• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.237-241
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• 2013

To evaluate the effects of anthocyanin-fortified barley (AFB) and whole crop barley (WCB) addition to diets, 200 Brown Nick hens were assigned to 5 treatments with 5 replicates for 8 weeks. All the treated groups differed in feed intake, egg production, egg weight, and egg mass compared to those of a control group. As the intake of barley was increased, feed intake, egg production, and egg mass decreased. In terms of egg quality, the yolk color (YC), the egg shell breaking strength (SBS), and the egg shell color (SC) differed up to 6 weeks of growth. Feeding the WCB and AFB to laying hens up to 8 weeks had a positive influence on albumin height (AH) and the haugh unit (HU). Up to 6 weeks of growth, increasing the amount of barley in the diets of the laying hens had a positive effect on the SC and the YC but had no effect on the SBS. Diets including 20% AFB and WCB increased the AH and HU to 9.10 and 94.53, respectively. The results suggest that the addition of AFB and WCB up to 10% to the diets of laying hens could improve the laying performance and the egg quality.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 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.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2002

This studs was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrase (multi-enzyme: $\alpha$-galactosidase and mannanase) on egg quality and nutrient digestibility in laying hens. One hundred forty four, 47-wk-old, ISA Brown commercial layers were used in a 28-d feeding trial after a 7-d adjustment period. Dietary treatments were 1) CON(basal diet), 2) ME 0.1 (basal diet +0.1% multi -enzyme), 3) ME 0.2 (basal diet + 0.2% multi-enzyme). Fer overall Period, hen-day egg Production, egg weight, egg shell breaking strength and egg shell thickness were not influenced by the multi-enzyme. As the adding levels of multi-enzyme increased in the diet, egg Yolk color and egg Yolk index tended to increase with significant differences. Digestibility of DM was not affected by multi-enzyme. However, digestibility of N increased significantly as the concentration of multi-enzyme in the diet was increased. In conclusion, supplemental carbohydrase in laying hen diets nay have some roles in improving the egg Yolk color and N digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.260-265
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary effects of persimmon peel (PP) and PP ethanol extract (PPE) on egg production, egg quality, and liver lipids in the late stage of egg production in laying hens. One hundred and twenty 50-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 120) were fed different diets. Four replicate groups of 6 hens each were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments. The 5 dietary treatments were as follows: i) CON, basal diet; ii) PP 0.15, CON+0.15% PP (0.035% tannin); iii) PP 0.5, CON +0.5% PP (0.117% tannin); iv) PPE 0.075, CON+0.075% PPE (0.03% tannin); and v) PPE 0.25, CON+0.25% PPE (0.11% tannin). The total tannin concentration of PPE was higher (p<0.05) than that of PP. Egg production in the PP 0.5 group was higher than in the other groups. Egg production and mass of hens in the PPE 0.25 group showed a greater decrease than that in the other groups (p<0.05). Eggshell color in the PP 0.15, PP 0.5, and PPE 0.075 groups was lighter than that of the control group (p<0.05). The Haugh unit for the groups that were fed PP and PPE were significantly higher than that in the other groups after 7 d of storage (p<0.05). Therefore, PP seems an effective feed additive for improving the production performance and egg quality in late stage laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2009

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary acid hydrolysates of cocoon on laying performance, egg quality, blood level of immune substance and cholesterol in laying hens. The animals used in the experiment were a total of 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (41 weeks old). Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) SP1 (basal diet + acid hydrolysates of cocoon 0.05%), 3) SP2 (basal diet + acid hydrolysates of cocoon 0.1%) and 4) SP3(basal diet + acid hydrolysates of cocoon 0.2%) twelve laying hens were allotted to a block (pen) with five replicated. Through the whole period of experiment, egg production, egg weight, egg shell breaking strength and egg shell thickness were no significant difference. However, acid hydrolysates of cocoon treatments (SP1, SP2, SP3) significantly increase their egg yolk height and Haugh unit compared to control (P<0.05). IgG and WBC (white blood cell) contents in blood were higher in SP1, SP2, SP3 treatment compared to control (P<0.05). However, albumin and total protein content in blood were no significant difference. Phospholipid, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol contents in serum were higher in SP1, SP2, SP3 treatment compared to control (P<0.05). In conclusion, supplement dietary acid hydrolysates of cocoon improved egg yolk height, Haugh unit, and blood level of phospholipid, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol in laying hen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1391-1399
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• 2009

Two hundred and sixteen 68-week-old Hy-Line brown laying hens were used in a 6-week feeding trial to compare the efficacy of phytases Optiphos (OPT) and Natuphos (NAT), which were isolated from Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger, respectively. Hens were randomly allotted into six treatments with six replications (six layers in three adjacent cages) per treatment according to their initial BW. The hens were then subjected to one of the following dietary treatments: i) Positive Control (PC; available phosphorus (AP) 0.4%); ii) Negative control (NC; AP 0.2%); iii) NAT1 (NC+250 FTU/kg NAT); iv) NAT2 (NC+500 FTU/kg NAT); v) OPT1 (NC+250 FTU/kg OPT); vi) OPT2 (NC+500 FTU/kg OPT). Feed intake, egg production, egg quality, apparent nutrient digestibility and serum P and Ca concentration were evaluated to compare the effect of the two phytases. Feed intake and eggshell thickness were not affected by the treatments. Superior effects (p<0.05) of OPT were only observed in egg production and egg weight compared with NAT. Characteristics such as eggshell breaking strength, apparent digestibility of N, Ca and P and serum P concentration were equally increased with the supplementation of both phytases (p<0.05), where no significant difference was observed in those characteristics between PC and phytase supplementation at 500 FTU/kg. Equally effective improvements (p<0.05) were also observed in egg production and DM digestibility, where no improvements were observed (p<0.05) between the PC group and the groups with phytase supplementation at 500 FTU/kg. Equal increases in the serum Ca level were observed when the groups with phytase supplementation were compared to the PC group. Overall, the results of this study suggest that NAT and OPT are equally effective at liberating phytate-bound complexes when included in 0.2% available phosphorus diets for 68-week laying hens; either source of phytase can be fed to commercial 68-week laying hens at 500 FTU/kg to correct the negative effects associated with a 0.2% available phosphorus diet. In conclusion, either source of phytase can be fed to commercial first cycle laying hens at 500 FTU/kg to effectively replace inorganic phosphorus when economically justified.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary detoxified Rhus verniciflua sap (RVS) on production performance, egg quality, lipid fractions of egg yolk, liver and serum, and the profile of cecal microflora in laying hens. Methods: Two hundred 52-week-old Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 5 replicates per group (2 hens per cage, 5 cages per replicate) and were provided with one of 4 experimental diets containing 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.2% RVS, for 6 weeks. Due to unequal intervals of RVS doses, the interactive matrix language procedure of the SAS program was used to correct the contrast coefficients of orthogonal polynomials. Results: There were no differences in feed intake and egg weight among the groups. Egg production increased (linearly and quadratically, p<0.05) with increasing levels of RVS. Eggshell thickness increased (linear, p<0.05) as the level of RVS in diets increased. The levels of blood cholesterol and activities of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were not altered by dietary treatments. Increasing level of RVS increased (linear, p<0.05) the populations of cecal lactic acid bacteria. The content of yolk cholesterol decreased (linear, p<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary RVS, although there were no significant differences in each lipid fraction of the liver. Conclusion: This study indicates that dietary RVS could improve laying performance and eggshell quality, and affect cecal lactic acid bacteria in a dose-dependent manner.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1408-1417
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larvae oil (HILO) could serve as an alternative fat source to soybean oil (SBO) in laying hen diets. Methods: We randomly assigned 25-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens (n = 144) to receive (n = 6 hens/group; eight replicates) a control or an experimental diet in which SBO was replaced with 50% (50HILO) or 100% HILO (100HILO). Results: Dietary HILO did not negatively affect body weight or productive performance during the study. The eggs also had similar quality parameters, proximate composition, and cholesterol levels. However, the yolk color index was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the 100HILO than in the other groups. Dietary HILO significantly altered the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in abdominal fat and eggs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were significantly increased and decreased in the 50HILO and 100HILO groups, respectively, compared with those in the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Specifically, the medium-chain FAs lauric and myristic acids were remarkably increased in the abdominal fat of laying hens fed HILO (p<0.0001), whereas only myristic acid increased in eggs (p<0.0001). Undesirable heavy metal (aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium) concentrations were below permissible limits in eggs. Conclusion: We considered that HILO could be an alternative dietary fat to SBO for laying hens with maintained productive performance and good egg quality.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to compare the principle components and internal quality of eggs by age of laying hens and weight standard. The eggs (2,140 in total) used were from Hy-Line Brown reared from 18 to 63 weeks of ages and all were higher than appearance grade B by animal grading standard of Korea. Eggs were investigated their principle components, internal quality index, and their relationship. The weights of whole egg, shell, yolk, and albumen were increased while albumen height and Haugh unit were decreased by age of laying hens. When the composition of egg was investigated after sorting by ages, the ratio of egg yolk increased while that of albumen decreased. Egg shell composition was not shown significant difference by age. Age of laying hens had positive correlation with the weights of whole egg, shell, yolk, and albumen while albumen height and Haugh unit showed negative correlation. Also, the albumen height and Haugh unit were decreased by increase of weight of whole egg or principle components of egg.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2001

This study conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Korean medical herb residue on egg quality and serum cholesterol of laying hens under heat stress. One hundred forty four, 41 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were used in a 28 d growth assay with a 7d adjustment period. Dietary treatments Included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) KMHR1.0 (basal diet+1.0% korean medical herb residue), 2) KMHR2.0 (basal diet+2.0% Korean medical herb residue). For overall Period, laying hens fed KMHR1.0 diet were higher hen-day egg production than laying hens fed Control and KMHR2.0 diets with significant difference (quadratic effect, p<0.01). Egg weight, egg shell breaking strength and egg shell thickness were not influenced by Korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). As adding level of Korean medical herb residue increased in the diets, yolk color tended to increase, however, the differences failed to reach significance (P>0.05). Also, egg yolk index was not influenced by korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). Total-, HDL- LDL+VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum tended to increase as the concentration of Korean medical herb residue in the diets was increased without significant difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 1.0% Korean medical herb residue to a corn SBM meal diet for laying hens increased hen-day egg production.