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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108504
Title: THE EFFECT OF 6/85 STRAIN MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM ON EGG PRODUCTION, SELECTED EGG AND EGGSHELL QUALITY PARAMETERS AND EGG SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN COMMERCIAL LAYERS

Author
item Branton, Scott
item Bearson, Shawn
item Collier, Stephanie
item Lott, Berry
item MASLIN, W - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item PHARR, G - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In each of two trials, 80 commercial pullets, serologically and culture negative for both Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae, were separated into two treatments with four replicated of 10 chickens in each treatment. Forty of the pullets were designated as controls and received no inoculation while the remaining 40 pullets received the 6/85 strain of MG at 10 weeks of age. Hen-day egg production, egg weight, eggshell strength, Haugh unit score, pimpling incidence, and blood/meat spot incidence were monitored and recorded in each trial through an entire laying cycle of 43 weeks. Further, eggs from all treatments were collected daily, Monday-Thursday, and individually weighed. No significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between the treatments for means of egg production; for any of the monitored egg or eggshell parameters; or for the number of extra-large, large, medium, small, pee wee, or undergrade egg sizes. A significant difference was observed for the percentage of jumbo sized eggs between the two treatments. At the termination of each of the trials, histological examination of the ovary and various segments of the oviduct revealed no significant differences among the reproductive tissues between the two treatments.