• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제35권9호
• /
• pp.1426-1433
• /
• 2022

Objective: The present research was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of dietary concentration of calcium (Ca) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25OHD3) on the performance, blood composition and digestibility of laying hens. Methods: A total of 540 Hy-line brown laying hens aged 61 to 70 weeks were randomly allotted in a 3×3 factorial arrangement, consisting of three levels of 25OHD3 (0, 25, and 50 ㎍/kg) and three levels of Ca (3.5%, 4.0%, and 4.5%). All diets had basal concentration of 3,000 IU/kg of vitamin D3 including the 2,800 kcal/kg of metabolic energy and 16% of crude protein. Results: The results showed that interactive effect (p<0.05) between Ca and 25OHD3 was such that dietary 25OHD3 linearly increased interleukin-6 at all levels of Ca inclusion. Interaction (p<0.05) occurred with the highest parathyroid hormone in laying hens that received dietary concentration of Ca (3.5%) with 25OHD3 (50 ㎍/kg), and Ca (4.0%) with 25OHD3 (50 ㎍/kg). Egg production and egg weight significantly (p<0.05) increased in the 4.5% Ca group compared to the 3.5% to 4.0% Ca groups. Egg shell thickness and tibia bone length also increased (p<0.05) in groups fed a high-Ca diet (4.0% to 4.5%). Phosphorus digestibility significantly (p<0.05) increased along with dietary Ca level. Among the tested 25OHD3 groups, higher (p<0.05) egg production and tibia thickness were present in hens fed 50 ㎍/kg of 25OHD3. Furthermore, Ca digestibility serum Ca and 25OHD3 were significantly increased in group offered 50 ㎍/kg of 25OHD3. Conclusion: The results gathered in this study indicate that dietary concentrations of 4.0% to 4.5% Ca and 50 ㎍/kg 25OHD3 improve the performance of hens from 61 to 70 weeks of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제21권8호
• /
• pp.1164-1170
• /
• 2008

In this study, the effects of propolis and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) supplementation in diets were investigated on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion rate (FCR) and digestibility and on egg production and qualities (weight, mortality, shell thickness) in laying hens exposed to heat stress. A total of 150 Hyline White Leghorn, aged 42 weeks, hens was divided into five groups of 30 hens. Chicks were randomly divided into 1 positive control, 1 control and 3 treatment groups. The chicks were kept in cages in temperature-controlled rooms at $22^{\circ}C$ for 24 h/d (positive control, Thermoneutral, TN group) or $34^{\circ}C$ for 9 h/d from 08.00-17.00 h followed by $22^{\circ}C$ for 15 h (control, heat stress, HS group) and fed a basal diet or basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (250 mg/kg of L- ascorbic acid/kg of diet) or two levels of propolis (2 and 5 g of ethanol extracted propolis/kg of diet). Increased FI (p<0.05) and improvement in FCR (p<0.05), hen day egg (p<0.05) and egg weight (p<0.05) were found in Vitamin C and propolis-supplemented laying hens reared under heat stress conditions. Mortality rate was higher in the control group than TN, vitamin C and propolis groups (p<0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract improved with increasing of both dietary vitamin C and propolis (p<0.05). Vitamin C or propolis supplementation did not affect either the percentage shape index, yolk index or haugh unit and albumen index (p>0.05). However, the egg shell thickness and egg shell weight appeared to be increased in Vitamin C and propolis groups in comparison to HS group birds (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of laying hens with anti-oxidants (vitamin C and propolis) can attenuate heat stress-induced oxidative damage. These positive effects were evidenced by increased growth performance and digestibility, improvement of egg shell thickness and egg weight in comparison to non-supplemented birds. Moreover, supplementation with propolis (5 g/kg diet) was the most efficient treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권10호
• /
• pp.1478-1483
• /
• 2006

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of supplementation of L-carnitine and humic substances alone or in combination in laying hen diets on performance, egg traits and blood parameters. A total of 180 IGH type brown laying hens aged 22 weeks were employed in a completely randomized block design with one control group and three treatment groups. Each group was divided into five replicates as subgroups, each comprising 9 hens. The diets of the first, second and third treatment groups were supplemented with 0.1 g/kg L-carnitine, 1.5 g/kg humic substances (Farmagulator$^{(R)}$ Dry Plus) and 0.1 g/kg L-carnitine+1.5 g/kg humic substances, respectively. The experimental period lasted 18 weeks. Feeding supplemental carnitine, humic substances or carnitine+humic substances resulted in increases in body weight gain (p<0.05). Dietary treatments did not significantly affect daily feed intake, daily metabolizable energy intake, egg production, egg weight, feed efficiency, mortality, egg shape index, egg breaking strength, egg shell thickness, egg albumen index, egg yolk index, egg Haugh unit and the percentages of egg shell, albumen and yolk. Supplementation of humic substances reduced egg yolk cholesterol as mg per g yolk and mg per yolk (p<0.05). Blood serum parameters were not affected by the supplementation of carnitine, humic substances or carnitine+humic substances. The results in this study demonstrated that humic substances supplementation reduced egg cholesterol without adverse effects on performance, egg traits and blood parameters of laying hens. It was concluded that the usage of L-carnitine alone or in combination with humic substances in diets had no beneficial effects in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.553-558
• /
• 2001

The effect of poor feather cover on feed intake and production was examined in two commercial strains of layers (tinted and brown egg) over 91-98 weeks of age. Hens were housed at four per cage ($600cm^2/bird$) in a commercial layer shed which ranged in temperature from 13.2 to $16.8^{\circ}C$. At the start of the experiment 50% of the birds were classified as having poor feather cover. Feather score was highly correlated with feed intake. Poor feather cover on the neck and the back were the best indicators of hens with high feed intake. Feed intake of hens with poor feather cover was 16% higher (p<0.05) than hens with good feather cover. Hens with good feather cover produced more eggs (p<0.05) early in the trial and had a higher (p<0.05) liveweight, but there was no significant differences in egg weight. Feed per dozen eggs was superior (p<0.05) in hens with good feather cover. Feather cover on the back and vent were the best indicators of overall feather score, while the tail, base of tail and vent were the body parts most affected in birds with poor feather cover.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of housing systems on physiological and immunological responses as stress indicators in laying hens. A total of 500 White Leghorn aged 16 weeks were allotted into ten conventional cages (10 birds/cage and 810 $cm^2$/bird) and four floor pens (100 birds/pen and 2,800 $cm^2$/bird) for 24 weeks. The hens housed in conventional cages with higher stocking density resulted in a significantly (P<0.05) lower BW compared with those housed in floor pens with lower stocking density without affecting the relative weights of immune organs between housing conditions. In plasma biochemical values, cholesterol and corticosterone were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the hens housed in floor pens compared with those housed in conventional cages. In pro-inflammatory cytokines, hepatic interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the hens housed in conventional cages compared with those kept in floor pens. Splenic and thymic IFN-${\gamma}$ expression was significantly (P<0.05) up-regulated in the hens kept in conventional cages compared with those kept in floor pens without affecting IL-1, IL-10, lipopolysaccharide- induced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ factor (LITAF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In the bursa of Fabricius, IL-10 and iNOS expression of the hens housed in conventional cages were significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with those of the hens housed in floor pens. In conclusion, layers housed in conventional cages enhanced plasma cholesterol, corticosterone and some pro-inflammatory cytokines in the immune organs compared with those in floor pens.

• 유기물자원화
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 2004

파쇄, 탈수된 음식물 쓰레기를 양계가 사료로 섭취하고 배설한 계분에 제지슬러지를 혼합하여 21일간 부숙시킨 먹이를 줄지렁이 유충에게 급이하면서 줄지렁이의 생체량, 사망률, 환대발현률, 난포 생산수 및 음식물류 폐기물, 계분, 계분과 제지슬러지 혼합시료의 이화학적 성상을 조사하였다. 먹이 급이 10주후의 줄지렁이 생체량이 초기 생체량에 비해 5.7% 감소하였으며, 환대발현률이 매우 저조하고 산란이 전혀 이루어지지 않아 계분내의 염분이 지렁이의 성적 성숙을 저해하는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 계분이 줄지렁이의 사망률에는 큰 영향을 미치지 않았다.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.95-104
• /
• 2024

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of enzymolysis fermentation of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) on egg production performance, egg quality, lipid metabolism, serum reproductive hormone levels, and the mRNA expression of the ovarian hormone receptor of laying hens in the late-laying stage. Methods: A total of 360 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (age, 390 days) were randomly categorized into four groups. Hens in the control (C) group were fed a basic diet devoid of CHMs, the crushed CHM (CT), fermented CHM (FC), and enzymatically fermented CHM (EFT) groups received diets containing 2% crushed CHM, 2% fermented CHM, and 2% enzymatically fermented CHM, respectively. Results: Compared with crushed CHM, the acid detergent fiber, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents of fermented CHM showed improvement (p<0.05); furthermore, the neutral and acid detergent fiber, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents of enzymatically fermented CHM improved (p<0.05). At 5 to 8 weeks, hens in the FC and EFT groups showed increased laying rates, haugh unit, albumin height, yolk color, shell thickness, and shell strength compared with those in the C group (p<0.05). Compared with the FC group, the laying rate, albumin height, and Shell thickness in the EFT group was increased (p<0.05). Compared with the C, CT, and FC groups, the EFT group showed reduced serum total cholesterol and increased serum luteinizing hormone levels and mRNA expressions of follicle stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that the ETF group improved the laying rate and egg quality and regulated the lipid metabolism in aged hens. The mechanism underlying this effect was likely related to cell wall degradation of CHM and increased serum levels of luteinizing hormone and mRNA expression of the ovarian hormone receptor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제9권6호
• /
• pp.727-735
• /
• 1996

The effects of four factors-two dietary protein levels (12 and 16%), feeding methods(ad libitum and restricted), strains (A and B), and age of hens-on egg quality and laying performance were examined. Use of the 12% dietary protein level resulted in significantly lower (p < 0.05) hen-day egg production, higher feed intake to about 85% of the ad libitum intake decreased mean hen-day production. Significant feeding method-by-age interactions ($F{\times}A$) were obtained for all parameters. Restricted feeding had favorable effects on shell strength and Haugh unit values after 28 and 16 weeks of egg production, respectively. There was significant difference in shell strength between the two strain. Examination of the three-factor interaction among protein levels, feeding method and strain ($P{\times}F{\times}S$) disclosed that the favorable effect of the A strain on shell strength was significant only with the 16% protein-restricted fed group. The other treatment group did show a trend for greater shell strength of the A strain. Mean values for all the parameters examined changed significantly (p < 0.01) with the age of hens. Feed intake per dozen eggs tended to increase, with some fluctuation, as the hens aged. There was a linear decrease in Haugh unit scores and shell strength. The effect of restricted feeding on either shell strength or Haugh unit scores were favorable for the aged chickens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• 제54권1호
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2012

본 연구는 산란계의 주령 및 난각의 형태이상 및 이상 정도가 내부품질에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위해 실시되었다. 동일 주령의 산란계 2계군에서 56주령부터 62주령 사이에 산란한 계란 21,000개 중 각 주별 1,000개를 무작위 추출하여 축산물품질평가사가 정상란과 형태 이상란을 구분하였다. 각각의 출현율과 할란검사를 실시하여 내부품질을 조사한 결과 전체적으로 정상란은 81.22%, 이상란은 18.78%의 출현율을 보였다. 주령의 증가에 따른 이상란의 출현율은 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았으며(p>0.05), Haugh unit은 60주령이 56주령에 비해 높게 나타났으며 그 외에는 차이가 없었다. 동일 주령대를 비교했을 경우 난백고와 Haugh unit은 형태 이상란이 낮고 또한 이상의 정도가 심한 경우 더 낮게 측정되는 결과를 보였다(p<0.05). 특히 이상란 중 기형란의 난고와 Haugh unit이 현저하게 낮은 결과를 보여 이상란 중에서도 기형란이 내부 품질이 가장 낮게 판명되었다. 결과를 종합해 보면 56~62주령 산란계로부터 생산된 계란의 외형적 이상은 내부품질의 저하와 밀접하게 상관한다고 볼 수 있으며, 현 계란 등급판정 체계에서 외관판정은 신선도 평가에 근거가 될 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

• 한국가금학회지
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2018

본 연구는 편백나무 정유를 70% 함유한 FC-S 살포액을 배율별로 희석하여 살포시에 닭진드기 제거와 안전성에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 실행하였다. 닭진드기에 감염된 산란계 300수를 5개 처리구와 5반복 반복당 12수씩 18일간 배치하였다. 각 처리구의 살포액은 FC-S를 0배(원액, FC-S 0), 50배(FC-S 50) 및 100배(FC-S 100)로 희석한 시료와 증류수(NC) 및 시중에서 판매되는 천연살충제(PC)를 이용하였다. 닭진드기 숫자, 산란율, 난중은 매일 확인하였고, 계란품질과 혈액성상은 사양실험 종료 후 측정하였다. 안전성 검사를 위하여 산란계의 사료섭취, 호흡기증상, 침울, 설사 및 폐사 증상을 확인하였다. 본 연구결과, FC-S 0을 살포시에 80% 이상의 닭진드기가 제거되었으며(P<0.01), FC-S 50 처리구도 PC 처리구보다 개선되었다. FC-S 100 처리구는 PC 처리구보다 진드기 제거에 미치는 영향이 적었지만, NC 처리구에 비하여 닭진드기 제거는 매우 개선되었다(P<0.01). FC-S를 살포한 후 산란계의 생산성, 계란품질, 혈액성상 및 안전성에 미치는 영향은 처리구간에 유사하였으며, 통계적 차이가 없었다. 본 연구결과, FC-S의 살포는 산란계에 미치는 영향은 없었으므로, 닭진드기에만 선택적으로 작용하였다고 사료되며, FC-S 0~50배 희석배율의 살포는 상용화되어 판매되는 살포액보다 효과적으로 닭진드기를 제거하였다.