This disclosure provides, among other things, strategies for minimizing antibody diversification in a transgenic animal that uses gene conversion for antibody diversification. In some embodiments, the animal may comprise a genome comprising an endogenous immunoglobulin light chain locus comprising: (a) a functional immunoglobulin light chain gene comprising a nucleic acid encoding a light chain variable region; and (b) a plurality of pseudogenes that are operably linked to the functional immunoglobulin light chain gene and that donate, by gene conversion, nucleotide sequence to the nucleic acid encoding a light chain variable region, wherein the pseudogenes are upstream or downstream of the functional immunoglobulin light chain gene and encode the same amino acid sequence as the light chain variable region of the functional immunoglobulin light chain gene of (a). In other embodiments, the locus may have a tandem array of coding sequences for the light chain.

The present invention relates to methods for transfecting cells. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of transfecting primordial germ cells in avians, and to methods of breeding avians with modified traits.

This disclosure provides, among other things, strategies for minimizing antibody diversification in a transgenic animal that uses gene conversion for antibody diversification. In some embodiments, the animal may comprise a genome comprising an endogenous immunoglobulin light chain locus comprising: (a) a functional immunoglobulin light chain gene comprising a nucleic acid encoding a light chain variable region; and (b) a plurality of pseudogenes that are operably linked to the functional immunoglobulin light chain gene and that donate, by gene conversion, nucleotide sequence to the nucleic acid encoding a light chain variable region, wherein the pseudogenes are upstream or downstream of the functional immunoglobulin light chain gene and encode the same amino acid sequence as the light chain variable region of the functional immunoglobulin light chain gene of (a). In other embodiments, the locus may have a tandem array of coding sequences for the light chain.

A device having a grid floor for accommodating young chicks in poultry rearing. A feed trough having openings in a side wall and for the passage of feed is provided.

A device for accommodating chicks in poultry rearing, having a grid floor. The grid floor has a sloping region

The invention concerns a gallinacean embryo in which cancer cells have been grafted within the embryo tissue, characterised in that the embryo is at a developmental stage between the HH10 and HH25 stages at the time of the grafting, wherein said cancer cells are not neuroblastoma cells and said cells form tumors inside the embryo.

A method for preparing an ammonia abatement additive for poultry litter that is formulated to assure activation in an interior environment having various relative humidity conditions. The method includes obtaining a blended litter amendment composition that, based on weight, is about 40% deliquescent salt and about 60% aluminum sulfate, relative to a total weight of the two components. The composition can be made by the user or received, already blended, from a third party. To this blended composition that has been obtained, additional deliquescent salt is added in an amount such that the total amount of deliquescent salt is effective to activate the alum-containing ammonia abatement additive at the targeted low relative humidity condition in the interior of a poultry house. The composition is a sub-component of the ammonia abatement additive which may or may not contain additional compounds. The specified relative proportions (i.e., 40% deliquescent salt and 60% alum) only consider the proportion of deliquescent salt and the proportion of alum relative to the sum of the two components, based on weight. If there are other, extraneous compounds included in the ammonia abatement additive, those extraneous compounds are not counted in the defined and claimed proportions.

A method for preparing an ammonia abatement additive for poultry litter that is formulated to assure activation in an interior environment having various relative humidity conditions. The method includes obtaining a blended litter amendment composition that, based on weight, is about 40% deliquescent salt and about 60% aluminum sulfate, relative to a total weight of the two components. The composition can be made by the user or received, already blended, from a third party. To this blended composition that has been obtained, additional deliquescent salt is added in an amount such that the total amount of deliquescent salt is effective to activate the alum-containing ammonia abatement additive at the targeted low relative humidity condition in the interior of a poultry house. The composition is a sub-component of the ammonia abatement additive which may or may not contain additional compounds. The specified relative proportions (i.e., 40% deliquescent salt and 60% alum) only consider the proportion of deliquescent salt and the proportion of alum relative to the sum of the two components, based on weight. If there are other, extraneous compounds included in the ammonia abatement additive, those extraneous compounds are not counted in the defined and claimed proportions.

A cage and corresponding method for loading, transporting, and unloading poultry utilize a substantially vertical track attached to a leg or a sidewall to provide stability for a door of the cage throughout the door's entire range of motion. The cage is stackable and together with like cages can form an assembly of cages. The assembled stack of cages allows for several cages to share common components. Thus, the weight of the load during transport is reduced and more livestock can be transported. Shared components can include a roof and even a latching mechanism which prevents the door of each cage from coming open during transport.

An at least partially floorless semirigid poultry enclosure configured to flex and/or adjust to accommodate undulating terrain during movement across a field. The semirigid poultry enclosure may comprise a semirigid foundation. The semirigid foundation may include one or more flexible joints disposed between two or more rigid structural elements. The semirigid poultry enclosure may include multiple wall barriers coupled to the semirigid foundation. The semirigid poultry enclosure may include a roof barrier coupled to one or more of the multiple wall barriers and/or the semirigid foundation. Multiple wheels may be coupled to the semirigid foundation to facilitate movement of the semirigid poultry enclosure, wherein poultry within the semirigid poultry enclosure have access to the field from within the enclosure.