Chronic acceleration and egg production in domestic fowl
A study of the influence of chronic acceleration on egg production of commercially raised hens placed on a large animal centrifuge at 90 days of age, was performed. S8 generation hens were stepped up from 1.25 G to 2 G, which was maintained for 30 days. Fifty percent ceased to be in the laying condition at 1.5 G, and 10.8 percent suffered oviduct prolapse above 1.8 G. S21 generation hens had no incidents of oviduct prolapse despite 170-day retention at 2 G, and, assuming a 30 percent population not in the laying condition, approximated the commercial production rate. Chronic acceleration did not appear to affect the relative sizes of albumen or yolk, but it did appear to reduce the relative shell size, consistent with a decrease in plasma calcium. Dry matter content was not affected.