• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1535-1541
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• 2018

Objective: In birds, three types of melatonin receptors (MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and MTNR1C) have been cloned. Previous researches have showed that three melatonin receptors played an essential role in reproduction and ovarian physiology. However, the association of polymorphisms of the three receptors with duck reproduction traits and egg quality traits is still unknown. In this test, we chose MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and MTNR1C as candidate genes to detect novel sequence polymorphism and analyze their association with egg production traits in Shaoxing duck, and detected their mRNA expression level in ovaries. Methods: In this study, a total of 785 duck blood samples were collected to investigate the association of melatonin receptor genes with egg production traits and egg quality traits using a direct sequencing method. And 6 ducks representing two groups (3 of each) according to the age at first eggs (at 128 days of age or after 150 days of age) were carefully selected for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Seven novel polymorphisms (MTNR1A: g. 268C>T, MTNR1B: g. 41C>T, and g. 161T>C, MTNR1C: g. 10C>T, g. 24A>G, g. 108C>T, g. 363 T>C) were detected. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of MTNR1A (g. 268C>T) was significantly linked with the age at first egg (p<0.05). And a statistically significant association (p<0.05) was found between MTNR1C g.108 C>T and egg production traits: total egg numbers at 34 weeks old of age and age at first egg. In addition, the mRNA expression level of MTNR1A in ovary was significantly higher in late-mature group than in early-mature group, while MTNR1C showed a contrary tendency (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that identified SNPs in MTNR1A and MTNR1C may influence the age at first egg and could be considered as the candidate molecular marker for identify early maturely traits in duck selection and improvement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OPH) extracts and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) supplementations on the laying productivity, egg quality and sensory characteristics of eggs in hens. Six hundred forty, 35-wk-old Lohmann brown, laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: 1) water (control), 0.12% OPH extract, 0.1% MSM, and 0.12% OPH extract+0.1% MSM. They were mixed into the feed and given for 5 weeks. Egg production rates, egg weight, feed demand ratio were not significantly different among the groups. However, OPH or MSM decreased broken egg rates by increasing thickness and firmness of egg shell but they did not show the additive effects. In addition, OPH or MSM enhanced Haugh unit, an indicator of freshness of egg, and viscosity of egg white and egg yolk. OPH or MSM maintained the freshness of eggs better the control during their storage for 10 day at $4^{\circ}C$. However, OPH+MSM did not show additive effects in their freshness. Sensory test revealed that OPH or MSM decreased fishy taste and greasy flavor and they improved texture. Overall OPH or MSM enhanced the preference of eggs. In conclusion, the supplementation of either OPH or MSM enhances egg freshness and egg quality in laying hens but they should not be supplemented together due to no additive effects.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2008

Animal welfare advocates, claim that the induced molting by fasting be avoided. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of molting induced by various feeding methods on productivity and egg quality in laying hens. We used 400 flocks of 60-week-old leghorn laying hens in four treatments(five replicates of 20 hens each): fasting method (C), feeding single corn grain diet (T1), feeding single wheat bran diet (T2) and feeding single alfalfa meal diet (T3). As the result of the experiment, egg production and daily egg mass significantly decreased only in T1 compared with the control during the $1{\sim}4th$ week after the secondary egg laying (P<0.05). Although the amount of feed intake was significantly less in T1 group during the $1{\sim}4th$ week compared to the control, no significant difference was detected during the total period (P>0.05). In addition, no significant difference of feed conversion was observed between treatment groups. In terms of egg quality, the egg shell thickness was significantly improved in T1 group than the control group by feeding only corn at the 10th and 14th week after the secondary egg laying (P<0.05), but the significant decrease was observed at the corn (T1) and wheat bran (T2) fed treatment groups than the control group at the 26th week of the experiment (P<0.05). The eggshell strength and haugh unit did not show any difference by the molting methods. Egg yolk color was significantly decreased in T1 and T2 group than the control group at the 6th week (P<0.05). However, T1 and T2 group resulted to show significantly high egg yolk color at the 18th week of the experiment (P<0.05). As the result of the experiment, no large difference was observed in the productivity by the feeding molting method and by the fasting induced molting method. In addition, the single diet fed feeding induced molting method by using alfalfa revealed to show more satisfactory trend than the corn or wheat bran single diet fed feeding induced molting methods even if no statistically significant difference was found in terms of egg productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary activated coconut charcoal (ACC) on Performance, e99 quality and Plasma cholesterol level of Plasma 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. Four dietary treatments were 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5e% levees of ACC supplemented to a corn-soybean meal basal diet. Egg Production was significantly increased as the levels of ACC increased. However, egg weight was significantly decreased by the addition of ACC in diets. Egg shell breaking strength tended to decrease as the level of ACC increased, however, no significance was found in this respect. As the levels of ACC increased, egg shell thickness decreased significantly. Although not significant, yolk color tended to increase by the addition of ACC. Egg folk index were significantly increased by the addition of ACC In diet. No significant difference was found among four treatments in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL+VLDL cholesterol concentrations in plasma. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of ACC to layer diets could be used to increase egg Production, and yolk index.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.313-322
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• 2020

Objective: An experiment was conducted to investigate the response of laying hens fed corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) that are naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON). Methods: One hundred and sixty 52-week-old Lohmann Brown Lite hens were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments with 8 replicates per treatment. The dietary treatments were formulated to provide a range of corn DDGS contaminated with DON from 0% to 20% (i.e., 5% scale of increment). All laying hens were subjected to the same management practices in a controlled environment. Body weight, feed intake and egg production were measured biweekly for the entire 8-week experiment. The egg quality was measured biweekly for 8 weeks. On weeks 4 and 8, visceral organ weights, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology, and blood cytokine concentrations were measured. Results: The inclusion of corn DDGS contaminated with DON in the diet did not alter (p>0.05) the body weight, feed intake, hen-day egg production, egg mass and feed efficiency of the laying hens. No difference was found (p>0.05) in the egg quality of hens that were fed the dietary treatments. Furthermore, hens that were fed a diet containing corn DDGS contaminated with DON showed no change (p>0.05) in the visceral organ weights, the blood metabolites, and the cytokine concentrations. The crypt depth increased (p<0.05) as the amount of corn DDGS contaminated with DON increased. Proportionately, the villus height to crypt depth ratio of the laying hens decreased (p<0.05) with the increasing level of corn DDGS contaminated with DON in the diet. Conclusion: The inclusion of corn DDGS contaminated with DON up to 20% in layer diets did not cause changes in egg production performance and egg quality, which indicates that DON is less toxic at the concentration of 1.00 mg DON/kg.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on egg production and egg quality in laying hens. A total of 114 (30-wk age) ISA brown commercial hens were used in current trial for 28 days. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) 0.05 (basal diet + ALA 0.05%), 3) 0.1 (basal diet + ALA 0.1%) and 4) 0.2 (basal diet + ALA 0.2%). There were four dietary treatments with four replication per treatment and twelve laying hens per replication. During the overall period, egg production was quadratically affected (P=0.01) by ALA supplementation compared with control treatment. Egg weight increased (linear effect, P=0.01; quadratic effect, P=0.01) as the level of delta-aminolevulinic acid supplementation increased in the diets. Yolk color was increased quadratically (P=0.03). The difference of hemoglobin concentration was increased (quadratic effect, P=0.01) as the level of delta-aminolevulinic acid supplementation increased in the diets. In conclusion, the results of the experiment suggest that dietary delta-aminolevulinic acid could affect egg weight, yolk color and hemoglobin concentration in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.831-837
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• 2013

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Rhodobacter capsulatus KCTC-2583 on egg-yolk and serum cholesterol, egg production and quality parameters during the late laying periods in hens. A total of 160 Hy-Line Brown layers (54 wk-old) were randomly allotted to 4 treatment groups on the basis of laying performance. Each treatment had 4 replicates with 10 birds each (40 birds per treatment). Two hens were confined individually with cage size $35{\times}35{\times}40$ cm and each 10 birds (5 cages) shared a common feed trough between them forming one experimental unit. Dietary treatments were; basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15% R. capsulatus KCTC-2583. Experimental diets were fed in meal form for 56 d. Dietary supplementation of increasing levels of R. capsulatus KCTC-2583 reduced (linear, p<0.05) egg-yolk cholesterol and triglycerides (d 28, 42 and 56) concentrations. Also, serum cholesterol and triglycerides (d 21, 42 and 56) concentrations were linearly reduced (p<0.05) with increasing dietary R. capsulatus KCTC-2583. Laying hens fed a diet supplemented with increasing levels of R. capsulatus KCTC-2583 had increased (linear; p<0.05) overall egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed efficiency. However, dietary treatments had no effect (linear or quadratic; p>0.05) on feed intake of laying hens. At d 28 and 56, breaking strength and yolk colour of eggs were linearly improved (p<0.05) in laying hens fed dietary increasing levels of R. capsulatus KCTC-2583. Dietary treatment had no effects (linear or quadratic; p>0.05) on albumin height, shell thickness and shell weight at any period of experiment. These results indicate that dietary supplementation of R. capsulatus KCTC-2583 has the potential to improve the laying hen performance and lead to the development of low cholesterol eggs during late laying period in Hy-Line Brown hens.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.121-131
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• 2006

This study was designed to determinate the effects of dried leftover food and green tea by-product on laying hens performance and egg quality in hens. A total of 210 "Tetran Brown" layers 50-weeks of age were assigned to 7 treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had five replicates per treatment with six layers per replication. Seven dietary treatments were a control diet (formula diet) and dried leftover food (DLF) mixed in 10, 20, 30 and 40% to the control diet substituting the corn grain and soybean meal, control diet containing 1.0% GTB without DLF supplementation and control diet containing 30% DLF plus 1.0% GTB supplementation. The trial period was for 8 weeks. The egg production rate of layers was significantly increased in 10, 20 and 40% DLF treatments compared to that of the control treatment (P<0.05). The egg weight was significantly decreased in 10% DLF treatment compared to that of the control (P<0.05). The feed intake of layers was higher in 20% DLF and 30% DLF plus 1.0% GTB treatment than that of the control (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio significantly decreased in 10% DLF and control plus 1.0% GTB treatments compared to that of the control (P<0.05). The egg yolk cholesterol not varied among the DLF and control treatments (P>0.05). However, the linolenic acid content of egg yolk was significantly increased in DLF and control treatments both containing 1.0% GTB supplementation.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation diets of powdered mulberry leaves on egg production, egg quality and blood characteristics in laying hens. Laying hens were fed diets for 30 days containing 0% powdered mulberry leaves (Control), 1% powdered mulberry leaves (T1), 2% powdered mulberry leaves (T2), and 5% powdered mulberry leaves (T3). The egg production, yolk weight and albumen weight were no significant difference among treatment groups. The albumen weight was significantly decreased by the supplementation of powdered mulberry leaves in all treatment groups (P<0.05). The albumen high, yolk color score, egg sell thickness and egg shell breaking strength were no significant difference. The total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration of control was higher than T3, and the high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration and glucose of control were lower than treatment groups (P<0.05). The white blood cell (WBC) was significantly increased by the supplementation of powdered mulberry leaves compared to the control (P<0.05). In conclusion, these data indicate that 5% powdered mulberry leaves supplementation was most effective in decreasing total cholesterol and triglyceride and increasing HDL-cholesterol, glucose and WBC.

• 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.