• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary germanium biotite supplementation on egg quality and fecal noxious gas content in laying hens. One hundred and forty-four 40-wk-old, ISA Brown layers were used in this experiment. Dietary treatments were 1) CON(control diet), 2) GB0.5(control diet + 0.5% germanium biotite), 3) GB1.0 (control diet + 1.0% germanium biotite) and 4) GB1.5(control diet + 1.5% germanium biotite). Hen-day egg Production and egg shell breaking strength were not influenced by germanium biotite supplementation. However, egg weight decrease as the level of germanium biotite supplementation increased in the diets increased(Cubic effect, p<0.02). Eggshell thickness, yolk color and yolk index were not influenced by garmanium biotite supplementation. Serum triglyceride concentration as dietary germanium biotite increased (linear effect P<0.02; quadratic effect, p<0.05). Dietary supplementation of germanium biotite reduced fecal NH$_3$-N concentration (P<0.01), propionic acid(P<0.01), butyric acid( P<0.05) and acetic aicd(P<0.01) concentrations in the feces. In conclusion, the results of this experiment indicated that dietary germanium biotite supplementation did not affect egg shell quality, but reduced fecal NH$_3$-N concentration.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.421-426
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• 2009

This study was conducted to clarify the characteristics of vocalization of laying hen related with space in battery cage. The size of cages were classified into control (0.30 m ${\times}$ 0.14 m ${\times}$ 0.55 m, length ${\times}$ width ${\times}$ height), small (0.21 m ${\times}$ 0.14 m ${\times}$ 0.55 m) and large (0.30 m ${\times}$ 0.30 m ${\times}$ 0.55 m) size. Vocalization of 16 individuals of laying hen in each group of Hy-Line Brown (80 week old) were recorded 3 hours per day (10:00am~11:00am, 3:00pm~4:00pm and 7:00pm~8:00pm) using digital recorder and microphone during October 2008 and February 2009. Characteristics of frequency, intensity and duration of vocalization were analyzed by GLM (general linear model) and Duncan's multi-test. There were differences in basic and maximum frequency, and intensity based on analysis of spectrogram and spectrum among different cage sizes. Vocalization of laying hen would be one of the indicators to understand the stress caused by rearing space in batter cage.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.134-137
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• 2009

Although there is circumstantial evidence that infectious bronchitis(IB) in the Korean layer industry has contributed to severe economic losses, the seroprevalence against IB virus(IBV) and risk factors associated with seropositivity are not well known. During May to October 2007, 820 blood samples were randomly collected from 41 laying hen flocks(20 birds in each flock) with $\geq$ 3,000 birds of 18 week of age or older in three provinces of Korea. The samples size was determined considering a flock-size range of 3,000-65,000 birds, an expected bird-level seroprevalence of $\geq$ 15%, and a 95% level of confidence. Serum samples were examined using a hemagglutination inhibition test for antibodies to IBV. The overall apparent flock-level seroprevalence was 46.3%(95% CI, 31.1-66.6) with no statistically significant differences among provinces(X=1.205, p>0.05). There were 19 positive flocks with one to eight seropositive birds, and 11 of these had one or two seropositive birds. None of the measured parameters were significantly associated with seropositivity against IBV in a subsequent multivariable logistic regression analysis. A longitudinal risk factor studies considering management and vaccination characteristics possibly associated with the IBV flock prevalence would be beneficial.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2004

A total of 225 ISA Brown layers, 63-wk-old, were used in a 5-wk feeding trial to measure the effect of dietary canthaxanthin(0, 50, 100, 200, and 300mg/kg feed) on its accumulation in various body parts and the egg yolk. There were three replications per treatment and 15 birds per replication. The redness(a$\^$*/) and yellowness(b$\^$*/) of wing and thigh skin significantly(P＜0.05) increased when canthaxanthin was fed at 2200 and 250mg/kg feed, respectively. However, the color of breast skin was not significantly affected by the canthaxanthin supplementation. Skin lightness(L$\^$*/) was not influenced by the dietary canthaxanthin. The dietary canthaxanthin supplementation did not significantly affect the redness or the yellowness of breast and thigh muscles. However, feeding canthaxanthin at 300mg/kg, compared to the control(0mg/kg feed), significantly(P＜0.05) decreased the lightness of wing and breast muscles. Feeding of canthaxanthin for 1-3d also significantly increased the color of egg yolks. In conclusion, canthaxanthin can be used to improve the color of skin and egg yolks, but it should be used cautiously because too intense egg yolk redness could be rejected by consumers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2012

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of various levels of dietary protein on laying performance and egg quality in laying quail. A total of six hundred forty 7-week-old laying type Japanese quail were divided into four groups with eight replicates per group (20 birds per replicate) and fed four diets differing in dietary protein levels (18, 20, 22 and 24%) with isocaloric corn-soybean meal-based diets for 8 weeks. The results showed no significant differences in feed intake and egg weight among the groups. With an increase in dietary protein levels, the egg production and daily egg mass were linearly increased (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in eggshell thickness and Haugh unit. The dietary protein did not affect the blood levels of GOT, GPT, BUN, albumin, and creatinine. The ammonia concentration of intestinal digesta was not affected by the dietary treatments. The contents of hepatic triacylglycerol in the groups fed diets containing 20% protein or more were significantly reduced as compared with that of 18% CP group (P<0.05). Overall, this study showed that relatively high levels of dietary CP are needed to sustain the higher egg production and daily egg mass and to avoid the hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation in Japanese quail.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) on post-molt performance and egg quality of spent laying hens. Four hundred and thirty two, ISA Brown hens at sixty six weeks of age after molt induction were fed six experimental diets containing three ME (2,750, 2,800, 2,850 kcal/kg) with two CP (15, 17%) levels in a factorial design. The influence of ME and CP were evaluated on egg production, egg weight and feed intake throughout 24 weeks of production. Egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured during the experimental period. Haugh unit, yolk color and eggshell breaking strength were measured at 5%, 50%, peak, post peak and end stage of egg production. The hens fed 2800 kcal/kg diet along with 15% CP recorded the highest outcome of egg production (P<0.05). The egg weight has been shown to increase with hens receiving 2,800 kcal/kg ME. Daily egg mass tended to increase in hens fed with 15% CP and 2,800 kcal/kg ME. Feed intake decreased significantly with the level of ME and CP in the diet increased (P<0.05). Yolk color was improved significantly in eggs laid by the hens receiving 17% CP than 15% diet. It also tended to be higher in 17% CP with 2,800 or 2,850 kcal/kg ME diet treatments. Egg shell breaking strength increased with hens receiving diets of 15% CP and 2,800 kcal/kg. From this experiment it can be concluded that the ME level of 2,800 kcal/kg coupled with 15% CP could be used to achieve the higher egg production and better eggshell strength in induced molting hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2007

This study was conducted to induce molting with DDGS and non-salt diet and compare the effect of feeding molting and fasting molting on the performance, egg quality, and visceral organs in laying hens for animal welfare. One-hundredeight 62-wk-old White Leghorn hens that egg production was over 80% and average weight was $1.8{\pm}0.1kg$ were used in this study. Treatments were control(non-molt treatment), feeding molt treatment(DDGS, non-salt diet), and fasting molt treatment. The four treatments were administered to three replicate group of nine hens wherein each group. All treatment groups were fed the basal diet(CP 15%, ME 2,700 kal/kg) for two weeks as the adaptation period. Test Periods were 28 days at all treatments. Egg production decreased for 18 days to be 0% at feeding molting treatment, and for 17 days to be 0% at non-salt feeding molting treatment. Egg production stopped for 6 days at fasting molting treatment. Egg production restarted after 12 days molt at feeding molting treatment, while after 16 days at fasting molting treatment. On the egg quality was improved at molting treatments (p<0.05) except egg yolk. Egg shell tissue was crowded at molting treatment to compare to control. Liver weights, heart weight, and oviduct weight of laying hens decreased at molting treatments(p<0.05). Finally, feeding molting might could be replaced fasting molting on the welfare and further studies were needed about molting program.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding probiotics(gene modified yeast) on the egg quality in laying hens. The laboratory method of this study is as follow: In hens, 300, 36 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were employed in 13weeks feeding trial with a 7 days adjustment period. Dietary treatments are 1) control (basal diet) 2) Y0.3 (basal diet+0.3% probiotics), 3) Y0.5% (basal diet+0.5% probiotics), 4) PY0.3% (basal diet+0.3% plasmid modified probiotics), 5) PY0.5% (basal diet+0.5% plasmid modified probiotics). For overall period, hen-day egg production, egg weight (p<0.05) by dietary probiotic supplementation were recorded. Eggs were collected and weighed every day. Egg production number and egg production rate, egg weight, failure egg ratio and trouble egg ratio were recorded for 13weeks days. Diets PY0.3 and PY0.5 improved Egg production rate, egg production number and egg weight, compared to control diet (linear effect. p<0.05). And, diets PY0.3 and PY0.5 improved Egg production rate, egg production number, compared to Y0.3 and Y0.5 (linear effect. p<0.05). But, in Inferior egg and cracked egg, diets PY0.3 and PY0.5 did not tended to increase by dietary probiotic supplementation compared to control diet and Y group (0.3, 0.5) (linear effect. p<0.05). The productivity enhance on the egg quality in laying hens is considered from the effects of feeding probiotics(gene modified yeast).

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.13-15
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• 2004

Telomeres are the end of chromosomes and consist of a tandem repeat sequence of (TTAGGG)n and associated proteins. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence and apoptosis. This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeric DNA of chicken lymphocytes, which is to considered as bio-marker. The amount of telomeric DNA of lymphocytes in Korean Native Chicken and White Leghorn was analyzed by quantitative-fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using the chicken telomeric DNA probe. Telomere quantifies were compared among breeds, ages and sex, and the relationship between the amount of telomeres and their productive trait was also analyzed. Comparing the amount of telomeric DNA on lymphocytes during growing period, the amount of telomeres was gradually decreased as growing older. The telomere quantity was also significantly different in breeds and sex. Estimating correlation coefficient, the amount of telomeres was positively correlated to sexual maturity and body weight but negatively correlated to hen day egg production and egg weight. These results implicate the telomere quantity is considered as an individual bio-marker.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2005

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of betaine intake on blood and yolk cholesterol, abdominal fat, liver fat, tissue triglyceride(TG) and liver HMG-CoA reductase In laying hens. In Expt. 1, a total of 72 ISA-brown laying hens were individually assigned into four treatments from 18 to 21 weeks old. Com-soybean meal based diet were fed with the addition of 0, 300, 600 and 1,200ppm. In Expt. 2, 72 ISA-brown laying hens were housed into individual cage to evaluate the effect of dietary betaine(0, 600ppm) and energy(ME, 2,800, 2,900kca/kg) from 70 to 74 weeks. Serum total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol and TG concentration in blood of hens fed betaine tended to increase compared to those of the control, but were not significantly different. However, betaine supplementation showed a statistically significant decrease in yolk cholesterol(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in abdominal fat among the treatments. Liver fats and 7c of birds 130 betaine was decreased compared with control. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentration were significantly inc.eased by ffeding a diet containing 600ppm betaine in Expt. 2(P<0.05), but were not influenced by the dietary energy levels. Yolk cholesterol, abdominal fat and HMG-CoA reductase activity were affected neither by dietary energy nor betaine level.