• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.241-247
• /
• 2014

The objective of this experimental was to investigate the effect of dietary Cu-sulfate and Cu-soy proteinate on productive performance and small intestinal microflora. A total 1,000 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (35 weeks old) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments: Control, Cu-sulfate 50, 100 (50, 100 ppm Cu supplementation as Cu-sulfate) and Cu-SP 50, 100 (50, 100 ppm Cu supplementation as Cu-soy proteinate). Each treatment was replicated 4 times with fifty birds per replication, housed in 2 birds cages. Fifty birds units were arranged according to randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted 5 weeks under 16L : 8D lighting regimen. Hen day egg production was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Cu treated groups than control. Feed intake, broken and shell-less egg production was not significantly influenced by treatment. Eggshell color, eggyolk color, haugh unit, and eggshell thickness were not significantly influenced by treatment. However, eggshell strength was significantly (P<0.05) greater in Cu treated groups than control. Concentration of copper of liver was significantly (P<0.05) greater in Cu treated groups than control. Concentration of zinc and iron of liver were not influenced by treatments. Population of Cl. perfrigens and Lactobacilli in the small intestinal content were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by treatments. Population of Cl. perfrigens decreased and that of Lactobacilli increased in the Cu supplement groups. In conclusion, dietary Cu sulfate and Cu-soy proteinate similarly improves egg production, eggshell strength, and favors intestinal microbial population of laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the dietary effect of organic sulfur (OS) supplementation on performance, egg quality and serum constituents in laying hens. A total of 360 Lohmann brown laying hens at the age of 31 weeks were distributed into four treatments having five replicates of 18 hens each until 54 weeks. The hens were fed four levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4%) of OS with basal diet. The number of eggs was investigated daily, and egg quality was confirmed every 8 weeks. Sulfur content in eggs, interleukin 2 (IL-2), T help cells (CD4+) and cytotoxicity cells (CD8+) were measured at the termination of the experiment. The result of the study showed that egg production tended to increase with 0.4% OS in diet after 39 weeks of age and, there was a significant effect (P<0.05) from 47 to 54 weeks of age. Egg quality traits of albumen height and haugh unit increased significantly (P<0.05) owing to the addition of OS to the diet. The polyunsaturated fatty acids in yolk were gradually increased while saturated fatty acids were decreased with increasing levels in OS (P<0.05). Total sulfur concentration in the eggs increased significantly (P<0.05) in treatments fed OS. Moreover, albumin, AST and HDL cholesterol levels in serum improved significantly (P<0.05) owing to the addition of OS. The IL-2 concentration and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ in blood were generally higher (P<0.05) at 0.4% OS. Therefore, it can be recommended that supplementary OS diet affected the performance, egg quality and stimulated immune response in laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2019

Currently, feather-sexing, which is based on differences in feather development at hatching, is a widely used chick sexing method in the poultry industry. For effective chicken feather-sexing, paternal early-feathering (EF) chickens and maternal late-feathering (LF) chickens must be bred. Therefore, it is critical to identify the effect of EF and LF patterns on production traits in chickens. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the production performances between 522 EF and 232 LF chickens in order to establish the Korean native chicken feather-sexing lines. The results showed that the survival rate of the LF group was significantly higher than that of the EF group from hatching to 52 weeks of age (P<0.05). Body weight, however, was not significantly different between the two groups at all ages. LF and EF groups did not significantly differ in age at first egg laying. However, the hen-day and hen-housed egg production of the LF group were significantly higher than those of EF group (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the EF and LF groups in all egg quality indicators such as egg weight, eggshell color, albumin height and Haugh unit. Because the breeding target of Korean native commercial chicken is meat-type chicken, feather-sexing strains of Korean native chicken should be established using weighing-based paternal EF lines and laying-based maternal LF lines. Therefore, these results are critical for establishing desirable and effective feather-sexing strains.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.547-554
• /
• 2005

An experiment was conducted to investigate the dietary effects of a transgenic Aspergillus oryzae(AO) culture on the performance, egg quality and intestinal microflora of layers. A total of 840 Hy-line Brown layers of 39wks old were assigned to one of the following 7 dietary treatments: control(C), C+0.2% AO culture, C+0.5% AO culture, C+0.2% transgenic AO culture, C+0.5% transgenic AO culture, C+0.2% transgenic mutant AO culture, and C+0.5% transgenic mutant AO culture. The transgenic AO was made by inserting Salmonella gallinarum gene to AO. And the transgenic mutant AO was made by inserting Salmonella gallinarum gene to mutant AO which was mutated by UV irradiation. Each treatment was replicated six times with 20 birds housed in 2 bird cage. Twenty birds units were arranged according to completely randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted for 8wks under 16 hour lighting regimen. Laying performance and egg quality were significantly(P<0.05) affected by the treatments. Transgenic AO culture supplementation at the level of 0.2% significantly increased egg production, while its egg weight was significantly decreased compared to that of the control. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio(FCR) were not significantly different among the AO treatments and the control. The eggshell strength of the AO treatments was significantly higher than that of the control. Transgenic mutant AO culture supplemented at the level of 0.5% significantly increased egg yolk color. Intestinal microflora were significantly(P<0.05) affected by the treatments. The cfu of Lactobacilli spp. significantly increased and those of Salmonella species and E. coli decreased in the AO treatments. The transgenic AO and transgenic mutant AO culture were more effective than the AO culture in reducing the cfu of Salmonella species and E. coli. It is concluded that supplementation of the transgenic AO culture at the level of 0.2% could be recommended for the improvement of egg production. Supplementation of transgenic AO or transgenic mutant AO culture at 0.2% level effectively controlled intestinal Salmonella species population.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.211-217
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (wild yeast mutant), Saccharomyces cerevisiae hFeHLC (ferritin containgig yeast) and chelated Fe diets on the Productivity and egg qualify of laying hens. A total of 245 'Brown Tetra' layers 35 weeks aged was randomly alloted to seven dietary treatments : 1) control diet no iron added, 2) diet supplemented $0.1\%$ wild yeast mutant (YM03), 3) diet supplemented $1.0\%$ wild yeast mutant (YM03), 4) diet supplemented $0.1\%$ ferritin with yeast (YF04), 5) diet supplemented $1.0\%$ ferritin with yeast (YF04), 6) diet supplemented $0.01\%$ chelated Fe and 7) diet supplemented $0.1\%$ chelated Fe. The egg Production rate was significantly increased in layers 134 Fe supplemented diets (p<0.05). Egg weight was significantly reduced in layers fed $0.1\%$ chelated Fe diet (P<0.05). Fe content of egg yolk was significantly increased in $1.0\%$ YF04 and $0.1\%$ chelated Fe treatments (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in shape index, albumin index and yolk index of eggs of layers fed diets Fe supplementation (P>0.05). The haugh unit of eggs was significantly increased in layers fed YM03, YF04 and chelated Fe supplemented diets (p<0.05). TBA value of egg was significantly increased in different iron Fe treatments except of $0.1\%$ YM03 (P<0.05). The yolk cole. of eggs was significantly increased in $1.0\%$ YF04 diet (P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.157-163
• /
• 2005

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary betaine and protein levels on performance, internal e99 Qualify, blood composition, abdominal fat and liver amino acid concentration in laying hens. A total of 432 ISA-Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to four treatments with six replications for twenty few weeks. Treatments were factorially designed with two levels of crude protein(14.5 and $16.5\%$) and two levels of betaine(0 and 600ppm). The egg production was increased by feeding $16.5\%$ protein-fed group compared to that of $14.5\%$ protein-fed groups(P<0.05), but was different from betaine supplementation. Increasing protein and betaine supplementation to diets improved egg weight, egg mass and fred conversion(P<0.05). Eggshell breaking strength, thickness and Haugh unit were not influenced by either dietary betaine or protein levels. Dietary betaine did not affect serum total protein, albumin and uric acid concentration, whereas uric acid concentration was increased in $16.5\%$ protein-fed groups(P<0.05). The deposition of abdominal fat was lower in 600ppm betaine groups compared to those fed on 0ppm betaine groups(P<0.05). Concentration of the most hepatic amino acids were affected by dietary protein levels and betaine supplementation. There were synergistic effect between dietary protein and betaine. These results suggested that dietary betaine can improve the egg weight, mass, feed conversion and decrease the abdominal fat, but increase the hepatic amino acid contents.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 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
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.143-149
• /
• 2017

This study was carried out to collect basic data on the egg laying performance and disease occurrence on animal welfare-approved farms (AWAF) for laying hens with different housing types (windowless, open, and free-range house) and strains (Hy-line, Lohmann). Age at first egg laying was 151 d in the windowless house and 141 d in both the open and free-range houses, and the percentage peaks of each farm were 91.8%, 92.9%, and 86.3%. Average egg production according to housing types were 70.9%, 77.4%, and 65.6% at 18~38 wk old and 91.1%, 90.1%, and 76.2% at 32~36 wk. The average dirty and cracked egg ratio of the windowless, open, and free-range houses was 2.84%, 1.15%, and 0.23%, respectively. Mortality in the open house was lower than the other house types. Age of first egg laying for the Hy-line strain was 155 d and that for the Lohmann strain was 157 d, and the percentage peaks of the two strains were 92.9% (252 d) and 87.2% (237 d), respectively. Average egg production of the strains was 83.7% and 76.9%, respectively. The average dirty and cracked egg ratio of the Hy-Line and Lohmann strains was 3.85% and 2.97%, respectively. Mortality of the Hy-Line strain was lower than that of the Lohmann strain. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the egg weight, HU, and egg yolk color of chickens raised in the open house compared with those of chickens raised in the other house types. In terms of antibody titer, that for Newcastle disease in open house chickens was lower than that of chickens raised in windowless and free-range houses. The antibody titer for low pathogenic avian influenza, avian infectious bronchitis, and avian pneumovirus was high at over 3.0 in all three farms. SG, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella pullorum, fowl adenovirus infection, and infectious laryngotrachitis were not detected in any of the three house types. The number of AWAF for laying hens has continuously increased in Korea, but there is currently little data on the housing types used on the AWAF for laying hens. Therefore, the results of the present study, in which analyzed the laying performance and disease occurrence on AWAF for laying hens, can use as basic data for the improvement of performance and prevention of disease on further AWFA for laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.219-228
• /
• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the feeding value of stevia by-product (SB) on performance in broiler chicks and laying hens. In experiment 1, a total 256 one day old male broiler chicks were replaced in 0, 2, 4, 7% of SB with four replicates for 5 weeks. All diets were consisted of isocaloric and isonitrogen containing CP 21.5, 19% and ME 3,100 kcal/kg for starting and finishing period, respectively. Weight gain of SB treatments decreased compared with control for the first three weeks, but no difference for the finishing period. Feed intake and feed conversion were no statistical difference between control and feeding stevia groups for overall period. There were no different total number of intestinal microflora. However, the number of Salmonella and E. coli of cecum seemed to decrease in SB feeding groups. Total Lactobacillus and yeast tended to be higher in those groups than control. The PUFa increased in SB treatments, but was no significance. In experiment 2. stevia by-product(SB) were mixed with iso-caloric and isonitrogeneous method to investigate the feeding value in induced molting hens of 78 weeks old. A total 360 birds were replaced in the four treatments(0, 2, 4, 8% SB) with five replicates. Egg production, quality and fatty acid composition in egg were periodically measured for 20 weeks. No difference were found in egg production, feed intake, feed conversion between control and SB treatments for overall period. Egg shell breaking strength, thickness, albumen height and Haugh unit were not statistically different. However, yolk color was significantly high in SB treatments compared to control(P<0.05). Yolk MUFA increased significantly in SB treatments compared to that of control(p<0.05), but PUFA tended to decrease in SB treatments. No significant difference was detected in total sugar in egg yolk between SB treatments and control. Tocopherol of egg yolk 2 and 4% SB were significantly higher than those feed the control (p<0.05).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding colored barley (CB) and whole crop barley (WCB) on performance, egg quality and blood composition of laying hens. A total of 280, 35 weeks old Brown Nick laying hens were allocated into the individual cage for the period of four weeks. Experimental diets contained 2,750 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP, respectively. The treatments consisted of 5, 10, 15% CB and WCB as feed ingredients with control and there were five replications in each treatment. Higher egg production was noticed at 10% level of CB and 5% level of WCB in the diets, respectively. Feed intake was higher in WCB and CB treatments compared to those of the control (P<0.05), but the feed conversion was not different. Yolk color tended to increase both in WCB and CB groups. Haugh unit seemed to increase WCB treatments. When the CB and WCB were fed at 15% level, blood total proteins, albumin, total cholesterol and triglyceride contents were decreased than that of the control birds, but total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol tended to be higher with the increasing level of WCB. As results, no significant differences were observed in performance and egg quality with different levels of dietary WCB and CB. Thus, CB and WCB can be substituted as a feed ingredient up to 15% level in the laying hens' diet. However, further studies are required by feeding more than 15% levels of CB and WCB in the diet of laying hens.