O estudo consistiu em quatro experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar a redução proteica e níveis de metionina+cistina sobre o desempenho e qualidade de ovos (produção de ovos, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, peso de ovo e fatores de qualidade dos ovos, unidade Haugh, espessura de casca, resistência à quebra, pigmentação de gema, gravidade específica) de poedeiras comerciais leves e semipesadas de 24 a 40 semanas de idade. Em cada experimento, foram utilizadas 240 poedeiras comerciais distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualisado com 8 aves por unidade experimental com 10 repetições. Os níveis dos aminoácidos, treonina, triptofano e valina foram mantidos os mesmos em todos os tratamentos através da suplementação de aminoácidos sintéticos. No primeiro e segundo experimentos avaliaram-se três níveis de proteína bruta (15,4%, 16,4% e 17,4%) em dietas para aves leves (experimento I) e aves semipesadas (experimento II) das linhagens Bovans White e Bovans Brown, respectivamente. No experimento I não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas para os parâmetros relacionados à qualidade da casca do ovo, nem mesmo para altura de albúmen e peso do ovo. A redução do nível proteico da dieta para 16,4% não afetou o desempenho das poedeiras leves (P<0,05). No experimento II, não houve diferenças estatísticas para os parâmetros avaliados. Nos experimentos III e IV avaliou-se o efeito de dois níveis de proteína bruta (16,4% e 17,4%) e dois níveis metionina+cistina (0,66% e 0,77) em dietas para aves leves (experimento III) e aves semipesadas (experimento IV) das linhagens Bovans White e Bovans Brown. No experimento III a qualidade de ovo não foi influenciada pelos tratamentos. Houve interação entre os níveis de proteína bruta e aminoácidos sulfurados para as variáveis de produção de ovos, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar por dúzia de ovos. As aves alimentadas com a dieta com 15,4% de proteína bruta apresentaram menor produção de ovos quando comparado às aves que receberam dietas com níveis de AAST elevados e com PB elevada. As aves alimentadas com 17,4% de PB e 0,77% de aminoácidos sulfurados apresentaram maior consumo e pior conversão alimentar (P<0,05). O aumento no nível de AAST resultou em maior peso do ovo. No experimento IV houve interação entre os fatores estudados, sendo que as aves alimentadas com níveis mais baixos de PB e AAST (16,4% e 0,66%, respectivamente), apresentaram menor produção de ovos e pior conversão alimentar. Para a variável peso de ovos, houve efeito dos níveis de AAST, sendo que as aves alimentadas com 0.77% produziram ovos com maior peso (P<0,05). / The study consisted of four experiments to evaluate the effect of protein and reduced levels of methionine+cystine on the performance and egg quality (egg production, feed intake, feed conversion, egg weight and egg quality factors, Haugh unit, shell thickness, breaking strength, yolk pigmentation) of light and semi heavy weight laying hens with 24-40 weeks of age. In each experiment 240 laying hens were distributed in a completely randomized design with 8 birds per experimental unit with 10 replicates. Levels of, threonine, tryptophan and valine were kept the same in all treatments by supplementation of synthetic aminoacid. In experiments I and II were evaluated three levels of crude protein (15.4%, 16.4% and 17.4 %) on diets for light Bovans White hens (experiment I) and Bovans Brown semi heavy weight (experiment II). In the first experiment there was no statistical differences in the parameters related to the quality of the egg shell, even for albumen height and egg weight were observed. The reduction of the protein level of the diet to 16.4% did not affect the performance of laying hens (P<0.05). In experiment II there were no statistical differences in the parameters evaluated. In experiments III and IV evaluated the effect of two levels of crude protein (16.4% and 17.4%) and two methionine + cystine levels (0.66% and 0.77%) on diets for light Bovans White hens (experiment III) and Bovans Brown semi heavy weight (experiment IV). In experiment III the egg quality was not affected by treatments. There was interaction between the levels of crude protein and sulfur aminoacids for the variables of egg production, feed intake and feed conversion per dozen eggs. Hens fed diets with lower protein levels had lower egg production when compared to hens fed diets with high levels of TSAA and high CP. Hens fed with diets with 17.4% of CP and 0.77% of sulfur aminoacids had higher intake and worse feed conversion (P<0.05). The increase in the level of TSAA resulted in higher egg weight. In experiment IV there was interaction between the factors studied, where lower levels of CP and TSAA (16.4% and 0.66 %, respectively), had lower egg production and lower feed conversion. For egg weight, there was effect of TSAA. Hens fed diets with 0.77% of TSAA produced heavier eggs (P<0.05).

Este trabalho objetivou a caracterização dos ambientes de criação de aves poedeiras, de granjas comerciais no Estado de São Paulo, sob o ponto de vista bioclimático, tipológico e do bem-estar do trabalhador. Na primeira etapa foram selecionadas 6 granjas. Nestas granjas, escolhidas por critérios pré-estabelecidos, foram realizadas análises do ambiente de produção, com medições em loco, da concentração de amônia, do nível de pressão sonora, da temperatura e da umidade relativa do ar, e também, por meio de um levantamento quanti-qualitativo, a satisfação do trabalhador. Na segunda etapa, foi realizado um estudo de caso, com a análise bioclimática de dois sistemas de produção, sendo um piramidal 2x2 com cobertura de telhas cerâmicas e o outro piramidal 2x3 com cobertura de telhas de cimento-amianto. Como resultados foram caracterizados diferentes sistemas de produção de ovos: 1) piramidal 2x2 e 2x3, que ainda se diferenciam quanto a largura do aviário, manejo, automatização e tipo de cobertura, além de poderem ser suspensos ou diretamente no solo; 2) vertical, obrigatoriamente automatizado e com uso de ventilação mecânica, e 3) horizontal, pouco utilizado pela baixa densidade que oferece. Concluiu-se que a concentração de amônia não atingiu o nível de insalubridade indicado pela norma regulamentar NR15 (20ppm). Os maiores níveis foram encontrados nos aviários verticais, e os níveis mais baixos nos aviários suspensos. O nível de pressão sonora, embora citado por funcionários como sendo incômodo, esteve abaixo do limite de insalubridade indicado pela norma regulamentar NR15 para 8 horas de serviço (85dB). O setor de produção de ovos é pouco exigente quanto à escolaridade e experiência funcional, podendo ser considerado uma boa oportunidade para o primeiro emprego. Foi predominante o número de jovens com menos de 20 anos, do sexo masculino, com baixa incidência de doenças trabalhando nos aviários. Houve baixo índice de rejeição ao ambiente de trabalho. O setor não oferece, tampouco exige a utilização de EPI. Os sistemas avaliados na segunda etapa, quanto ao nível de pressão sonora e concentração de amônia foram considerados salubres. A avaliação bioclimática mostrou que aviários com telha cerâmica apresentaram melhores resultados. / This work aimed to characterize the rearing system environment of laying hens, of the commercial farms in the State of São Paulo, in relation to the typology, bioclimatology, and the stockmanship well-being. In the first stage, 6 farms were selected. In these farms, chosen for the previous settle criteria, was carried out analyzes of the environment by means measurements of ammonia concentration, sound pressure level, temperature and relative humidity of air and the thermal comfort index in the facilitie and also, by means of poll between the workers, was analyzed the stockmanship welfare. In the second stage, a case study was achieve, making bioclimatic analysis of two rearing systems: battery cages (pyramidal format) with 4 rows in 2 levels with ceramic roofing tiles and the pyramidal format with 6 rows in 3 levels with asbestos roofing tiles. As results, was found facilities that can be suspended or in the ground with multi tiered cages (battery cages arranged back-to-back in a pyramidal format) that differs in width, handling, automation and type of covering; 2) multi tiered in vertical arrangement (obligatorily automatic and with mechanic ventilation), and 3) single horizontal rows, poorly utilized in function of its low density. The ammonia concentration did not reach the insalubrities level, being, also below the indicated level by the NR15 (20ppm). The biggest levels were found in farms with vertical arrangements of cages and the lowest levels was observed in the farms with suspended facilities. The sound pressure level, even so cited for employees as being bothering, was inside that limits of salubrious indicated by the technique norm to eight hours of labor (85dB). The egg production sector makes few exigencies in relation to the level of schoolarity and experience, being able to be considered a good chance for the first job. The observed predominance working into facilities was of young people with less than twenty years old, male, with good health. There was low index of repulse of work environment. The sector didn&#39;t offer exigency for the IPE use. At the second stage, none of the two studied systems was considered unhealthy concerning the ammonia concentration and sound pressure level and the thermal comfort index. The bioclimatic estimate, showed that those system covered by ceramic roofing tiles had better results.

O presente experimento foi realizado no aviário da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade Estadual Paulista do Campus de Botucatu. Foram utilizadas 288 aves da linhagem Hisex Brown, em produção, com 30 semanas de idade no início do experimento, divididas em nove tratamentos com quatro repetições cada, num esquema fatorial 3X3, sendo três níveis de energia metabolizável fornecidos por ave/dia (280, 300 e 320 kcal) e três diferentes consumos de óleo por ave/dia (0,00; 0.75 e 1,50 g). O consumo diário de ração foi restrito a 115, 110 e 105 g para obtenção dos níveis desejados de energia metabolizável e óleo. As rações foram balanceadas para que todas as aves recebessem diariamente 18 g de proteína bruta, 4,2 g de Cálcio, 0,66 g de Fósforo Total, 0,40 g de Metionina, 0,73 g de Metionina + Cistina e 0,83 g de Lisina. Não foi constatada diferença estatística (P>0,05) para produção (%), massa (g/ave/dia), peso médio (g) e gravidade específica dos ovos bem como para umidade, percentagem de gordura, proteína e cinzas do albume e da gema. Houve efeito do consumo diário de energia (P>0,05) sobre o peso final, ganho de peso e percentagem de gordura abdominal, havendo um aumento destes com o aumento da densidade energética. Foram constatadas pioras significativas, com efeito linear, na conversão alimentar por massa, na conversão alimentar por dúzia de ovos produzidos e conversão de energia, em função do aumento da energia consumida diariamente. Foram constatados efeitos significativos, com efeito quadrático na percentagem de casca em função do consumo diário de energia. Já para percentagem de gema e albume houve efeito linear em relação ao consumo de óleo, sendo que para o primeiro parâmetro houve aumento do mesmo com maior inclusão de óleo e, no outro, diminuição. Houve efeito significativo do consumo diário de óleo (P<0,05) e da interação consumo de energia e consumo de óleo (P<0,05) sobre Unidades Haugh. Houve efeito significativo da cor da gema em função do consumo diário de energia e óleo diários (P<0,05). / The present experiment was carried out at the experimental aviary of the Veterinary Medicine and Zootecny University - Botucatu. At the beginning of the experiment 288 semi -heavy Hisex Brown strain birds were used, in production, 30 weeks old, divided in nine treatments with four replications each, in a factorial arrangement 3X3, with three levels of metabolizable energy supplied per bird/day (280, 300 and 320 kcal) and three different oil consumptions for bird/day (0.00; 0.75 and 1.50 g). The birds had a restricted daily feed consumption of 115, 110 and 105 9 to obtain the levels of metabolizable energy and oi!. The diets were balanced so that ali of the experimental birds received 18 9 of crude protein daily, 4.2 9 of Calcium, 0.66 9 of Total Phosforus, 0.40 9 of Methionine, 0.73 9 of Methionine + Cistine and 0.83 9 of Cistine. The parameters of production (%), mass (g/bird/day), average weight (g) and specific gravity of the eggs where not humidity, fat percentage, protein and ash of the albumen and yolk didn \'t differ significantly different among the treatments. There was a significant effect of the daily consumption of energy on the final weight, weight gains and percentage of abdominal fat, which demonstrate an increase of these parameters with the increase of the energy density. Significant worsenings were verified (P < .05), with linear effect in the feed conversion for mass, in the feed conversion for dozen of produced eggs and conversion of energy, in function of the increase of the energy consumed daily. Significant effects were verified, with quadratic effect in the shell percentage in function of the daily consumption energy. However for yolk percentage and albumen there was a linear effect to oil consumption and for the first parameter there was an increase of that with larger oil inclusion and, in the other one, decreased. There was significant effect of daily consumption of oil (P < .05) and of the interaction consumption of energy and oiI consumption (P < .05) on Haugh Units. There was a significant effect of the color of the yolk in function to the daily consumption of energy and oil (P <.05).

Orientador: João Martins Pizauro Junior / Resumo: O desenvolvimento dos anfíbios é caracterizado por uma série de eventos que possibilitam a esses animais a ocupação dos ambientes aquático e terrestre. Nesse sentido, a supressão do sistema imunológico é necessária para que esses eventos ocorram de forma ordenada, evitando então, respostas autoimunes. Por outro lado essa imunossupressão durante a metamorfose pode tornar os animas mais susceptíveis a algumas doenças, dentre elas, a causada pelo fungo Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), que é considerado o principal patógeno de anfíbios da atualidade. Nesse contexto, a produção de anticorpos da classe IgY anti-Bd, extraídos de gemas de ovos de galinhas poedeiras infectadas com o referido fungo, pode agregar valor ao ovo, auxiliar no combate a quitridiomicose, diminuição da perda da produção e dispersão do patógeno por criadouros, diminuindo também o uso de antibióticos no tratamento e profilaxia da quitridiomicose, aumentando o nível de segurança da carne e valorizando o produto final. No presente estudo a imunização das aves com o antígeno desativado fez com que o sistema humoral das mesmas respondesse a indução contra Bd viabilizando a produção e purificação de imunoglobulinas da classe IgY específicas e de alta avidez contra o fungo. A transferência passiva das imunoglobulinas purificadas das gemas apresentou resultados promissores, onde os girinos de rã-touro (Lithobates catesbeianus) tratados não apresentaram danos deletérios quanto à sanidade animal dos mesmos, mantendo ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The development of amphibians is characterized by a series of events that enable these animals to occupy aquatic and terrestrial environments. In this sense, suppression of the immune system is necessary for these events to occur in an orderly manner, avoiding autoimmune responses. On the other hand, this immunosuppression during metamorphosis may make the animals more susceptible to some diseases, among them, the one caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which is considered the main amphibian pathogen today. In this context, the production of anti-Bd IgY class antibodies, extracted from egg yolks of laying hens infected with this fungus, may add value to the egg, assist in the fight against chytridiomycosis, decrease production loss and pathogen dispersion by breeding facilities, reduce the use of antibiotics in the treatment and prophylaxis of chytridiomycosis, increasing the safety level of the meat and valuing the final product. In the present study, the immunization of hens with the deactivated antigen caused their humoral system to respond to induction against Bd, enabling the production and purification of specific and highly avid fungal IgY class immunoglobulins. Passive transfer of purified immunoglobulins from yolk showed promising results, where treated bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) showed no deleterious damage to animal health, keeping the morphology and counting of blood cells within normal range. These results enable the develop... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Poverty among communities is not a static condition. There are many factors which contribute to its causes and depth. In South Africa, the economic gaps imposed by the previous apartheid government aggravated economic inequalities and caused considerable disparities, which resulted in the high unemployment rates. This led to a call for pro-active initiatives by post 1994 democratic government to remedy the living condition of the previously disadvantaged people. As part of its poverty relief drive, the South African government has embarked on a series of developmental initiatives to bring services to the poor and to reduce enormous prevailing backlogs, with the aim of increasing community participation and improving the lives of the poor. This study evaluates the egg layers project as a poverty alleviation effort within Blouberg Municipality of the Limpopo Province to respond to the prevailing poverty and underdevelopment among the poor communities. This study revealed from the observations, interviews conducted and questionnaires administrated to sampled beneficiaries of Blouberg Municipality who faces poverty. The study formulated strategies and made recommendations regarding the impact and implementation of the egg layers on poor people.

The EPA press release dated February 23, 2004 states that the three Buckeye Egg Farm facilities had the potential to emit more than a combined total of 1850 tons per year of particulate matter (PM). This number was based on flowrate calculations that were three times higher than those measured as well as a failure to include particle size distributions in the emissions calculations. The annual PM emission for each facility was approximately 35 tons per year. The EPA was unjustified in requiring Buckeye Egg Farm to obtain Title V and PSD permits as the facilities could not have met the thresholds for these permits. Engineers need to be concerned with correctly measuring and calculating emission rates in order to enforce the current regulations. Consistency among regulators and regulations includes using the correct emission factors for regulatory permitting purposes. EPA has adopted AERMOD as the preferred dispersion model for regulatory use on the premise that it more accurately models the dispersion of pollutants near the surface of the Earth than ISCST3; therefore, it is inappropriate to use the same emission factor in both ISCST3 and AERMOD in an effort to equitably regulate PM sources. For cattle feedlots in Texas, the ISCST3 emission factor is 7 kg/1000 hd-day (16 lb/1000 hd-day) while the AERMOD emission factor is 5 kg/1000 hd-day (11 lb/1000 he-day). The EPA is considering implementing a crustal exclusion for the PM emitted by agricultural sources. Over the next five years, it will be critical to determine a definition of crustal particulate matter that researchers and regulators can agree upon. It will also be necessary to develop a standard procedure to determine the crustal mass fraction of particulate matter downwind from a source to use in the regulatory process. It is important to develop a procedure to determine the particulate matter mass fraction of crustal downwind from a source before the crustal exclusion can be implemented to ensure that the exclusion is being used correctly and consistently among all regulators. According to my findings, the mass fraction of crustal from cattle feedlot PM emissions in the Texas High Plains region is 52%.

I studied carotenoids in the eggs of American coots (<i>Fulica americana</i>) from 3 study sites in Saskatchewan, Canada. I supplemented two diet types designed to reduce carotenoids in the diet of laying coots to investigate the relationship of carotenoids and the size of eggs and to examine the allocation of carotenoids into eggs.</p><p>In chapter 2, I examined influences of local environment, food quantity and food quality on egg size. Carotenoid content and stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in yolk were measured and used to elucidate whether variation in type of food eaten contributes to egg size. By analyzing isotopes in coot tissues, I confirmed that coots use endogenous lipid reserves for egg formation but not endogenous protein reserves, and the size of eggs is more dependent on exogenous sources of nutrients. My data demonstrate that carotenoids are not causal in egg size, but are components of natural, high quality diets.</p> <p>Carotenoids are obtained through the diet and deposited into egg yolk. It has been hypothesized that concentrations and percentages of individual carotenoids can be labile and dependent on diets or maintained in an optimal balance to meet requirements of embryos. In chapter 3, I investigate deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk among nesting locales, among hens within a site and among treatments in a diet manipulation experiment. My data show maintenance in the percent composition of a suite of 3 important carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and âcarotene, independent of scale of investigation and in contrast to other individual carotenoids that appear to vary in proportions based on diet. These results suggest that birds can maintain nutritional balances in their eggs despite variation in diets.</p><p>In chapter 4, I tested 3 hypotheses regarding the apportionment of carotenoids into egg yolk over the laying sequence. Without exception, concentrations of these nutrients have previously been shown to decline with egg sequence. In contrast to these findings, coots actually increased the carotenoid concentration in yolks over the laying sequence. My experimental evidence supports the explanation that this pattern of deposition depends on carotenoid availability to the laying female.

Recent changes in climate have increased public attention and scientific evaluation of climate impacts on wild animals and plants. Variation in local weather and regional climate may affect breeding success in birds. Migratory species may be sensitive to these changes as breeding and wintering areas may experience different climate variations; some insectivorous species may be unable to alter timing of migration or laying dates and experience a mismatch between timing of nesting and peak insect availability for their nestlings. Therefore, I investigated the influence of local weather variables and regional climate on breeding performance of an insectivorous migrant songbird, the Tree Swallow (<i>Tachycineta bicolor</i>), and tried to examine effects of a mismatch between the timing of breeding and food availability.<p>I used a 14 year data set from St. Denis, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1991-2004, to evaluate correlations among local weather, wetland conditions, aerial insects and regional climate indices and their relationships with variation in clutch initiation date, clutch size, and fledging success. Swallows returned to the study site in late April each year. Annual variation in median clutch initiation date was best explained by mean minimum temperatures during 1-15 May. Larger clutches were laid in years with higher pond water levels (possibly an indication of increased insect availability) and when the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was positive (representing La Niña conditions). Fledging success was not influenced greatly by any explanatory variable; however, fledging success tended to increase in years with higher average temperatures. Individual variation in clutch initiation date was examined using path analysis. I found high correlations between initiation date and both local environmental variables and regional climate indices; earlier nesting was associated with warmer temperatures (increased local temperatures, more positive North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI) values and more negative SOI values) and decreased moisture (more positive NAOI values). Two reduced data sets, including female age or insect abundance, were also examined. Clutches were initiated earlier by older females and during springs with higher abundance of aerial insects.<p>I applied two heating treatments to nest boxes used by pre-laying swallows and compared reproductive measures (timing of nesting, laying sequence, clutch size, egg weight and fledging success) of birds using heated boxes to those of females attending unheated control boxes. However, I was unable to directly examine the predictions of the mismatch hypothesis because nest box heating failed to advance laying dates. Furthermore, no increases in clutch size, egg weight and fledging success were detected between treatment and control nests. Although box heating increased nest temperatures an average of 6.1C (+ 0.8 SE) over controls, length of time females spent in heated boxes may have been too short to alleviate energetic constraints on egg production, or energy savings associated with box use were insufficient to supersede the influence of ambient environmental conditions that control food availability and energy expenditure of foraging swallows. My results demonstrated that local and regional climate variation strongly affected timing of nesting in swallows, likely via their effects on food supply.

Production, egg quality, behaviour, and physical condition were compared from Wk 20 to Wk 50 among three beak- trimmed commercial laying strains, Lohmann White (LW), H & N White (HN), Lohmann Brown (LB), and a non-commercial Cross between Rhode Island Red (male) and Barred Plymouth Rock (female) in conventional cages and in floor pens. All chicks were reared in their respective environments, and 450 and 432 pullets were housed at 18 and 7 weeks of age in cages and floor pens respectively. Hens in cages were provided with 688 cm2/bird and those in pens with over 6,000 cm2/bird, both of which are more than provided by commercial standards. Body weights and eggshell weights were higher for birds in floor pens than those in cages, and although they increased with age, body weight of hens in cages decreased at Wk 50. White-egg layers (LW, HN) used perches and nest boxes more than Brown-egg layers (LB, Cross). During the laying period, mortality was higher for all strains in cages and during the rearing period mortality was higher in floor pens for LB hens but not other strains. No aggressive behaviours were found, but the frequency of gentle feather pecking and pecking at the enclosure was higher in cages than in floor pens. Feather condition deteriorated over time in cages mainly because of contact with the cage wires whereas in floor pens, feather condition of birds at Wk 20 was not different from that at Wk 50. The frequency of keel bone deformities was higher for White-egg layers than for Brown-egg layers in cages and was higher for Cross hens than other strains in floor pens. Claws were longer in cages than in the floor pens. Foot condition was worse in floor pens than in cages. The welfare indicators used in this study showed that cages restricted the hens' behaviour compared to floor pens and resulted in higher laying period mortality, reduced body weight and deteriorated feather condition than floor pens. Both systems had advantages and disadvantages in regard to the hens’ health and welfare. The use of environmental complexities was strain specific in floor pens. The environment by genotype interactions suggests that the strain should be considered when considering alternative housing systems.

I studied carotenoids in the eggs of American coots (<i>Fulica americana</i>) from 3 study sites in Saskatchewan, Canada. I supplemented two diet types designed to reduce carotenoids in the diet of laying coots to investigate the relationship of carotenoids and the size of eggs and to examine the allocation of carotenoids into eggs.</p><p>In chapter 2, I examined influences of local environment, food quantity and food quality on egg size. Carotenoid content and stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in yolk were measured and used to elucidate whether variation in type of food eaten contributes to egg size. By analyzing isotopes in coot tissues, I confirmed that coots use endogenous lipid reserves for egg formation but not endogenous protein reserves, and the size of eggs is more dependent on exogenous sources of nutrients. My data demonstrate that carotenoids are not causal in egg size, but are components of natural, high quality diets.</p> <p>Carotenoids are obtained through the diet and deposited into egg yolk. It has been hypothesized that concentrations and percentages of individual carotenoids can be labile and dependent on diets or maintained in an optimal balance to meet requirements of embryos. In chapter 3, I investigate deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk among nesting locales, among hens within a site and among treatments in a diet manipulation experiment. My data show maintenance in the percent composition of a suite of 3 important carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and âcarotene, independent of scale of investigation and in contrast to other individual carotenoids that appear to vary in proportions based on diet. These results suggest that birds can maintain nutritional balances in their eggs despite variation in diets.</p><p>In chapter 4, I tested 3 hypotheses regarding the apportionment of carotenoids into egg yolk over the laying sequence. Without exception, concentrations of these nutrients have previously been shown to decline with egg sequence. In contrast to these findings, coots actually increased the carotenoid concentration in yolks over the laying sequence. My experimental evidence supports the explanation that this pattern of deposition depends on carotenoid availability to the laying female.