• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.166-172
• /
• 2007

Egg quality indices are related with freshness, size of air chamber, loss of weight, and viscosity of the yolk and the protein. However, since the described quality parameters require measured in a destructive way, it is not suitable to inspect the egg quality with complete enumeration. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the potential of image analysis method for evaluation of internal egg quality. Samples of 90 fresh eggs were collected immediately after laying and stored up to 24 days. Five eggs were randomly drawn from each storage condition (packing vs unpacking) at a regular interval and loss of weight, specific gravity and size of air chamber were measured. The image analysis for nondestructive measurement of size of air chamber was also studied. Results showed that the egg weight and gravity gradually decreased with increasing of storage days, while the size of air chamber linear increased caused by evaporation of water through the shell. A relationship a between conventional method and the image analysis method for measuring the size of air chamber was developed with the correlation coefficient of 0.928. The new finding implied that image analysis might provide a useful nondestructive tool to assess internal egg quality.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.3_spc
• /
• pp.443-448
• /
• 2021

Objective: Astaxanthin is a natural super antioxidant. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of astaxanthin rich Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) supplementation in diets on laying production performance, egg quality, antioxidant defenses and immune defenses in laying hens. Methods: A total of five hundred and twelve 60-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens (2,243±12 g) were randomly assigned to four groups, each including 4 replicates with 32 birds per replicate. Astaxanthin rich PR was added to corn-soybean meal diets to produce experimental diets containing 0 (Control), 800 mg/kg, 1,200 mg/kg, and 1,600 mg/kg PR, respectively. The astaxanthin content in the diet was 0.96 mg/kg, 1.44 mg/kg and 1.92 mg/kg respectively. Results: Results showed that dietary PR supplementation tended to increase daily feed intake (p = 0.0512). There was no effect of astaxanthin rich PR on Haugh units, albumen height, egg shape index, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness at weeks 6 (p>0.05). However, egg yolk color was significantly improved (p<0.05). In addition, astaxanthin rich PR supplementation significantly increased serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity (p<0.05), increased serum immunoglobulin G content (p<0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde content (p<0.05) in laying hens. Conclusion: In conclusion, astaxanthin rich PR can improve the color of egg yolk, enhance the antioxidant defenses, and regulate the immune function.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.603-608
• /
• 2010

This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation on pathogens, quality, and functional properties of shell eggs during storage. A 1st grade 1-d-old egg was subjected to electron beam irradiation at 0, 1, 2, and 3 kGy, after which the number of total aerobic bacteria, reduction of inoculated Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, egg quality, and functional properties were measured. Electron beam irradiation at 2 kGy reduced the number of E. coli and S. Typhimurium cells to a level below the detection limit (<$10^2$ CFU/g) after 7 and 14 d of storage. Egg freshness as measured by albumen height and the number of Haugh units was significantly reduced by 1-kGy irradiation. The viscosity of irradiated egg white was also significantly decreased by increased irradiation, whereas its foaming ability was increased. Electron beam irradiation also increased lipid oxidation in egg yolks. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation reduces the freshness of shell eggs while increasing the oxidation of egg yolk and improving important functional properties such as foaming capacity. Electron beam irradiation can also be applied to the egg breaking process since the irradiation reduces the viscosity of egg white, which can allow egg whites and yolks to be separated with greater efficiency.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.365-379
• /
• 2022

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of storage length, turning frequency and egg position on internal quality traits of chukar eggs obtained from 56-week-old chukar partridges under the same nutrition and management conditions. A total of 720 eggs were collected and assigned to 36 subgroups according to storage length (7, 14, 21, and 28 d), turning frequency (0, 1, and 24 per day) and egg position (pointed end up, blunt end up and horizontal). As a result of the study, almost all the internal quality traits of chukar eggs were negatively affected by lengthening of storage period especially 21 days and longer (p < 0.001). Internal egg quality traits weren't statistically affected by turning frequency except yolk index (p < 0.01). An improvement was observed in Haugh unit, albumen index and heigh of eggs stored with pointed end up (p < 0.001). Some significant interactions occurred among all internal egg quality traits which were mostly dependent on the eggs stored horizontally, extended storage time more than 21 days and egg turning during storage. The results and interactions showed that internal quality traits would be preserved well for the eggs stored less than 21 days with the position of pointed end up independent of turning. If the storage period was to exceed 21 days, the eggs should be positioned horizontally and turning should be applied to preserve the quality of chukar eggs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the ffeding value of dried fly larva (DFL), and the effects of dietary DFL on the performance of laying hens. Ninety laying hens of 43 weeks of age(ISA brown) were randomly allotted to 5dietary treatments (0, 2, 5, 10 and $15\%$ DFL), and fed one of the experimental diets for 8 weeks. The formulae of 5 experimental diets were modified to contain $18.8\%$ CP and 2,900 ME kcal/kg. There were 3 replicates per treatment, and 6 brids Per replicate. No significant difference was found in egg Production among dietary treatments. The egg weight was increased (p<0.05) in DFL treatments compared to the control. Also, the egg shell breaking strength was increased(p<0.05) in DFL treatments by $14\%$ compared to the control. The saturated fatty acid content in egg yolk was decreased by $16\%$, and that of unsaturated fatty acid increased by $7\%$ in DFL treatments. Therefore, it could be suggested that DFL supplementation could improve the egg Qualify by increasing the egg weight, egg shell strength, and unsaturated fatty acid content in egg yolk.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.256-264
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of the Agaricus bisporus stem residue (ABSR) on the performance, nutrients digestibility, antioxidant activity of laying hens, and its effects on egg storage to determine the appropriate dosage of ABSR, so as to provide a scientific basis for the effective utilization of ABSR. Methods: A total of 384 53-wk-old Nongda III layers were randomly divided into six treatments, four replicates in each treatment and 16 birds in each replicate. The control treatment was fed with basic diet, while experimental treatments were fed with diets of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% ABSR respectively. The experimental period was 56 d. Results: The results showed that compared with the control treatment, ABSR had no significant effect on laying performance (p>0.05). The crude protein and total energy digestibility of experimental treatments was significantly higher than those of control treatment (p<0.05). When eggs were stored for 1 wk, 2 wk, and 3 wk at 25℃, there were no significant differences in egg storage between the experimental treatments and the control treatment (p>0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the serum of the experimental treatments were significantly higher than those of the control treatment (p<0.05), and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content did not change dramatically. SOD activity in yolk of experimental treatments was significantly higher than that in control treatment (p<0.05); MDA content in yolk was markedly lower than that in control treatment (p<0.05). The activity of GSH-Px and SOD in yolk of experimental treatments was significantly higher than that of control treatment stored at 25℃ for 21 d, and the content of MDA was significantly lower than that of control treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: ABSR can be used to improve the antioxidant activity of laying hens without affecting laying performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.64 no.5
• /
• pp.863-870
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of octacosanol (OCT) extracted from triticale sprout on laying performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of laying hens. A total of 192, Hyline brown laying hens aged 43 weeks were divided into 4 dietary groups of 48 birds each and they were randomly subjected to one of the experimental diets containing OCT at the levels of none, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg of diet. All birds were fed with isoenergetic and isonitrogenous mash diets for 6 weeks. The result showed that hens supplemented with 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT in diet significantly increased (p < 0.05) egg production than those fed with the basal diet. OCT concentration in the egg yolk of hens fed with 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT was significantly higher than in those fed the control diet. Hens fed 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT exhibited greater high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and interleukin (IL) concentrations and reduced serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride compared to those fed with 0 and 10 mg/kg OCT. This study indicates that supplementing the diet of laying hens with 20 and 30 mg/kg of OCT can improve the performance, egg quality, and health status of laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.573-581
• /
• 2006

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supplemental methionine, lysine, choline, and sulfur on laying performance, metabolic parameters, and egg quality of hens fed diets containing sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) during the peak laying period. Lohman layers (n = 144), 30-wk of age as 6 replicate cages of 4 hens, were allocated randomly to receive basal diets containing either 22% corn (B) or 22% sorghum (BS) and diets BS plus 0.57% methionine, 0.66% lysine, 0.47% choline, or 0.05% sulfur for 98 d. Feed intake (FI) and egg production (EP) were recorded daily, egg weight (EW) was measured bi-weekly, and body weight (BW) was measured monthly. A sample of 12 eggs from each experimental group was collected every month to evaluate egg quality. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for metabolite concentrations. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA as repeated measures and significant differences between the experimental groups were assessed using Duncan's Multiple Range test. Partial replacement of corn with sorghum in the basal diet did not affect BW, EP, and FCR but increased FI by 5.7% and EW by 2.4%. The effects of additives on laying performance were variable. Except for serum total protein (STP) concentration, other metabolic parameters were not affected by partial replacement of corn with sorghum in the basal diet. Hens fed diet BS had lower SPT concentration than hens fed diet B. Except for methionine supplementation, other supplements ameliorated depression in STP concentration. The additives did not affect other metabolic parameters. Egg quality responses to the experimental diets were also variable. Partial replacement of corn with sorghum in the basal diet did not affect eggshell characteristics (both thickness and stiffness), whereas it had variable effects on inner egg quality parameters (increased yolk index, depressed yolk color, and unaltered albumen index and Haugh unit). In conclusion, laying hen diets could include low-tannin sorghum (0.26%) up to 22% without necessitating extra supplements to overcome compromised performance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.39-53
• /
• 1987

A total of 1,440 White Leghorn pullets hatched in summer and winter, aged 20 to 72 weeks were fed 9 rations differing in dietary protein (13, 15 and 17%) and energy (2,500, 2,700 and 2,900 kcal/kg) levels for a period of 52 weeks in order to evaluate the optimum dietary energy and protein levels for laying hens. As metabolizable energy level increased from 2,500 to 2,900 kcal/kg of feed egg production, daily feed and protein intake and egg shell quality decreased, but reverse was true for the daily energy intake, energy requirement and feed cost per kg egg, body weight gain, nutrients utilizability and abdominal fat accumulation, Egg weight, viability and egg yolk Pigmentation were not affected by the dietary energy level. On the other hand, as dietary protein level increased from 13 to 17%, egg production, egg weight, daily protein intake, protein requirement per kg egg and body weight gain icreased, but daily feed and energy intake, feed and energy requirement per kg egg, egg yolk pigmentation and dry matter utilizability decreased, and no significant difference in the feed cost per kg egg, viability and egg shell quality was observed among dietary protein levels. However: the hens fed 15% and 17% Protein diets did not show significant differences in egg production, egg weight and body weight gain. For the entire laying period of 52 weeks, metabolizable energy level of 2,500 kcal/kg of feed and 15% dietary protein level were considered to be adequate to support the optimum productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 2013

With an increasing concern on laying hen welfare, barn system has appeared as one of the alternatives to replace the conventional cage. This study was conducted to compare the early laying performance and egg quality at the barn system with those at the conventional cage. A total of 288 shaver-579 brown layers were used for 9 weeks ($21^{st}$ to $30^{th}$ weeks of age) feeding study. Feed consumption and egg weight were significantly (P<0.01) higher at barn than at cage. However, there were no significant differences between two housing systems on hen day egg production (HDEP), egg mass, body weight, feed efficiency and livability. In case of egg quality parameters, shell thickness, albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly (P<0.05) different between two systems. Haugh unit and albumen height were significantly higher in eggs produced at cage (88.97 and 8.16 mm) compared than those produced at barn (83.11 and 6.87 mm), whereas shell thickness was thicker in eggs produced at barn than those produced at cage. Shape index, breaking strength, blood spots and yolk index data were not influenced significantly by the types of housing system. To implement welfare bestowing production, this study showed that the barn system can replace the conventional cage without serious sacrifices on starting phase egg production. In addition, this study suggested that the barn system need to be optimized in view of daily feed consumption.