@article{benton_walsh_brake_2001, title={Effects of Presence of a Blastoderm on Albumen Height and pH of Broiler Hatching Eggs}, volume={80}, ISSN={0032-5791}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/80.7.955}, DOI={10.1093/ps/80.7.955}, abstractNote={Two experiments were conducted to determine whether the presence of a blastoderm could affect albumen liquefaction of broiler hatching eggs prior to setting and during the initial stages of incubation. Eggs were stored for 0 to 3 d at 18 C and 75% RH. Albumen height and pH were measured after 0 or 2 h of incubation. In both experiments, albumen height was significantly lower in fertilized eggs compared with unfertilized eggs. The interaction of fertility with incubation time for albumen height in Experiment 1 was not significant (P < or = 0.10). In Experiment 1, albumen pH was significantly higher for fertilized eggs compared with unfertilized eggs (P < or = 0.01); the difference was similar but not significant in Experiment 2. The results suggest that the embryo contributes to albumen liquefaction and that ammonia production by the embryo may account for the effect.}, number={7}, journal={Poultry Science}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Benton, C.E., Jr. and Walsh, T.J. and Brake, J.}, year={2001}, month={Jul}, pages={955–957} }
 @article{peebles_gardner_brake_benton_bruzual_gerard_2000, title={Albumen height and yolk and embryo compositions in broiler hatching eggs during incubation}, volume={79}, ISSN={0032-5791}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/79.10.1373}, DOI={10.1093/ps/79.10.1373}, abstractNote={The relationship of albumen height (AH) to the compositions of yolks and embryos in hatching eggs from a young (30 wk of age) broiler breeder flock was evaluated during incubation. On Day 2 of incubation, egg weight, yolk weight, and yolk moisture, lipid, and fatty acid contents were determined in eggs from broiler breeders previously identified as laying eggs of either low or high AH. In addition, egg weight, wet and dry embryo weight, and embryo moisture and protein contents were determined on Days 10, 12, and 16, and embryo lipid content was determined on Days 12 and 16. Yolk and embryo weights were expressed as percentages of sampled egg weight. Egg, yolk, and wet embryo weights, yolk moisture and lipid contents, and embryo moisture, protein, and lipid contents were not affected by AH; however, yolk myristic acid concentration was higher, and yolk linoleic acid concentration was lower, in low AH eggs on Day 2 of incubation. Furthermore, on Day 16, dry embryo weight was significantly higher in low AH eggs. Young breeder hens laying eggs of different AH may also produce egg yolks with different fatty acid compositions. Differences in yolk fatty acid profiles between AH groups during early incubation may impact subsequent embryo DM weight without associated effects on embryo moisture, protein, or lipid contents.}, number={10}, journal={Poultry Science}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Peebles, E.D. and Gardner, C.W. and Brake, J. and Benton, C.E. and Bruzual, J.J. and Gerard, P.D.}, year={2000}, month={Oct}, pages={1373–1377} }
 @article{peak_walsh_benton_brake_horne_2000, title={Effects of Two Planes of Nutrition on Performance and Uniformity of Four Strains of Broiler Chicks}, DOI={10.1093/japr/9.2.185}, abstractNote={Growers of broilers have recommended feeding lower protein feeds in order to reduce feed cost and nitrogen content of litter. However, the impact that very low protein feeds may have on broiler performance has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, two planes of nutrition (Standard=NRC-recommended level; or Low=66.1-69.5% as much protein) were fed to each sex of four broiler strains to 8 wk of age. Body weight, feed conversion, mortality, carcass yield, and uniformity were determined. Birds on the Low plane of nutrition had lower body weights, higher feed conversion, decreased carcass yield, and increased abdominal fat pad. In addition, the Low plane of nutrition decreased body weight uniformity and decreased uniformity of parts yield. However, the Low plane of nutrition reduced mortality to 6 wk of age and increased the percentage of dark meat yield. The data indicate that uniformity may be negatively impacted by a lower than NRC plane of nutrition, but careful application of low protein diets along with selection of an appropriate processing age will minimize the negative impact.}, number={2}, journal={The Journal of Applied Poultry Research}, author={Peak, S.D. and Walsh, T.J. and Benton, C.E. and Brake, J. and Horne, P.L.M. Van}, year={2000}, month={Jul} }
 @article{benton_brake_2000, title={Effects of atmospheric ammonia on albumen height and pH of fresh broiler breeder eggs}, volume={79}, ISSN={0032-5791}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/79.11.1562}, DOI={10.1093/ps/79.11.1562}, abstractNote={Two experiments were conducted to study the stimulatory effect of atmospheric ammonia on albumen liquefaction. Albumen height and pH were measured in fresh eggs after 1 h of exposure to 0, 142, 294, 592, 2,747, or 6,052 mg/kg ammonia vapor. In Experiment 1, eggs exposed to ammonia concentrations of 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg exhibited a significantly reduced albumen height compared with all other treatments. The 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg treatments produced a significantly higher albumen pH compared with the 0, 142, and 294 mg/kg ammonia treatments. In Experiment 2, eggs exposed to ammonia concentrations of 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg had a significantly reduced albumen height compared with eggs exposed to ammonia concentrations of 0, 142, and 592 mg/kg. Albumen pH was significantly higher at the 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg concentrations of ammonia compared with the control. The linear regression for the effects of ammonia on albumen height and pH were highly significant in both experiments. The effect on yolk pH was inconsistent. The results suggest that the presence of atmospheric ammonia contributes to albumen liquefaction.}, number={11}, journal={Poultry Science}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Benton, C.E., Jr and Brake, J.}, year={2000}, month={Nov}, pages={1562–1565} }
 @article{benton_balnave_brake_boyd_brown_1998, title={The Use of Dietary Minerals During Heat Stress in Broilers}, DOI={10.15232/s1080-7446(15)31828-3}, abstractNote={Mineral supplementation has been conclusively demonstrated to decrease mortality and improve growth of broilers during heat stress. The most effective supplement appears to be NaHCO3, which, although it has no favorable effect on pH, relieves the bicarbonate (HCO3−) deficiency brought about by a developing respiratory alkalosis. Blood pH may be reduced with NH4Cl supplements but its potency as an acid leaves a much narrower margin for error. At the present time dietary electrolyte balance [(DEB; (Na+) + (K+) − (Cl−)] appears to be inappropriate for predicting the growth of heat-stressed broilers. The dietary arginine:lysine ratio has been found to be important during heat stress but is also influenced by dietary NaCl levels. Practical mineral supplementation during heat stress requires close attention to all dietary minerals and amino acid balance.}, number={4}, journal={The Professional Animal Scientist}, author={Benton, C.E. and Balnave, D. and Brake, J. and Boyd, L.J. and Brown, M.A.}, year={1998}, month={Dec} }
 @article{brake_walsh_benton_petitte_meijerhof_penalva_1997, title={Egg handling and storage}, volume={76}, ISSN={0032-5791}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/76.1.144}, DOI={10.1093/ps/76.1.144}, abstractNote={The temperature and relative humidity of storage, as well as the gaseous environment, interact with the fertile egg over time during storage in such a way as to affect the success of incubation either negatively or positively. This interaction occurs both above and below the "physiological zero", at which embryonic metabolism is minimal. This interaction below physiological zero implies that certain physical aspects of the egg must be affected by the environmental conditions. As the eggshell is a relatively fixed component, changes in albumen, shell membranes, cuticle, yolk, or embryo proper must account for these time- and environment-related effects. It is concluded that the major contributor is the albumen, as it is obviously the most dynamic component below physiological zero and is strategically positioned.}, number={1}, journal={Poultry Science}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Brake, J. and Walsh, T.J. and Benton, C.E., Jr and Petitte, J.N. and Meijerhof, R. and Penalva, G.}, year={1997}, month={Jan}, pages={144–151} }
 @article{benton_brake_1996, title={The effect of broiler breeder flock age and length of egg storage on egg albumen during early incubation}, volume={75}, ISSN={0032-5791}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps.0751069}, DOI={10.3382/ps.0751069}, abstractNote={The objective of these two experiments was to determine the temporal changes in albumen during storage and early incubation as a means of understanding some of the effects of egg storage on early embryonic development. Eggs from 30- or 50-wk-old broiler breeder hens were incubated (37.5 C dry bulb, 30 C wet bulb) after storage for 0 (fresh) or 5 d (18 C, 75% RH) in Experiment 1. Albumen height, albumen pH, and egg weight loss were recorded at 2, 24, 48, and 66 h of incubation. The same measurements were taken on another group of eggs from 43-wk-old hens stored for 0 (fresh), 4, 8, or 12 d in Experiment 2. All hens were of the same strain. Egg weight loss during incubation was significantly greater in fresh eggs than in stored eggs in Experiment 1. Fresh eggs had significantly greater albumen height and significantly lower albumen pH than stored eggs in both experiments. These differences diminished with length of incubation. Because the blastoderm is located adjacent to the albumen, changes in the viscosity or pH of the albumen may play an integral role in determining the viability of the embryo during the very early stages of development. Incubation of fresh eggs without storage appears to expose the developing embryo to an inappropriate trans-vitelline membrane pH gradient and a thick albumen that may slow vital gas diffusion and limit nutrient availability. These conditions may cause an increased incidence of embryonic death.}, number={9}, journal={Poultry Science}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Benton, C.E., Jr. and Brake, J.}, year={1996}, pages={1069–1075} }