• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.500-508
• /
• 2024

Objective: Due to current selection practices for increased egg production and peak persistency, the production profile, age at maturity, and body weight criteria for commercial layers are constantly changing. Body weight and age at the time of photostimulation will thus always be the factors that need to be adequately addressed among various production systems. The current study was carried out to determine the effects of pullets' body weight (low, medium, and heavy) on their performance, welfare, physiological response, and hormonal profile. Methods: With regard to live weight, 150 16-week-old pullets were divided into three groups using a completely randomized design (CRD) and held until the 50th week. One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data under the CRD, and the least significant difference test was used to distinguish between treatment means. Results: In comparison to the medium and light birds, the heavy birds had higher body weight at maturity, an earlier age at maturity, and higher egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, egg yolk index, breaking strength, egg surface area, egg shape index, egg volume, and hormonal profile except corticosterone. However, the medium and light birds had lower feed consumption rates per dozen eggs and per kilogram of egg mass than the heavy birds. Light birds showed greater body weight gain, egg production, and egg specific gravity than the other categories. At 20 weeks of age, physiological response, welfare aspects, and catalase were non-significant; however, at 50 weeks of age, all these factors-aside from catalase-were extremely significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that layers can function at lower body weights during photostimulation; hence, dietary regimens that result in lighter pullets may be preferable. Additionally, the welfare of the birds was not compromised by the lighter weight group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.702-707
• /
• 1998

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a microbial enzyme (Roxazyme-$G^{(R)}$), a multicarbohydrases preparation, supplementation to the wheat-based layer diets. Diets were formulated to include different levels of wheat replacing yellow corn on isocaloric and isonitrogenous basis. The energy value of wheat in the enzyme supplemented diets was adjusted (spec-modified) to have 5% more ME than the wheat in diets without enzyme. A total of 864 Hy-$Line^{(R)}$ brown layers were assigned to 4 dietary treatments: 10% wheat (T1), 25% wheat (T2), 25% wheat (spec-modified)+ 0.01 % Roxazyme-$G^{(R)}$ (T3), and all wheat (spec-modified)+0.01% Roxazyme-$G^{(R)}$ (T4). Hen-day egg productions of T1 and T4 were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than that of T2 but not different from T3. Hen-housed egg production of T4 was significantly (p < 0.01) greater than those of T1 and T3 but not different from T2. Egg weights of T1 and T2 were significantly (p < 0.0 1) greater than that of T4. Feed consumption of T2 was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than other treatments. Feed conversion ratio (feed/egg mass) was not significantly different among treatments. Eggshell thickness of T1 was significantly (p < 0.01) greater than other treatments but ratio of broken eggs was not significantly different among treatments. Haugh unit of T4 was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that of T2. Egg yolk color was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by treatments in which enzyme treatment potentiated the yolk pigmentation. It was concluded that a multi-carbohydrases supplementation enables complete replacement of yellow com with wheat without loss of productivity and major egg quality parameters.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.980-985
• /
• 2000

Influences of Japanese green tea powder (GTP) supplementation to commercial diet on laying performance and egg quality were studied by using 60 laying hens. The experimental diet with or without 0.6% GTP was given ad libitum to the birds during the period from 6 to 71 weeks of age. The birds started egg production from 21 wk of age regardless GTP feeding. Body weight, feed intake, egg weight tended to decrease with GTP supplementation, while egg production rate tended to increase. Haugh unit score was significantly increased with GTP, which accompanied with the increased albumen height. These were observed almost throughout the laying period over 50 wk. Gel proportion in thick albumen was decreased as storage time is prolonged, then higher values of the gel proportion were recorded in the eggs from GTP group. Thick albumen of the eggs from GTP-fed layers had more carbohydrate than that from control layers. All these indicate physical stability of thick albumen in the eggs from GTP group. Thiobarbituric acid content of egg yolk tended to remain lower in the eggs from GTP group during 5-10 days of storage at room temperature. Levels of egg yolk cholesterol and yolk lipid were significantly reduced by GTP feeding. There were no significant differences in eggshell weight, shell thickness and shell strength between the two groups. Thyroid gland and liver from hens slaughtered at 71 wk of age did not differ in weight irrespective of GTP feeding. The present results suggest that GTP could modify components of edible part of egg, leading to the characteristics favourable to consumers such as high durability of thick albumen and less cholesterol in yolk, without altering general performance of the layers throughout this year round experiment.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three strains of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) supplemented to diets on egg production, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol levels, the profile of cecal microflora, and tibia characteristics in laying hens. One hundred sixty 76-week-old Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates per group (10 birds per replicate). Birds in the control group were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet. The remaining three treated groups were fed the control diet containing either 0.05% B. subtilis Ch3 (T1), 0.05% B. subtilis Ch3 + B. subtilis W1 (T2) or 0.05% B. subtilis commercial product (T3) for 6 weeks, respectively. There were no differences in feed intake, egg weight, egg production and egg mass among the groups. The dietary supplementation of B. subtilis improved eggshell strength and Haugh units compared to those of control (P<0.05). The activities of GOT and GPT in serum were not also affected by the dietary treatments. The population of total microbes and lactic acid bacteria in cecum were significantly increased by the dietary B. subtilis (P<0.05), but not the coliforms. The cholesterol concentration in egg yolk and serum in the treated groups were significantly decreased compared to those of control (P<0.05). Also, The levels of phospholipids in serum were significantly decreased compared to those of control (P<0.05). The supplementation of three strains of B. subtilis to diets significantly increased the contents of tibia ash compared to that of control (P<0.05). Thus, this study showed significant improvements in egg quality, such as eggshell strength and Haugh unit, by dietary B. subtilis strains. The B. subtilis strains added to the diets modulated the profiles of cecal microflora, reflecting beneficial effects in 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.43 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2016

This research was carried out to determine the effect of Cudrania tricuspidata fruit (CTF) on the performance of laying hens, egg quality, yolk fatty acid composition, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and blood composition. A total 288 Brown Nick laying hens of 48 weeks old replaced into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 18 birds in each. Treatments were added with 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0% CTF containing dried seed and pulp. Metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) were 2,800 kcal/kg and 16.0% in basal diets, respectively. Egg production and daily eggmass were significantly increased in 1.0% CTF addition treatment compared to those of other treatments (P<0.05). Egg weight and feed intake were not different among treatments. Feed conversion ratio showed the lower result in 1.0% CTF treatment than other treatments (P<0.05). Eggshell color was not influenced by the addition of CTF. Albumin height, Haugh unit and eggshell breaking strength was not statistically different, but seemed to be higher as dietary CTF addition increased. Yolk color was increased as dietary CTF increased and was the highest in 1.0% CTF group (P<0.05). Fatty acids were not shown the consistency in yolk. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) of birds fed CTF were significantly low compared to those of control. IgG was also statistically higher in CTF treatments than control (P<0.05). As the results of this experiment, the addition of 1% CTF would be the most effective on performance and egg quality, whereas the 0.25% CTF addition in basal diets seemed to be optimum to improve the blood cholesterol, TG,high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CHOL), IgG in laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.367-373
• /
• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine optimum dietary levels of dietary energy and protein for laying performance and egg quality in organic laying hens. In a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement, 360 Hy-Line pullets (21 wk of age) were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,800, 3,080, and 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 16 and 18% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Experimental birds were raised in floor and received 14h of light throughout 52 weeks of experimental period. The birds were observed for feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, Haugh unit, shell thickness, and shell color at 30, 50, and 70 wk of age. Egg production, egg weight, and egg mass were higher (P<0.05) in hens receiving diets with 2,800 kcal/kg of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 3,080 and 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of diets. Eggshell breaking strengths were not significantly different among the dietary ME and CP concentrations. Eggshell thickness was higher (P<0.05) in hens receiving diets with 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 2,800 and 3,080 kcal of ME/kg of diets at 50 and 70 week. With increasing in dietary energy levels, the concentrations of blood total cholesterol were also significantly increased. Overall, the laying hens fed organic diet of 2,800 kcal ME/kg and 16% CP showed superior egg production than those of other dietary regimens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.7
• /
• pp.1006-1013
• /
• 2015

Heat-stress remains a costly issue for animal production, especially for poultry as they lack sweat glands, and alleviating heat-stress is necessary for ensuring animal production in hot environment. A high ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producer Lactobacillus strain was used to investigate the effect of dietary GABA-producer on laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed Hy-line brown hens. Hy-Line brown hens (n = 1,164) at 280 days of age were randomly divided into 4 groups based on the amount of freeze-dried GABA-producer added to the basal diet as follows: i) 0 mg/kg, ii) 25 mg/kg, iii) 50 mg/kg, and iv) 100 mg/kg. All hens were subjected to heat-stress treatment through maintaining the temperature and the relative humidity at $28.83{\pm}3.85^{\circ}C$ and 37% to 53.9%, respectively. During the experiment, laying rate, egg weight and feed intake of hens were recorded daily. At the 30th and 60th day after the start of the experiment, biochemical parameters, enzyme activity and immune activity in serum were measured. Egg production, average egg weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and percentage of speckled egg, soft shell egg and misshaped egg were significantly improved (p<0.05) by the increasing supplementation of the dietary GABA-producer. Shape index, eggshell thickness, strength and weight were increased linearly with increasing GABA-producer supplementation. The level of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein and albumin in serum of the hens fed GABA-producing strain supplemented diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the hens fed the basal diet, whereas cholesterol level was decreased. Compared with the basal diet, GABA-producer strain supplementation increased serum level of glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.009) and superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, GABA-producer played an important role in alleviating heat-stress, the isolated GABA-producer strain might be a potential natural and safe probiotic to use to improve laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed hens.

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

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.588-596
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low doses of organic trace minerals (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) on productive performance, egg quality, yolk and tissue mineral retention, and fecal mineral excretion of laying hens during the late laying period. Methods: A total of 405 healthy hens (HY-Line White, 50-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 9 replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments included feeding a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (ITM), and a basal diet + proteinated trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (TRT). The trial lasted for 56 days. Results: Compared to CON, ITM decreased (p<0.05) egg production, daily egg mass, albumen height, eggshell strength, yolk Fe concentration, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and total protein, and increased (p<0.05) egg loss and feed to egg ratio. Whereas with productive performance, egg quality, yolk mineral retention, and serum indices there were no differences (p>0.05) between CON and TRT. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in the tissue and tibia were changed notably in ITM relative to CON and TRT. Both ITM and TRT reduced (p<0.05) fecal mineral excretion compared to CON. Conclusion: These results indicate that dietary supplementation of low-dose organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without negatively impacting hen performance and egg quality.