• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.213-220
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding probiotics on the egg quality and excretal noxious gas in laying hens. One hundred forty four, 36 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were employed in a 28 d feeding trial with a 7 d adjustment period. Dietary treatments are 1) control(basal diet), 2) PB0.3(basal diet+0.3% probiotics), 2) PB0.6(basal diet+0.6% probiotics). For overall period, hen-day egg production, egg weight and egg shell breaking strength tended to increase (P>0.05) by dietary probiotic supplementation. Egg shell thickness was improved by supplementation of probiotics(linear effect, P$<$0.01). Diets PB0.3 and PB0.6 improved the yolk color compared to control diet(linear effect, P$<$0.02). As supplementation level of probiotics increased in the diets, egg yolk index tended to increase(linear effect, P$<$0.04). $NH_3$-N concentration in excreta fed PB0.6 diet was significantly (P$<$0.04) lower than either control or PB0.3 diet. In conclusion, supplementing probiotics to a Corn-SBM diet for laying hens increased egg shell thickness, yolk color and decreased egg yolk index, and decreased excretal $NH_3$-N concentration.