Effect of DDE, DDT and Calcium on the Performance of Adult Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)1 W . A . ROBSON, 2 * G. H . ARSCOTT* AND I. J. TINSLEY**
Departments of Poultry Science* and Agricultural Chemistry,** Oregon State University, Oregon 97331
Corvallis,
(Received for publication February 16, 1976)
POULTRY SCIENCE 55: 2222-2227, 1976
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
B
ITMAN et al. (1969) reported that Japanese quail fed 100 p.p.m. of 0, p'-and p, p'-DDT for a 45-day experimental period produced eggs with thinner shells and lower calcium content than the controls when all birds received a diet containing 0.56% calcium. In a subsequent report from this same laboratory, using p, p'-DDT and its metabolite p, p'-DDE, Cecil et al. (1971), while noting similar trends, reported less dramatic effects on egg shell thinning with diets containing
1. Technical Paper No. 1493. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by US Public Health Service Grant ES00040. This paper was developed in part from a thesis submitted by W.A.R. to the Graduate School, Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the M.S. degree. A portion of this paper was reported at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1971. 2. Present address: P.O. Box 5223, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601.
2.7% calcium during a four month experimental period. These results notwithstanding, it should be noted that Risebrough et al. (1970) indicate that gallinaceous birds in general tend to be more resistant than birds in other orders to decreases in egg shell thickness resulting from exposure to organochlorine compounds. Peakall (1975) provides an upto-date review concerning the role of organic hydrocarbons in avian species. In view of the above reports it was the purpose of these experiments to examine the effects of long term exposure to p, p'-DDE and p, p'-DDT in adult Japanese quail fed diets deficient or adequate in calcium. MATERIALS AND METHODS The care and management of the Japanese quail 3 used in this investigation have been 3. This flock was obtained in 1960 from the Oregon Game Commission, Hermiston, Oregon. We are informed they were originally obtained as mature stock from Oklahoma.
2222
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of DDE, DDT and calcium on performance of quail. The quail received diets containing 0 or 100 p.p.m. of DDE for eight 28-day periods in Exp. 1 and 0, 100 or 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT for six periods in Exp. 2. Diets containing either 0.5 or 3% calcium were used with each pesticide level. No differences in egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production, feed consumption, egg weights, female body weights, fertility or hatchability were obtained from DDE or DDT up to 100 p.p.m. Three hundred p.p.m. of DDE did result in a decrease in female body weights and in fertility on the low calcium diet. Egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production and hatchability were affected by the lower calcium level. Male body weights were adversely affected from 100 p.p.m. or more of DDE. Mortality increased as the level of DDE increased for females, while no effect was observed with DDT. Males appeared more sensitive to 100 p.p.m. of DDE in Exp. 1 and 300 p.p.m. of DDE and 100 p.p.m. of DDT in Exp. 2. Livability and growth of chicks from hens receiving rations containing DDE and DDT were unaffected by maternal treatment. In summary, DDE and DDT were without effect on egg shell quality or most other reproductive factors, but DDE at 300 p.p.m. did exert a detrimental effect on adult body weights, fertility and mortality.
DDE, DDT
The rations used during the experimental period, except for the pesticide employed, 6 are identical to those reported by Reading et al. (1976). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Exp. 1 involved about 400 day-old chicks of mixed sex, while in Exp. 2 approximately 200 chicks were used. In the first experiment only, when the laying trial commenced the treatments for half the population were reversed. Since no interactions were evident between the growing or laying phases, the data during the production phase was combined and summarized for the actual pesticide treatment during the laying period only. In
4. Chemically pure p,p'-DDE: 2,2-bis-(pchlorophenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene. 5. Chemically pure crystalline 99% + p,p'-DDT: l,l,l,-trichloro-2, 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane. 6. DDE or DDT was dissolved in an appropriate quantity of corn oil and stirred on a Fisher thermix unit until all crystals dissolved. Aliquots containing the desired amount of pesticide were then substituted for the corn oil normally used in the diet. Mixes were made as needed in 25 lb. lots using a Hobart Model A20 mixer.
2223
Exp. 1 males were maintained separately on the different pesticide levels, but only on the low calcium ration, while in Exp. 2 they were housed with the females on both calcium levels. Each treatment in Exp. 1 consisted of four replicates with each replicate containing 12 female quail. In Exp. 2 in which males were housed with females, each of two replicates on each treatment contained 12 birds per replicate. Body weight and feed consumption 7 data were taken at 28-day intervals. Egg production was recorded daily and summarized for 28-day periods. Mortality, while recorded daily, is reported on an accumulative basis and was not averaged by periods. Egg shell thickness was obtained through specific gravity measurements using the procedure described by Arscott and Bernier (1961). For the fertility experiments reported in Exp. 2, the males were housed with females in a ratio of one to one. Eggs were saved for an eight-day period prior to incubation. Fertility was determined by breaking out all unhatched eggs and examining them macroscopically for embryonic development. Hatchability was calculated on the basis of fertile eggs set. The livability trial conducted on Exp. 2 during the fifth period involved starting quail chicks under normal management procedures in which chicks were fed a 28% protein diet containing no pesticide and observing their performance weekly up to six weeks. Statistical analysis of the data, except for mortality, was performed by analysis of variance (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of Exp. 1 are summarized in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the effects of DDE
7. In Exp. 2 the feed consumed by males was omitted from the calculation based on feed normally consumed by males.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
described elsewhere (Robson, 1974; and Reading et al., 1976). Two experiments were conducted: the first consisting of eight 28-day production periods involvingOand lOOp.p.m. of DDE 4 and the second, six 28-day periods involving varying levels (0, 100 and 300 p.p.m.) of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT, 5 all on diets either deficient (0.5%) or adequate (3.0%) in calcium content. Both experiments commenced when birds reached 25% egg production. The indicated levels of pesticide, including an unsupplemented control, were fed from one day of age except in Exp. 1 where a level of 50 p.p.m. was used for the first two weeks and was increased to 100 p.p.m. thereafter during the growing period using diets containing an adequate level of calcium (Ca 1.2%). The performance of quail during the pre-production period is reported elsewhere (Robson, 1974).
AND CA
2224
W. A. ROBSON, G. H. ARSCOTT AND I . J . TINSLEY
TABLE 1.—Effect
SP. gr.
Cracks
**'
**' %
1.0550 1.0686 1.0544 1.0681
10.0 2.5 14.5 2.5
Treat merit DDE Ca
%
p.p.m. 0 0 100 100
.5 3.01 .5 3.0
of DDE and calcium on performance of adult Japanese quail (Exp. 1) Averages of all periods Feed cons. / day Egg Egg prod. 9 wt. g% g20 41.0 9.8 47.5 20 9.8 38.5 20 10.0 60.0* 22 10.2
Body wt. 9 **' 6
Mortality 9 6
g138 124 134 123
% 114 — 100* —
29 46 56 67
21 — 91 —
9
* 8 *• o 7 >
> 5 o O o
4
it: 3 o 0)
CL 2
en i 10
14
18
22
26 30 Age (weeks)
34
38
42
FIG. 1. Effects of DDE and calcium on the specific gravity of eggs in Experiment 1. Legend: Vat #1 is equivalent to a specific gravity of 1.044 with 0.004 increasing intervals; 0 p.p.m. DDE; , 100; O, 0.5% Ca; # . 3.0% Ca. and calcium level by time on egg shell thinning through specific gravity measurements. This graph clearly shows that the DDE was without effect on egg shell thinning. On the other hand, the 0.5% level of calcium, either in the presence or absence of DDE, markedly reduced egg shell thickness throughout the course of this experiment. As noted in Table
1 this decrease in egg shell thickness proved highly significant (P < .01) and no DDE x Ca interaction was noted. A significant increase (P < .01) in the incidence of cracks was also observed on the low calcium diets with no effects attributable to DDE treatment. Although there was a trend toward de-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
**'Sig. dif. (P < .01) between Ca levels only. *(P < .05). 1. Positive control.
DDE, DDT
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Departments of Poultry Science* and Agricultural Chemistry,** Oregon State University, Oregon 97331
Corvallis,
(Received for publication February 16, 1976)
POULTRY SCIENCE 55: 2222-2227, 1976
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
B
ITMAN et al. (1969) reported that Japanese quail fed 100 p.p.m. of 0, p'-and p, p'-DDT for a 45-day experimental period produced eggs with thinner shells and lower calcium content than the controls when all birds received a diet containing 0.56% calcium. In a subsequent report from this same laboratory, using p, p'-DDT and its metabolite p, p'-DDE, Cecil et al. (1971), while noting similar trends, reported less dramatic effects on egg shell thinning with diets containing
1. Technical Paper No. 1493. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by US Public Health Service Grant ES00040. This paper was developed in part from a thesis submitted by W.A.R. to the Graduate School, Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the M.S. degree. A portion of this paper was reported at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1971. 2. Present address: P.O. Box 5223, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601.
2.7% calcium during a four month experimental period. These results notwithstanding, it should be noted that Risebrough et al. (1970) indicate that gallinaceous birds in general tend to be more resistant than birds in other orders to decreases in egg shell thickness resulting from exposure to organochlorine compounds. Peakall (1975) provides an upto-date review concerning the role of organic hydrocarbons in avian species. In view of the above reports it was the purpose of these experiments to examine the effects of long term exposure to p, p'-DDE and p, p'-DDT in adult Japanese quail fed diets deficient or adequate in calcium. MATERIALS AND METHODS The care and management of the Japanese quail 3 used in this investigation have been 3. This flock was obtained in 1960 from the Oregon Game Commission, Hermiston, Oregon. We are informed they were originally obtained as mature stock from Oklahoma.
2222
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of DDE, DDT and calcium on performance of quail. The quail received diets containing 0 or 100 p.p.m. of DDE for eight 28-day periods in Exp. 1 and 0, 100 or 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT for six periods in Exp. 2. Diets containing either 0.5 or 3% calcium were used with each pesticide level. No differences in egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production, feed consumption, egg weights, female body weights, fertility or hatchability were obtained from DDE or DDT up to 100 p.p.m. Three hundred p.p.m. of DDE did result in a decrease in female body weights and in fertility on the low calcium diet. Egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production and hatchability were affected by the lower calcium level. Male body weights were adversely affected from 100 p.p.m. or more of DDE. Mortality increased as the level of DDE increased for females, while no effect was observed with DDT. Males appeared more sensitive to 100 p.p.m. of DDE in Exp. 1 and 300 p.p.m. of DDE and 100 p.p.m. of DDT in Exp. 2. Livability and growth of chicks from hens receiving rations containing DDE and DDT were unaffected by maternal treatment. In summary, DDE and DDT were without effect on egg shell quality or most other reproductive factors, but DDE at 300 p.p.m. did exert a detrimental effect on adult body weights, fertility and mortality.
DDE, DDT
The rations used during the experimental period, except for the pesticide employed, 6 are identical to those reported by Reading et al. (1976). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Exp. 1 involved about 400 day-old chicks of mixed sex, while in Exp. 2 approximately 200 chicks were used. In the first experiment only, when the laying trial commenced the treatments for half the population were reversed. Since no interactions were evident between the growing or laying phases, the data during the production phase was combined and summarized for the actual pesticide treatment during the laying period only. In
4. Chemically pure p,p'-DDE: 2,2-bis-(pchlorophenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene. 5. Chemically pure crystalline 99% + p,p'-DDT: l,l,l,-trichloro-2, 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane. 6. DDE or DDT was dissolved in an appropriate quantity of corn oil and stirred on a Fisher thermix unit until all crystals dissolved. Aliquots containing the desired amount of pesticide were then substituted for the corn oil normally used in the diet. Mixes were made as needed in 25 lb. lots using a Hobart Model A20 mixer.
2223
Exp. 1 males were maintained separately on the different pesticide levels, but only on the low calcium ration, while in Exp. 2 they were housed with the females on both calcium levels. Each treatment in Exp. 1 consisted of four replicates with each replicate containing 12 female quail. In Exp. 2 in which males were housed with females, each of two replicates on each treatment contained 12 birds per replicate. Body weight and feed consumption 7 data were taken at 28-day intervals. Egg production was recorded daily and summarized for 28-day periods. Mortality, while recorded daily, is reported on an accumulative basis and was not averaged by periods. Egg shell thickness was obtained through specific gravity measurements using the procedure described by Arscott and Bernier (1961). For the fertility experiments reported in Exp. 2, the males were housed with females in a ratio of one to one. Eggs were saved for an eight-day period prior to incubation. Fertility was determined by breaking out all unhatched eggs and examining them macroscopically for embryonic development. Hatchability was calculated on the basis of fertile eggs set. The livability trial conducted on Exp. 2 during the fifth period involved starting quail chicks under normal management procedures in which chicks were fed a 28% protein diet containing no pesticide and observing their performance weekly up to six weeks. Statistical analysis of the data, except for mortality, was performed by analysis of variance (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of Exp. 1 are summarized in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the effects of DDE
7. In Exp. 2 the feed consumed by males was omitted from the calculation based on feed normally consumed by males.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
described elsewhere (Robson, 1974; and Reading et al., 1976). Two experiments were conducted: the first consisting of eight 28-day production periods involvingOand lOOp.p.m. of DDE 4 and the second, six 28-day periods involving varying levels (0, 100 and 300 p.p.m.) of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT, 5 all on diets either deficient (0.5%) or adequate (3.0%) in calcium content. Both experiments commenced when birds reached 25% egg production. The indicated levels of pesticide, including an unsupplemented control, were fed from one day of age except in Exp. 1 where a level of 50 p.p.m. was used for the first two weeks and was increased to 100 p.p.m. thereafter during the growing period using diets containing an adequate level of calcium (Ca 1.2%). The performance of quail during the pre-production period is reported elsewhere (Robson, 1974).
AND CA
2224
W. A. ROBSON, G. H. ARSCOTT AND I . J . TINSLEY
TABLE 1.—Effect
SP. gr.
Cracks
**'
**' %
1.0550 1.0686 1.0544 1.0681
10.0 2.5 14.5 2.5
Treat merit DDE Ca
%
p.p.m. 0 0 100 100
.5 3.01 .5 3.0
of DDE and calcium on performance of adult Japanese quail (Exp. 1) Averages of all periods Feed cons. / day Egg Egg prod. 9 wt. g% g20 41.0 9.8 47.5 20 9.8 38.5 20 10.0 60.0* 22 10.2
Body wt. 9 **' 6
Mortality 9 6
g138 124 134 123
% 114 — 100* —
29 46 56 67
21 — 91 —
9
* 8 *• o 7 >
> 5 o O o
4
it: 3 o 0)
CL 2
en i 10
14
18
22
26 30 Age (weeks)
34
38
42
FIG. 1. Effects of DDE and calcium on the specific gravity of eggs in Experiment 1. Legend: Vat #1 is equivalent to a specific gravity of 1.044 with 0.004 increasing intervals; 0 p.p.m. DDE; , 100; O, 0.5% Ca; # . 3.0% Ca. and calcium level by time on egg shell thinning through specific gravity measurements. This graph clearly shows that the DDE was without effect on egg shell thinning. On the other hand, the 0.5% level of calcium, either in the presence or absence of DDE, markedly reduced egg shell thickness throughout the course of this experiment. As noted in Table
1 this decrease in egg shell thickness proved highly significant (P < .01) and no DDE x Ca interaction was noted. A significant increase (P < .01) in the incidence of cracks was also observed on the low calcium diets with no effects attributable to DDE treatment. Although there was a trend toward de-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
**'Sig. dif. (P < .01) between Ca levels only. *(P < .05). 1. Positive control.
DDE, DDT
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