23.8 + 4.3ab 24.0 ± 4.3ab 22.4 ± 4.0b 3.2 ± 0.2 3.2 ± 0 . 3 3.3 + 0.3 0.3 3.1 + 0 . 2 118.6 ± 2 . 6 118.6 ± 2.5 116.6 ± 2.6 120.0 + 3.1 3.0 4.5 ± 0.3 4.3 ± 0.6 4.3 ± 0.3 3.9 ± 0.4 0.6 50.5 ± 5.8a 54.1 ± 2 . 3 a 53.4 + 8.3a 44.0 + 7.0b 6.2b 5.1a 59.0 ± 4.2ab 59.0 ± 8.5ab 58.7 ± 5.5ab 64.8 + 8.2a 0.1 7.4 + 0.1 7.4 + 0.1 7.4 ± 0 . 1 7.4 ± 0 . 1 47.9 ± 10.6 42.8 ± 1 3 . 1 42.3 ± 10.0 40.2 ± 6.8 7.7 36.3 ± 2.6 36.1 + 1.5 36.7 ± 1.5 36.4 ± 2 . 1 0.8 93.2 ± 9.4 95.1 ± 9 . 0 92.0 ± 9.8 94.1 ± 9 . 5 8.0
1360 ± 120a
1360 + 130a
1350 ± 120a
1360 ± 140a
1410 + 130a
•Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma.
the group fed 2.48% calcium to maintain a slightly higher hen-day production and plasma calcium level as the ambient temperature increased from 30 to 35° C. Perhaps an even higher dietary calcium level would have had a significant effect on these parameters under the high temperature conditions.
Since dietary calcium levels did not significantly influence the results, the data from all three dietary treatments were combined, and a comparison was made among periods for control and treatment groups (Tables 6, 7). This comparison shows that there was no significant change in the plasma sodium
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Sodium (mg. %)* Potassium (mg. %)* Total calcium (mg. %)* Magnesium (mg. %)* Chloride (mEq./I.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous PCO z (mm.Hg) 1 Venous pH Hen day prod. (%) Shell thickness (mm.) Egg weight (gms.) Feed consump. (gm./bird) 1
1.54 10
2042
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
TABLE 4.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 3 Control (21° C.) % Calcium in diet Number of birds 342.0 12.5 24.4 3.6 117.2 4.3 52.2 55.4 7.4 40.8 38.7 92.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.01 10 7.1a 1.3b 4.8a 0.5 2.8 0.7 5.3a 4.6 0.1 11.6a 1.5 9.0
346.8 12.9 20.6 3.4 118.3 4.2 43.9 53.8 7.4 49.3 36.9 93.1
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
Treatment (30° C.) 2.48 10
10.0a 1.6ab 4.6ab 0.4a 2.6 0.4 6.8b 6.2 0.1 13.8a 1.7 8.0
1340 ± 140ab< 1270± 130b
342.9 12.4 21.8 3.3 119.0 4.1 53.3 57.4 7.4 43.7 36.6 94.5
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
1.54 20
2.01 20
2.48 20
7.5a 336.3 ± 5.4b 336.7 ± 4.1b 1.2b 12.9 ± 1.2ab 13.6 ± 1.3a 4.7a 18.0 ± 4.2b 16.1 ± 3.8b 0.3a 3.1 ± 0.4ab 2.6 ± 0.2b 2.9 118.4 ± 3.0 117.0 ± 2.9 0.6 3.8 ± 0.5 4.1 ± 0.4 4.9a 54.8 ± 5.0a 53.9 ± 3.5a 4.4 54.5 ± 6.3 53.6 ± 4.1 7.4 ± 0.1 7.4 ± 0.1 0.1 11.2a 13.8 ± 13.7b 16.4 ± 11.3b 2.2 34.4 ± 2.8 33.5 ± 2.5 10.0 86.0 ± 10.5 90.1 ± 10.9
1450 ± 120a
990 ± 100c
333.3 13.8 20.1 2.9 118.9 4.0 49.8 58.5 7.4 23.1 34.3 88.5
1130 ± 130c
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
3.0b 1.3a 4.6ab 0.4ab 3.2 0.6 3.2a 5.4 0.1 17.4b 2.6 10.3
1180 ± 120bc
1
Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma. TABLE 5.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups fed diets containing varying levels of calcium during period 4 Treatment (35° 1C.)
Control (21° C.)
Sodium (mg. % ) ' * Potassium (mg. %)* Total calcium (mg. %)* Magnesium (mg. %)* Chloride (mEq./l.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous P C 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous pH Hen day prod. (%)' Shell thickness (mm.) 1 Egg weight (gms.)' Feed consump. (gm./bird) 1
342.6 12.6 16.6 3.2 117.0 4.2 51.3 58.2 7.4 27.3 35.6 93.1
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.5a 0.8 2.8 0.4 2.4 0.8 4.5 4.8 0.1 12.7a 1.0a 8.6a
1020 ± 100a
344.6 13.0 16.5 3.0 118.0 3.8 53.9 55.4 7.4 25.1 34.4 93.6
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
1.54 20
2.48 10
2.01 10
1.54 10
% Calcium in diet Number of birds
6.3a 1.4 2.8 0.3 2.6 0.2 1.2 3.3 0.1 16.3a 0.7ab 8.2a
930 ± 90a
345.5 12.6 16.5 2.8 119.5 3.9 50.6 58.7 7.4 28.5 34.9 95.1
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.5a 2.6 2.8 0.3 2.9 0.7 5.5 5.5 0.1 10.9a 1.8ab 9.8a
1040 ± 100a
333.6 13.1 15.1 2.9 116.5 3.7 54.0 54.4 7.4 5.6 34.6 80.6
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.48 20
2.01 20 5.6b 1.2 2.6 0.3 3.0 0.5 7.6 2.8 0.1 8.8b 2.2ab 12.6b
331.7 13.4 13.7 2.7 118.3 3.7 52.2 53.6 7.4 0.0
700 ± 90b
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.8b 331.2 + 4.7b 13.3 ± 1.2 1.8 15.3 ± 2.7 2.5 2.8 ± 0.3 0.2 119.0 ± 3.0 2.7 3.7 ± 0.4 0.3 50.4 ± 4.8 3.6 53.1 ± 3.3 3.4 7.4 ± 0.1 0.1 7.5 ± 10.9b 33.2 ± 1.9b 83.0 ± 11.9b
450 ± 80c
910 ± 100a
1
Values in the same row having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma.
and potassium concentrations of the control group over time. A temperature effect on plasma sodium and potassium was very evident though. The data demonstrate a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma sodium and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma
potassium as the ambient temperature rose to 30° C. Plasma calcium levels of the control group (Table 6a) increased slightly (2.5 mg. %) during period two, then dropped significantly (P < 0.05) by 4.5 mg. % during period three
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
Sodium (mg. % ) ' * Potassium (mg. % ) ' * Total calcium (mg. % ) ' * Magnesium (mg. % ) ' * Chloride (mEq./l.) Inorg. phos. (mg. %)* Venous P 0 2 (mm.Hg) 1 Venous P C 0 2 (mm.Hg) Venous pH Hen day prod. (%)' Shell thickness (mm.) Egg weight (gms.) Feed consump. (gm./bird) 1
1.54 10
No. of birds 30 60 30 60 30 60 30 60
Sodium (mg. %)2* 1.2c 1.4b 1.3c 1.3b 1.4c 1.3a 1.7c 1.5ab 24.0 26.4 26.5 23.8 22.3 18.1 16.5 14.7
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
4.2ab 3.3a 4.5a 3.4ab 4.4b 4.5c 2. led 1.6d
Total calcium (mg. %)2* 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.4 2.8 3.0 2.8
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
0.4ab 0.3ab 0.3b 0.3b 0.4a 0.3c 0.3b 0.3c
Magnesium (mg.)2* 118.2 117.9 118.3 118.0 118.3 118.3 118.3 117.9
± 2.7 ±2.6 ± 2.9 ± 2.6 ± 2.8 ± 3.0 ±2.7 ±2.9
Chloride (mEq./l.) 4.6 4.6 4.3 4.4 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.7
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
0.7a 0.4a 0.8b 0.4b 0.6c 0.5c 0.6d 0.4d
Inorg. phos. (mg. %) 2
2
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
Period
21 21 21 25 21 30 21 35
30 60 30 60 30 60 30 60
No. of birds 50.8 50.7 47.1 52.7 48.0 52.8 52.1 52.2
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
5.4 4.9 6.6 5.5 6.9 4.0 4.3 5.3
Venous PO2 (mm.Hg) 2
Combined data from all three diets. Values in the same column having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05).
Control Treatment Control Treatment Control Treatment Control Treatment
Temp. (°C.) 58.2 52.8 58.1 62.5 55.9 56.2 58.6 53.7
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
4.6ab 5.2c 5.2ab 6.9a 5.2bc 5.3bc 5.6ab 3.2c
Venous PCO2 (mm.Hg) 2 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Venous pH
53.2 48.0 46.3 45.4 44.7 17.8 26.9 4.4
* ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
13.6a 12.6ab 11.6b 12.4b 12.4b 14. Id 13.1c lO.Oe
Hen day prod. (%)2
36.6 36.7 36.8 36.4 37.4 34.1 35.0 34.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
2.3a 3.1a 1.8a 2.0ab 1.9a 2.7b 1.4ab 2.0b
Shell thickness (mm.) 2
92.5 93.3 92.5 93.4 93.3 89.0 93.6 82.0
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
9.2a 9.3a 8.6a 9.4a 9.0a 10.5a 8.9a 12.3b
Egg weight (gms.) 2
800 930 1290 1370 1360 1100 1000 690
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
80cd 80bc 120a 130a 130a I20bc 100c 90d
Feed consumption (gms./bird) 2
TABLE 7.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups during the four data collection periods'
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
Potassium (mg. %)2*
Period Control 1 342.2 ± 6.6ab 12.4 Treatment 1 342.1 ± 6.0ab 12.9 Control 2 342.9 ± 7.6a 12.4 Treatment 2 338.1 ± 4 . 3 b 12.9 Control 3 344.6 ± 8.3a 12.7 Treatment 3 334.4 ± 4.2c 13.5 Control 4 344.2 ± 5.7a 12.7 332.2 ± 5.4c Treatment 4 13.2 1 Combined data from all three diets. 2 Values in the same column having different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). *Mg. % refers to milligrams of electrolyte per 100 milliliters of plasma.
Temp. CO 21 21 21 25 21 30 21 35
TABLE 6.—Mean values and standard deviations of parameters measured from control and treatment groups during the four data collection periods'
http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015 •U
O
> >
z a 03 r o o D
>
m
H C 7a
>
SO
2044
H. J. KOHNE AND J. E. JONES
at 21° C. (period one) to 45.4% at 25° C. (period two) to 17.8% at 30° C. (period three) to 4.4% at 35° C. (period four). These results agree with those of Mitchell and Kosin (1954) and Kosin and Mitchell (1955) who found a depressing effect of moderately and uniformly warm ambient temperature on the laying rate of the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey. Shell thickness and egg weight did not change significantly over time in the control group (Table 6b). For the treatment group, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in shell thickness as the temperature increased past 25° C. but egg weight was not significantly decreased until the ambient temperature reached 35° C. Each feed consumption value (Table 6b) represents the grams of feed consumed per bird within a two-week period. Feed consumption for the control group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher during periods two and three as compared to periods one and two. Ambient temperatures above 25° C. significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the feed consumption of the treatment groups as compared to the control groups. These data agree with the report by Parker et al. (1972) which stated that increasing ambient temperatures significantly reduced the feed consumption of adult female turkeys. When correlations were run on these data, it was found that acid-base balance (as described by P 0 2 , P C 0 2 and pH) was not significantly correlated to egg production, shell thickness or egg size in either the control or treatment groups. The only electrolytes which were significantly (|R| > 0.50, P < 0.01) correlated to egg production in the control or treatment groups were magnesium and calcium. Shell thickness or egg size was not significantly correlated to any of the plasma electrolytes measured. Feed consumption was not significantly correlated with egg production. These data show that a slow increase in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
and then dropped again by a significant amount (5.8 mg. %) during period four. The plasma calcium levels of the treatment group followed a similar decline as the control group except that the increasing ambient temperature made the decline much more pronounced. The magnesium concentration in the plasma of the control group (Table 6a) showed a significant (P < 0.05) fluctuation over the experimental period but no general trend. As the ambient temperature rose above 25° C. for the treatment group, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma magnesium levels. The data in Table 6a illustrates a significant (P < 0.05) and continuous decrease in plasma levels of inorganic phosphorus over time and also shows that there was no significant influence of increasing ambient temperature on the plasma levels of inorganic phosphorus. There was no significant change in the venous P C 0 2 activity of the control group over time (Table 6b). A temperature effect on venous P C 0 2 activity was evident though. The venous P C 0 2 activity rose significantly (P < 0.05) from 52.8 millimeters of mercury (mm.Hg) at 21° C. to 62.5 mm.Hg at 25° C. and then declined at a significant (P < 0.05) rate to 56.2 mm.Hg at 30° C. and 53.7 mm.Hg at 35° C. Plasma chlorides, venous P 0 2 and venous pH were not significantly affected by either time or temperature (Table 6b). Each egg production value (Table 6b) represents a two-week period of egg collection. The periods do not overlap but are sequential. Egg production for the control group showed a significant (P < 0.05) decline over time from 53% during period one to 46% during period two, and again from 44% during period three to 23% during period four. The decline in egg production was much more pronounced for the treatment group as the ambient temperature increased above 25° C. Egg production for this group declined from 48.0%
TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS
ambient temperature to as high as 35° C. does not produce a change in the acid-base balance of the blood as is the case of a rapid increase in ambient temperature (Mueller, 1966). The plasma electrolytes are affected by a slow increase in ambient temperature in the same way as they are by a fast increase in ambient temperature (Kohne and Jones, unpublished data) even though the turkeys have time to adapt to these slow increases in temperature.
The authors wish to express appreciation to Dr. W. E. Johnston, Jr., of the Experimental Station, Clemson University, for the statistical analysis on this data.
REFERENCES Barr, A. J., and J. H. Goodnight, 1972. A Users Guide to Statistical Analysis. Compiled by Jolayne Service. Student Supply Stores, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, N.C. Brown, E. B., Jr., and B. Goot, 1963. Intracellular hydrogen ion changes and potassium movement. Am. J. Physiol. 204: 765-770. Conrad, R. M., 1939. The effect of high temperature on the blood calcium of the laying hen. Poultry Sci. 18: 327-329. Fenn, W. O., and T. Asano, 1956. Effects of carbon dioxide inhalation on potassium liberation from the liver. Am. J. Physiol. 185: 567-576. Fiske,C. H., and Y. Sabbarow, 1925. The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. J. Biol. Chem. 66: 375-400. Hunt, J. R., and P. W. Voisey, 1966. Physical properties of egg shells. 1. Relationship of resistance of compression and force at failure of egg shells. Poultry Sci. 45: 1398-1404. Kohne, H. J., and J. E.Jones, 1974. Changes in plasma electrolytes, acid-base balance and other physiological parameters of adult female turkeys under conditions of acute hyperthermia. Poultry Sci. 54: 2034-2038. Kosin, I. L., and M. S. Mitchell, 1955. Ambient temperature as a factor in turkey reproduction. 1. The effect of preheating males and females on their
subsequent breeding pen performance. Poultry Sci. 34: 484-496. Lade, R. I., and E. B. Brown, Jr., 1963. Movement of potassium between muscle and blood in response to respiratory alkalosis. Am. J. Physiol. 204: 761764. Mitchell, M. S., and I. L. Kosin, 1954. The effects of controlled ambient temperatures on some factors associated with egg laying in turkeys. Poultry Sci. 33: 186-191. Mongin, P., 1968. Role of acid-base balance in the physiology of egg shell formation. World's Poultry Sci. J. 24: 200-230. Mueller, W. J., 1959. The effect of environmental temperature and humidity on the calcium balance and serum calcium of laying pullets. Poultry Sci. . 38: 1296-1301. Mueller, W. J., 1966. Effect of rapid temperature changes on acid-base balance in shell quality. Poultry Sci. 45: 1109. Mueller, W. J., R. Schraer and H. Schraer, 1964. Calcium metabolism and skeletal dynamics of laying pullets. J. Nutr. 84: 20-26. Nestor, K. E., S. P. Touchburn, M. A. Musser and E. C. Naber, 1972. Egg quality and reproduction in turkeys. 3. Variation in dietary calcium level. Poultry Sci. 51:669-677. Parker, J. T., M. A. Boone and J. F. Knecktges, 1972. The effect of ambient temperature upon body temperature, feed consumption and water consumption using two varieties of turkeys. Poultry Sci. 51:659-664. Perkin-Elmer, 1966. No. 990-9341, Supplements to Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Perkin-Elmer Corp., Norwalk, Conn. Roe, J. H., and E. R. Whitmore, 1938. Clinicopathologic application of serum phosphatase determinations, with special reference to lesions of the bones. Am. J. Clin. Path. 8: 233-254. Shales, O., and S. S. Shales, 1941. Titrametric procedure for chloride determination. J. Biol. Chem. 140: 879-884. Sullivan, T. W., and M. H. Gehle, 1962. Effect of ascorbic acid on the serum calcium level in laying hens fed graded levels of dietary calcium. Poultry Sci. 41: 1016-1017. Thomason, D. M., A. T. Leighton, Jr. and J. P. Mason, Jr., 1972. A study of certain environmental factors on the reproductive performance of large white turkeys. Poultry Sci. 51: 1438-1449. Tyler, C , and F. H. Geake, 1965. Egg shell thickness patterns as shown by individual domestic hens. British Poultry Sci. 6: 235-243.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on May 20, 2015
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
2045
