This research was conducted to clarify the genetic variability for heat (43°C, 38°C) and6 Japan. Poultry Sci., 24 (1), 1987cold (-10°C) tolerance in White Leghorn chickens. Survival time or mortality was used as the criterion for relative tolerance.
Experiment 1 was conducted with one-week-old Leghorn chicks from four strains, WL-R, -B, -DW and -dw, to investigate the strain difference in tolerance to extreme thermal environments (43°C, -10°C). At hot environment, mean survival time was 138.9, 140.3, 159.8 and 272.9 minutes for strains WL-DW, -R, -B and -dw, respectively. In contrast, survival time at cold environment was 65.3, 85.9, 101.1 and 116.6 minutes for WL-dw, -B, -R and -DW, respectively. These results showed that the heavier the body weight of a strain the more resistant to cold environment, but the less resistant to hot environment. Though the body weight of WL-dw (dwarf strain) was almost similar to that of WL-B, its average survival time was 20 minutes shorter at cold environment and 110 minutes longer at hot environment than that of WL-B. This indicates that resistibility to heat stress is influ-enced not only by body weight but also by physiological functions concerning heat produc-tion and/or heat loss.
Experiment 2 was conducted with one-week-old Leghorn chicks from two strains, WL-G and -S, to estimate the genetic parameters of tolerance to extreme thermal stress (43°C, -10°C). Regardless of the temperature environments and strains, heritability estimates based on dam component (.475∼.596) were higher than those estimated by sire component (.035∼.285), indicating that maternal and/or non-additive effects were concerned in survival time. Heritability estimates based on full-sib component of WL-G, -S and both strains were .441, .256 and .349, respectively at low environmental temperature, while at high environmental temperature these values were .308, .325 and .317, respectively. Negative phenotypic and genetic correlations were observed between survival time and body weight in hot environ-ment, whereas positive correlations were observed in cold environment.
Experiment 3 was conducted with 13-month-old Leghorn hens (WL-G) to estimate the heritabilities of mortality from exposure to hot environment. Percentage mortality from expo-sure to 38°C for 24 hours was 52.4%. Heritability estimates of mortality were .276, .398 and .337 for sire, dam and combined component, respectively.

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The present study was carried out to compare the incorporation of the infused ammonia-N and glutamine amide-N into urinary nitrogenous compounds and its contribution to the stimulation of these urinary compounds by the infusions of glutamine and ammonia in the chicken fed 5% or 20% protein diet.
There were no significant differences between incorporations of ammonia-N and gluta-mine amide-N into urinary uric acid, ammonia or total nitrogen, although ammonia-N tended to be more incorporated into uric acid than glutamine amide-N in chickens fed a 20% protein diet. The incorporation of glutamine amide-N into other nitrogenous compounds than ammonia and uric acid was more than 6-times that of ammonia-N (P<0.05 in chickens fed a 20% protein diet). No significant differences were observed in endogenous uric acid-N and ammonia-N between glutamine and ammonia infusions in chickens fed a 5% protein diet, but endogenous other nitrogen and total nitrogen in glutamine infusion were 6- and 2.5-times those in ammonia infusion, respectively (P<0.05). In chickens fed a 20% protein diet, endogenous uric acid-N, ammonia-N, other nitrogen and total nitrogen in glutamine infusion were 2-, 2-, 4- and 2-times those in ammonia infusion, respectively, although not significant. The stimulatory effects of the infused glutamine and ammonia on urinary uric acid, ammonia, other nitrogenous compounds and total nitrogen excretion rather reflected the changes in the endogenous components of these compounds than those in the infused Nincorporated components.

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Five month-old male Japanese quail were injected with estradiol benzoate at a dose of 1mg/bird/day for 4 consecutive days. Horizontal polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophore-tograms of plasma proteins were compared before and after the estrogen treatment.
After the estrogen treatment, the intensity of albumin and pretranferrin bands decreased drastically and that of transf errin and posttransferrin-2 (the slowest migrating band) were increased. In pretransferrin zone, new protein bands appeared.
Fastest migrating estrogen dependent prealbumin-3 (Pa-3) protein bands occurred in estrogenized male quail plasma, and its amino acid compositions of Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Gly, Ala, Cys Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, Lys, His, Arg and Pro were 11.5%, 4.3%, 6.9%, 12.5%, 8.8%, 9.0%, 0.5%, 6.8%, 2.4%, 4.4%, 8.4%, 3.8%, 4.0%, 6.1%, 0.6%, 4.3% and 5.5%, respectively.

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The inside air temperature, the floor surface temperature and the amount of ventilation air of two windowless poultry houses in summer were measured, and the heat flow through the floor was analyzed theoretically.
1. The average overall heat transmission coefficients of two houses were 0.23 and 0.81kcal/m2•°C•hr, respectively. According to these values, the houses were estimated to be thermally well insulated.
2. It was theoretically proved that the floor temperature was under periodic steady-state. The periodic change of floor heat flow was, then, calculated as shown in Table 2.
3. The amount of heat flowed into the houses mentiond aboved and a house having 2kcal/m2•°C•hr of heat transmission coefficient were calculated from the values of the sol-air temperature in August and the inside temperature of houses.
Then, the ratios of the outflow of heat through the floor to the inflow into the houses were obtained, being 5.82, 2.49 and 0.76 times, respectively, by the order of insulation. The ratios of the floor heat loss to the total loss through floor and by ventilation air were also calculated, being 49.2, 51.8 and 31.4%, respectively.
In conclusion, in summer the heat flow from the inside of the house into the ground through the floor may play a very important role in the thermal environment of the well insulated windowless poultry houses for layers.

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To study the effects of deficiency of thyroid hormone on the weights of genital organs and semen production in adult males of domestic fowl, the thyroid glands of chicks (White Leghorn, Shaver strain) were surgically removed at 10 to 11 days of age, immediately autotransplanted into subcutaneous tissue at the anterior region of the breast, then the autotransplanted glands were removed 7 months later. Intact and autotransplanted males were used as controls.
Autotransplanted males grew as fast as intact males and had no liver hypertrophy and excess deposition of abdominal fat which were known as the indicators of hypothyroidism. On the contrary, in males lacking the thyroid glands by complete removal of the autotrans-planted thyroid glands, a striking liver hypertrophy and a large amount deposition of abdo-minal fat were observed at autopsy indicating a severe hypothyroidism. Only a excess deposition of abdominal fat was observed in males which had a scrap of the thyroid gland (about 20mg. in weight) by incomplete thyroidectomy. This may indicate mild hypothy-roidism.
Under a severe hypothyroidism, the testis, epididymis and vascular body of the males were reduced in weight compared to controls. Among them reduction in testicular weight was prominent, and also reduction was observed both in the volume of semen and sperm concentration. The males in a mild hypothyroidism, however, had no effect on the genital organs and semen production and the values were similar to those of controls. From these results, it is presumed that a severe deficiency of thyroid hormone may exert a certain adverse effect on the testes and accessory organs causing a poor semen production.

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[in Japanese]

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The experiments were conducted with White Leghorn hens to determine the effects of the wood vinegar compound (NEKKARICH(R), Miyazaki Midori Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) on laying performance and egg quality. The compound, prepared by adhering wood vinegar to amorphous carbon (1:4), was added to the diet: 0%, 1.5% or 2.0%. Hens were randomly allocated into two or three groups to receive each.
The trial groups showed an increase in hen-day egg production and an improvement in feed conversion ratio. Particularly, in the experiment 2 hen-day egg production was significantly (P<.01) higher in the trial groups than in the control group, and feed conversion ratio of the trial groups was improved significantly (P<.01) more than that of the control group.
In the experiment 1, although the shell thickness was not significantly different among the control and trial groups, the shell strength of trial group was improved significantly (P<.01) more than that of the control group. Albumen height, yolk height and haugh units were also significantly (P<.01) improved. Moreover egg quality of the control group declined with the length of storage more remarkably than that of the trial group.
Thus it is assumed that the wood vinegar compound serves for the improvement of egg performance and egg quality in laying hens.

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Little attention has been paid by Japanese (Poultry men) to the poultry industry in Taiwan even though it is one of the countries nearest to Japan. The purpose of the study was to analize the poultry industry, especially, the egg industry in Taiwan. In order to do this, the statistical data were obtained from the Taiwan government, also, one hatchery company at Taichun city, egg marketing co-op and three egg farms in Taiwan City were visited in May, 1986.
The Taiwan egg industry has expanded from 84, 400 tons to 211, 600 tons during 1975-1984, and egg consumption reached 11.2kg per capita in 1984.
The egg production has been concentrated in the southern part of the country due to the upland field, good climate and lower wage level compared with the northern part of the country.
The egg production has been carried out as "farm flocks" of less than 5000 layers. Thus, the culled chicken receipt was equivalent to the cost of baby chicks, and the poultry manure receipt was equivalent to the labor cost, but the production costs were 120yen/kg, which is lower than in Japan when one new Taiwan dollar is estimated at 5yen. This is due partly to the lower cost of baby chicks, mixed feed and labor.
However, the marketing cost of the eggs was rather high because the physical distribution cost was considerably high due mainly to the expenses of the loss in the marketing channels.

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The purpose of the study was to analize the structure of the feed industry in Taiwan. In order to do this, statistical data were obtained from the Taiwan Government and the Cargill-Taiwan feed company (Cartai company) located in Taichun City was visited.
Home grown feed such as sweet potato, soybean, corn, cassava, wheat, sorgum and etc. decreased in the past two decades. Feed mills have become fewer but larger, and the percentage of home mixing on livestock farms has decreased from 26 to 9 in the past five years. It was observed "Competition makes for good business".
The Cartai company was founded as a joint venture between Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) and Cargill, Incorporatad of U.S.A. on January 11, 1971. Feed production commenced October 17, 1971 at Kaohsiung Feed Mill. On December 10, 1975, Cartai's second feed mill located at Taichung was established and commenced production.
The Cartai company employs a modern management system. The philosophy of the management may be summarized as a Decentralized Management and Metric system pursuing lower costs of mixing feeds. In order to reduce costs, they save on the manufacturing and the marketing costs of mixed feeds.
In spite of the fact that the total share of mixed feeds for all animals was about 10 percent, the share for layers was 45 percent due to the good quality, reasonable price and capital turnover. The Cartai company ranked seventeenth among all companies in Taiwan.

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