The Effect of Newcastle Disease on Egg Production and Egg Quality

CURRENT interest in Newcastle disease makes the presentation of special case histories desirable. This is particularly true when these case histories substantiate and add to the observations of other investigations as to the effects of the disease on laying birds. Beach (1943) showed that pneumoencephalitis caused a sudden and drastic drop in egg production and mortality of about 5.0 percent. Lorenz and Newlon (1944) observed that pneumoencephalitis caused abnormal egg quality as manifested by bubbly eggs, decreased albumen height, and abnormal shells. The data herein presented adds to the evidence of the effect of an outbreak of Newcastle disease on a flock of laying pullets. Whereas Lorenz and Newlon (1944) indicated no measurement of abnormality of shells resulting from an outbreak of the disease, the present data indicate the effect on both shell thickness and smoothness. Evidence is also presented as to the rate of recovery of loss of egg . . .