Feeding value of the leaf meal of acacia (Robinia Pseudoacacia. L) which was produced in China as a poultry feed was compared with that of the dehydrated alfalfa meal.
In the first experiment, chemical composition and metabolizable energy value of the leaf meal were determined. The results were as follows: Crude protein 19.7%, Crude fat 3.5%, Crude fiber 10.2%, Crude ash 12.1%, Calcium 2.1%, Phosphorus 0.2%, total carotenoid 28.2mg/100g and metabolizable energy value 1074kcal per kg feed.
In the second experiment, 64 broiler chicks were fed a corn-soybean type diet containing 5 percent of leaf meal, and another 64 chicks a diet containing the same level of dehydrated alfalfa meal. Body weight gain, feed intake and mortality were recorded. The results showed no difference between two groups.
In the third experiment, colouring effect of the leaf meal carotenoid on egg yolk was studied. The egg yolk pigmenting efficiency of the leaf meal was almost the same as that of dehydrated alfalfa meal. The relative egg yolk pigmenting efficiency of the leaf meal determined on the basis of yellow corn was 84.

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To determine phytate phosphorus content in the diet, the WHEELER and FERREL method was modified.
Phytate phosphorus was extracted with 3% TCA and precipitated with 0.582% FeCl₃ as the Fe₄ phytate. The precipitate was washed twice with 3% TCA, twice with N/6 HCl and once with distilled water. Iron content of the precipitate was determined colorimetrically. Phytate phosphorus content was calculated from this value.
Phytate phosphorus content determined by the WHEELER and FERREL method was largely affected by calcium phosphates in the diet. However, by the modified method, phytate phosphorus content was able to be determined without being affected by calcium phosphates in the diet.
Phytate phosphorus content in major feed ingredients was also determined satisfactory by the modified method.

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To evaluate genetic variation in a quail population, 17 enzymes and proteins were examined by the use of starch gel electrophoresis. Of the 24 loci examined 10 were shown to be polymorphic; one of three mannose phosphate isomerase loci, glutamate DH locus, sorbitol DH locus, malic enzyme-I locus, acid phosphatase locus, alcohol DH locus, amylase locus, one of three hemoglobin loci, ovalbumin locus and esterase D locus. Other 14 loci defined as monomorphic included two mannose phosphate isomerase loci, malic enzyme-II locus, phosphoglucomutase locus, two aspartate aminotransferase loci, alpha-glycerol phosphate DH locus, two malate DH loci, muscle lactate DH locus, leucine aminopeptidase locus, two hemoglobin, loci and albumin locus. Using both the data presently obtained and our published data on 6 polymorphic loci (catalase locus, liver esterase locus, brain esterase-II locus, phosphoglucose isomerase locus, 6-phosphogluconate DH locus and transferrin locus) and a monomorphic locus (brain esterase-III locus), proportion of polymorphic loci (P_poly), mean heterozygosity per individual (H) and effective munber of alleles per locus (n_e) were calculated. The estimated P_poly, H and n_e were 0.516, 0.167 and 1.20, respectively.

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Male Japanese quail have been reared not only for breeding but also to serve as grilled meat in restaurants and pubs. For the latter purpose, as large body weight as possible is required. However, when the light length and intensity was maintained at 24 hours and less than 5 luxes by poultry men, it was observed that the growth rate after 4 weeks of age decreased and the reproductive behavior began at this time. This investigation was conducted to clarify the effects of light length and intensity on the body weight gain, testis weight and feed efficiency in male quail.
In experiment 1, 450 8-day-old male quail divided into 9 groups, were put in electrical brooders designed for this experiment and were fed for 5 weeks at 9 light length (Hour, L) and light intensity (Lux, I) as 8L-5I, 8L-45I, 8L-85I, 16L-5I, 16L-45I, 16L-85I, 24L-5I, 24L-45I, and 24L-85I. For the first 2 weeks, a diet of 29% of CP and 2.8kcal per g of ME was fed, and a diet of 24% of CP and 2.9kcal of ME was fed for the next 3 weeks. This experiment wes repeated by the same conditions as above. In experiment 2, the same number and the same age quail as experiment 1 were fed under 9 experimental light lengths and intensities as 8L-5I, 8L-45I, 8L-85I, 6L-5I, 6L-45I, 6L-85I, 4L-5I, 4L-45I, 4L-85I. A variance analysis was used for the analysis of data obtained. The results were as follows:
1) No significant effects of light intensity on body weight gain, testis weight and feed efficiency were shown as the results of experiment 1 and 2. But signifficant effects of light length were found.
2) It was shown as the results of experiment 1 that the body weight gain from 4 to 6 weeks of age decreased with the lengthening of light length from 8L to 24L, and the testis weight of the 6 weeks old birds increased gradually under the same conditions as above.
3) No significant effects of the light length from 8 to 4L on body weight gain and testis weight were found.
4) Throughout experiment 1 and 2, the feed efficiency increased with the decreasing of the light length.
5) From these results, the most suitable light length for growth and feed efficiency in male Japanese quail is said to be 4 hours.

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The concentrations of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), GH and somatomedin (SM) in the circulation were determined in the chicken after fasting for 1, 3 and 5 days. The rates of synthesis and release of GH, prolactin, and the whole protein in the pituitary after the treatment were also measured by an in vitro method. One day fasting resulted in the increase of serum FFA and GH levels and the decrease of SM level. The fasting of longer periods decreased serum FFA and SM levels, without alterations in serum GH level. Fasting stimulated GH synthesis and release in the pituitary in vitro and increased GH storage in the gland. The content, synthesis, and release of prolactin in the cockerel pituitary were not greatly affected by the fast, but the synthesis in the hen was lowered. The whole protein synthesis in the pituitary was increased by the fast, but the release was not affected.

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Three native breeds of chickens, Hinai-dori, Koeyoshi and Kinpa, have been maintained in the northern Tohoku district of Japan. Although their origin and history are not known clearly, it is postulated that they have some relationships with Shamo, Koshamo and Tomaru. This study was done to analyze the genetic relationships of these six breeds.
Seven polymorphic loci, blood group A-E, B, D and G, plasma esterase Es-1, and plasma alkaline phosphatase Akp and Akp-2 were examined. At the B locus a number of alleles were found in each breed and the number of phenotypes observed within a breed varied 9 to 36. Gene frequencies were considerably different among the breeds. In Hinai-doris, Kinpas and Tomarus the frequency of B^G was high, whereas B^ILTX was predominant in Koshamos and Kinpas. At the A-E locus the A^R was predominant in all breeds tested. There were found no special features in gene frequencies at the D and G blood group loci.
At the plasma esterase Es-1 locus the frequency of Es-1^B was high in all of the breeds. The Es-1^C was found only in Shamos, Koshamos and Tomarus and was predominant in Koshamos. The frequency of akp for the slow alkaline phospatase band was high, ranging from 0.95 to 1.00. At the Akp-2 locus gene frequencies were different among the breeds.
The genetic distances among the breeds were estimated and the relationships were shown by a dendrogram. The nearest relationship was found between the Hinai-dori and Kinpa. The distances between the Shamo and other breeds were generally close, whereas the Koshamo showed distant relationships with other breeds.

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From 1978 to 1979, outbreaks of a disease in broiler chicks, chiefly manifested as gizzard lining erosion and ulceration, were observed in the Shikoku and Chugoku regions of Japan. The disease was liable to occur in flocks of chicks over 9 days old fed specific diets. When these diets were replaced by some other diet, the symptoms of the disease disappeared in a few days, though a subsequent reduction of growth rate was apparent. No factors, such as breed, origin of chicks, structure of rearing house, management practice, and season of the year, were found to exert any influence on this disease. The clinical signs exhibited included diarrhea, black vomitus, poor development, listlessness, loss of appetite, dehydration, and sopor. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of remarkable black watery contents in the crop and gizzard, and erosion and ulceration of the gizzard. In dead chicks, some of the ulcers were found to spread through the gizzard wall to the abdominal cavity. Besides, swelling and obscuring of papillae, an increase in proventricular mucus, and distention and metamorphosis of the proventriculus were observed. Microscopically, remarkable gizzard erosion and ulceration accompanied with alteration, necrosis, disruption and regeneration of the glandular layer, and desquamation of the keratinoid layer were noted. No bacteria regarded as causative agents of these conditions were detected. Test feeding trials were then performed with diets which had been given to flocks involved in outbreaks. These trials were carried out with broiler birds in both starter and finisher stage of feeding. The appearance of the disease accompanied with the some symptoms and lesions as described above was observed in flocks of birds fed diets which had been used for birds involved in outbreaks.

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Six kinds of fish meal were examined by broiler chick assay to determine whether they included toxic substance (s) for chicks to induce gizzard erasion (GE) or not. In this experiment, GE was found in chiks fed diets contaning a high concentration of some products of fish meal. The higher dietary level of fish meal, the severer the erosion of chicks. Fish meal which did not cause GE for itself and which had been heated at 130°C for 5hrs, caused GE. Toxic substance(s) which caused GE had not been extracted from fish meal with either methanol-ether or water. Methanol-ether or water extracts from fish meal which was capable of causing GE after heat treatment caused no GE before or after heat treatment. The residue of methanol-ether extraction caused GE after heat treatmennt. The residue of methanol-ether extraction caused GE after heat treatment, but that of waterextraction did not. Both mixture of the water extract with white fish meal and of mackerel fish soluble with white fish meal showed severe GE after heat treatment.
In conclusion, GE in broiler chicks was caused by feeding high level of some products of fish meal. The toxic substance causing GE was water-insoluble. It might have been produced from a water-soluble fraction of the fish meal by heating in the presence of fish meal which was non-toxic.

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It has been well known that peelability of hard-cooked egg is related to the storage condition, and that fresh egg is very difficult to peel. Recently, it has been maintained in Japan that albumen of hard-cooked fresh egg has sponge-like micro-structure, resulting in unfavorable taste.
Fresh eggs, which were whithin 15min, on oviposition and were still warm by finger touch, were collected every mornining at 9:30 from the same flock of about 6-month-old White Leghorn hens. In Expt. 1, 10 fresh eggs and 10 eggs stored for 7 days at room temperature were compared. In Expt. 2, 40 eggs stored for 7 days at 23°C, 20 eggs each stored for 1, 2, 4, and 6 days at 5°C, and to fresh eggs were tested.
The eggs were placed in water of twice in weight of the eggs in a pot, the water was brought to the boil, then putting out the fire the eggs were cooked for 15min. in the water. The eggs were cooled rapidly under running tap water.
The ease of peeling was scored as follows: 1: no egg albumen adhering to the shell; 2: 1/4 of the shell covered with adhering albumen; 3: 1/2 of the shell covered with adhering albumen; 4: 3/4 of the shell covered with adhering albumin; 5: all of the shell covered with adhering albmen.
The peeled eggs were sliced by egg slicers and egg yolk was taken off. In Expt. 1, three pieces of albumen, i, e., two of either fresh eggs or 7-day-stored eggs and one of the rest, were compared to find the odd one, and the panelists were asked whether the odd one was favorable or not. Eight sets of 6 panelists each, corresponding to 6 orders of arrangement of 3 pieces of albumen, were asked to test. In Expt. 2, taste of 3 pairs of albumen was compared separately by each of 49 panelists. The pairs were as follows: Eggs stored 7 days at 23°C (C egg) vs. eggs stored 2 days at 5°C; C eggs vs. eggs stored 4 days at 5°C; and C eggs vs. eggs stored 6 days at 5°C.
By pH meter (Beckman zeromatic SS-3). pH of the albumen was determined individually after homogenizing genty for 10sec.
Results were as follows:
Among 48 panelists in Expt. 1, 37 (77%, P<1%) selected right albumen, of which 31 (65%, P<1%) pref ered albumen of the eggs stored 7 days to that of the fresh eggs. Number of the panelists who could find the difference in taste between pairs of albumen in Expt. 2, and number among them who prefered C egg albumen to that stored at 5°C are presented in Table 2. Percentage of the panelists who prefered C albumen was taken as an index of preference to show the difference in taste between pair of albumen. Highly significant correlation was observed between storage time (x days) and preference index (y %), as shown in Fig. 3. Linear relationship was also observed between storage time and peelability score. From these data, it was expected that an egg stored at 5°C will be easily peelable and have good taste of albumen after 9 days.
Change in pH of albumen was curvilinear as shown in Fig. 3. Though it has been believed that egg shell will be easily peelable at pH of albmen higher than 8.6-8.9, pH of eggs easily peelable and having good taste of hard-cooked albumen was expected to be over 9.1.

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