iuli P' By 'O I Penn State * Poultry T Pointers : 1/1 EXERCISE IMPROVES BONE STRENGTH Dr. Carol V. Gay Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology and Poultry Science Strong, healthy skeletons are essential to the egg-laying process. This is because the skeleton pro vides the nighttime reserve of cal cium for the eggshell after ingested calcium has been absorbed from the digestive tract. It is estimated that 30-40 percent of the eggshell comes from calcium stored in the bones. During a 70-week laying period, a single hen will utilize about 1/4 pounds of calcium, an amount roughly equivalent to the entire mass of its skeleton. While constant replacement of Performance you can count on. It’s designed for today’s profit oriented fanner, with state-of-the-art features that provide greater productivity while reducing operating costs. The advanced rotary threshing sys tem yields higher quality, more marketable grain The powerful, fuel efficient air-cooled diesel engine delivers greater economy and easier maintenance Our state-of-the-art ComforTECH" cab provides maximum efficiency and minimum fabgue. And fewer belts and moving parts throughout mean greater efficiency and less maintenance calcium to the skeleton occurs, the replacement process is not perfect an incremental loss of bone takes place that eventually results in weakened bones. The resulting condition is known as “cage layer fatigue.” Even though good management practice will have provided the hens with a high density source of calcium, such as oyster shell and various limestone sources, by the end of its efficient laying period, the hen will have a substantially weakened skeleton. This creates a problem at the processing plant. A 1989 study in Britain found that nearly a third of spent layers had broken bones by the time they reached the scalding tanks and most had incurred fractures at the end of the evisceration line. Maintaining strong bones is a complex challenge. Numerous factors are involved. A place to Every Gleaner is backed by a strong C.J. WONSIDLER BROS Quakertown, Pa. 215-536-7523 New Tripoli, Pa. 215-767-7611 Oiey, Pa. 215-987-6257 B. EQUIP., INC. Waynesboro, Pa. 717-762-3193 AGCO warranty and service support Check out the combine made for the way you faim today at the Deutz-Allis dealer listed here And ask him about flexible AGCO financing begin would be to select genetic strains that have thick bones. The premise is simple: thicker bones have more calcium to lose. Nutrition is an important factor to consider. This is a complicated issue and many factors are involved, but especially important are intake levels of calcium, pho sphate. and vitamin D. The hor mone status of the hen is an impor tant consideration, but difficult to manipulate. Also high on the list of impor tant relevant factors is exercise. Bone responds remarkably to exer cise. Both bone mass and bone strength increase as a result of reg ular exercise. We have some understanding of why this is so. Passing within bone is a system of tiny pipes, called canaliculi. When an individual moves, intermittent compressive forces are applied to the bones. Fluid in the canaliculi surges down the direction of the force and into all fluid spaces in the bone. Cells within bone are in con tact with this fluid. Cells within bone respond to intermittent compressive force by forming more bone. Specifically, bone cells synthesize and secrete proteins that calcify. The cells detect the application of mechani cal forces through unique mole cules on the cell surfaces that respond to being stretched, or per turbed when the fluid in bone flows over the cell. When stimu- HERNLEY'S FARM EQUIP., INC. Elizabethlown, Pa. 717-367-8867 Ml DEUTZ ALUS AGCO 1 For the way you farm today Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Oacambar 25, 1993-C3 lated, the force-detecting surface molecules react by changing shape. The molecule in its new shape can interact with a second, different molecule. The two mole cules now fit together, much like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and, together, trigger a series of chemi cal reactions that results in stimu lating the bone cell to synthesize and secrete protein. It is well established that exer cise stimulates bone formation in Financial Workshop Set SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (Schuylkill Co.) All interested in farm financial management are invited to attend a series of three evening meetings on “Farm Financial Management” Husbands and wives and/or business partners are encouraged to attend as management teams. The meetings will be held on January 6,13 and 27. from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The meetings will be held at the Penn State Schuylkill Campus Conference Center, Schuylkill Haven. The sessions are presented by Schuylkill Coun ty Cooperative Extension. J. Allan Shoener, extension agent agriculture, will be speak ing on the following topics: farm business plans, financial manage ment tools (balance sheets, cash flow statements, partial budgets, financial statements), and enter ADSI |_PAY OFF! M BUILDINGS, INC. Excellence Since 1903 3368 York Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325 717/624-3331 Call or writ* today for more Information humans. For birds, fewer studies have been made, but it is known that broilers and laying hens raised in floor pens have stronger bones than those reared in cages. Exactly how much exercise is required for strengthening bones in hens is not known. Based on the available data for mammals, a means of exercising caged hens is likely to be of considerable value provided that a practical system could be devised. . prise budgets. The program is designed to be a practical hands-on workshop to aid in managing your farming operation. The discussions will cover the steps needed to plan a farm operation, understanding and using financial management tools, and developing and using enter prise budgets. The program will build on previous farm financial management clinics and will involve class and homework assignments. Ample time will be allowed for discussions, ques tions, and answers. Advance registration is required (no fee). Registration is due by January 3. To register or for more information on the work shop, contact the Schuylkill Coun ty Cooperative Extension office, P.O. Box 250, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972-0250, (717) 385-3431. CONTACT: P.O. Box 126, Phlllfpsburg, NJ 08865 908/454-7900 1-800-447-7436 lllinok only, call 1400426-6606
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