• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.351-364
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• 2023

The experiment was carried out to study the effect of Korean wild ginseng adventitious root supplementation on the laying performance, egg quality, cytokine expression, ginsenoside concentration, and microflora quantity of Institut de selection Animale (ISA) brown laying hens at 24 weeks old. A total of 90 laying hens were subjected to a completely randomized design at three treatments, five repetitions and six laying hens per replicate. The experiments were divided by diets into the basic feed (CON), basic feed + 0.1% wild ginseng (WG1), and basic feed + 0.5% wild ginseng (WG2). The feeding trial was carried out over a duration of 12 weeks after an initial acclimation period of 2 weeks. Feeds and water were administered ad libitum in mash form, and light was available for 16 hours per day. At the end of study, henday egg production (HDEP), average egg weight (AEW), and egg mass (EM) were increased (p <0.05) in WG2 at week 12. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was decreased (p < 0.05) in WG2 at week 12. The ginsenoside content in egg yolk was increased (p <0.05) in laying hens in the WG2 treatment at week 12. Relative expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was reduced (p < 0.05) in the WG supplemented diets at week 12. The fecal microflora quantity of Lactobacillus was increased (p < 0.05) in WG2 at week 8 to week 12, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the WG2 at week 12. We concluded that the result observed in the HDEP, AEW, EM and FCR was due to an increase in ginsenoside content, leading to an improvement in the TNF-α, and fecal microflora quantity such as Lactobacillus and E. coli in the WG2 supplemented diets. We therefore recommend the use of WG at application level 0.5% per basal diet for optimum laying performance in layer hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1743-1749
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation of commercial phytase and ${\beta}-glucanase$ to wheat-soybean meal based layer diets. Control (17% CP) and reduced protein (13.5% CP) diets were compared with and without phytase and/or ${\beta}-glucanase$. Reducing dietary crude protein levels reduced the amount of N excreted by laying hens with no adverse affect on egg production or overall feed conversion ratio. There was, however, a slight reduction in average egg weight. When phytase was added to the control protein diets it was possible to reduce the level of dicalcium phosphate in the diet without a loss in performance and daily P output was reduced significantly. When phytase was added to the reduced protein diets, however, there was a dramatic loss in performance in the last four weeks of the study. Supplementation of ${\beta}-glucanase$ to wheat based layer diet did not appear to have beneficial affects in terms of laying performance and reducing nitrogen or phosphorus excretion. Combination of phytase and ${\beta}-glucanase$ had no positive effects on laying performance or reduction of DM, N and P.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2018

Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) and chicken anemia virus (CAV) have gained much importance as an immunosuppressive and economically important emerging pathogen of poultry. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of FAdV and CAV infection in chickens. The groups were divided into Korean native chickens, broiler, layer hens and broiler breeder and set up groups according to age. As results, 12.5% of the native chicken, 2.5% of broiler and 6.7% of layer chicken were positive, respectively by PCR for FAdV. Serological test showed that 84.8%, 79.0%, 97.7% and 96.1% of chickens were positive for antibody to FAdV in native chickens, broiler, layer hens and broiler breeder. The prevalence of CAV infection were 20.0%, 7.5%, 16.7% and 10.0%, based on CAV gene detection by PCR. In serological test of CAV, 40.6%, 35.9%, 84.8% and 73.9% of chickens were positive in that groups.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1503-1509
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• 2010

Forty-eight 40-wk-old Hi-sex laying hens were individually caged in an environmentally controlled house to evaluate the effect of garlic (Allium Sativum) juice administration on egg production, egg quality, and yolk cholesterol. Garlic juice was prepared by blending pealed garlic cloves with distilled water (1:1, w/w). Hens were randomly divided into four equal groups; one served as a control and the other three groups were individually gavaged, 3.75 ml, 7.5 ml, or 15 ml garlic juice, three times a week, which respectively represented 0.25, 0.50 and 1% of body weight. Egg production was recorded on a daily basis; egg weight, albumen height, albumen and yolk pH, Haugh unit, and bacterial count of E. coli-challenged eggs were recorded at day of oviposition (day-1) and after 5 and 10 days of storage at room temperature. Yolk cholesterol content was analyzed for five successive weeks. Garlic juice increased (p<0.05) egg weight and mass with no change in egg production intensity. Garlic juice administration recorded higher (p<0.05) albumen height and improvement in Haugh unit. Also, eggs from garlic-treated hens recorded lower (p<0.05) albumen and yolk pH when compared to eggs collected from control hens. Garlic reduced (p<0.05) the $log_{10}$ of bacterial count in egg contents linearly when challenged with E. coli. Egg-yolk cholesterol content was not influenced by garlic juice administration. It is concluded that garlic juice improved performance characteristics and may increase egg shelf life as indicated by egg quality improvement and lower bacterial count of E. coli-challenged eggs. The levels of garlic juice used in this study were insufficient to influence egg yolk cholesterol.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.994-998
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of superdosing phytase on productive performance and egg quality in laying hens. Methods: A total of 200 42-wk-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were allotted into 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 5 replicates consisting of 8 hens per replicate. The positive control (PC) and negative control diets (NC) were prepared based on the recommended P levels in layer diets. Supplemental phytase was added to the negative control diet at 10,000 (SD10), 20,000 (SD20), or 30,000 (SD30) fytase units (FTU)/kg. Productive performance was summarized for 6 weeks from 42 weeks to 47 weeks of age. Egg quality was assessed from 4 eggs per replicate randomly collected at the conclusion of the experiment. Results: The SD20 treatment had greater (p<0.05) hen-day egg production than PC, NC, and SD10 treatment groups. There was no difference in hen-day egg production between SD20 and SD30 treatment groups. However, SD30 treatment had greater (p<0.05) hen-day egg production than PC treatment, but showed no difference in hen-day egg production as compared to NC and SD10 treatment groups. However, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were not affected by dietary treatments. Egg quality including eggshell strength, eggshell color, egg yolk color, and haugh unit was not influenced by dietary treatments. Conclusion: Superdosing level of 20,000 FTU/kg phytase in diets has a positive effect on egg production rate, but no beneficial effect on egg quality in laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a metabolic disorder found in caged layer hens and causes reduced egg production and sudden death. Dandelion (Taraxacum coreanum, TC) and milk thistle (Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense, CJ) are well known wild herbs inhabiting Korean peninsula and presenting antioxidative effects. This study investigated alleviate effects of these herbal mixture (6:4, w/w) composed of dried powder of TC and CJ against fatty liver in laying hens. The herbs mixture 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 or 40.0 g/kg feed was provided via feed admixture for 3 weeks to laying hens having FLHS. FLHS was induced by intramuscular injection of β-estradiol (2 mg/kg bw) 2 times per week for 3 weeks and supply with high caloric feed. Egg production rate was reduced from 76.2% at pre-treatment to 49.4% at 1 week and further decreased according to β-estradiol treatment. Increment of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (T-Chol) and total bilirubin (T-Bil) and decrement of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) with fatty liver were found by the treatment of β-estradiol. Supplementation of TC and CJ mixture via feed admixture recovered the reduction of egg production and attenuated serological changes and gross and pathological lesions of fatty liver with the best amelioration effects at 5 and 10 g TC and CJ mixture per kg feed. In conclusion, TC and CJ mixture attenuates FLHS by means of antioxidative effects. Further mechanistic study is required to explain TC and CJ's amelioration effects against FLHS in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.609-624
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to get a comprehensive understanding of how genes in chicken shell gland modulate eggshell strength at the early stage of active calcification. Four 32-week old of purebred Xianju hens with consistent high or low shell breakage strength were grouped into two pairs. Using Affymetrix Chicken Array, a whole-transcriptome analysis was performed on hen's shell gland at 9 h post oviposition. Gene ontology enrichment analysis for differentially expressed (DE) transcripts was performed using the web-based GOEAST, and the validation of DE-transcripts was tested by qRT-PCR. 1,195 DE-transcripts, corresponding to 941 unique genes were identified in hens with strong eggshell compared to weak shell hens. According to gene ontology annotations, there are 77 DE-transcripts encoding ion transporters and secreted extracellular matrix proteins, and at least 26 DE-transcripts related to carbohydrate metabolism or post-translation glycosylation modification; furthermore, there are 88 signaling DE-transcripts. GO term enrichment analysis suggests that some DE-transcripts mediate reproductive hormones or neurotransmitters to affect eggshell quality through a complex suite of biophysical processes. These results reveal some candidate genes involved with eggshell strength at the early stage of active calcification which may facilitate our understanding of regulating mechanisms of eggshell quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1174-1178
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of copper chelates in the form of methionine, chitosan and yeast on the performance of laying hens. Four hundred ISA Brown layers, 84 wks old, were assigned to 4 treatments: control, 100 ppm Cu in methionine chelate (Met-Cu), 100 ppm Cu as chitosan chelate (Chitosan-Cu) and 100 ppm Cu as yeast chelate (Yeast-Cu). Each treatment had five replicates of 20 hens. Hen-day and hen-housed egg production and egg weight were significantly (p<0.05) increased by Met-Cu supplementation. The increase by Chitosan-Cu and Yeast-Cu supplementation was not significant. Contrast of the control vs. Cu chelates showed egg weight was significantly (p<0.05) increased by Cu chelate supplementation. Soft-shell egg production was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by supplementation of Cu chelates. Met-Cu treatment showed the lowest incidence of soft egg production. Gizzard erosion index was increased by Cu chelate supplementation. Crude fat in liver, total cholesterol in yolk and Cu content in liver and yolk were not significantly influenced by Cu chelate supplementation. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of 100 ppm Cu as Met-Cu significantly increased egg production and egg weight. Cu-Met chelate was also effective in reducing soft-shell egg production but increased gizzard erosion index.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.584-591
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• 2012

To evaluate the role of using forage, shade and shelterbelts in attracting birds into the range, three trials were undertaken with free range layers both on a research facility and on commercial farms. Each of the trials on the free range research facility in South Australia used a total of 120 laying hens (Hyline Brown). Birds were housed in an eco-shelter which had 6 internal pens of equal size with a free range area adjoining the shelter. The on-farm trials were undertaken on commercial free range layer farms in the Darling Downs in Southeast Queensland with bird numbers on farms ranging from 2,000-6,800 hens. The first research trial examined the role of shaded areas in the range; the second trial examined the role of forage and the third trial examined the influence of shelterbelts in the range. These treatments were compared to a free range area with no enrichment. Aggressive feather pecking was only observed on a few occasions in all of the trials due to the low bird numbers housed. Enriching the free range environment attracted more birds into the range. Shaded areas were used by 18% of the hens with a tendency (p = 0.07) for more hens to be in the paddock. When forage was provided in paddocks more control birds (55%) were observed in the range in morning than in the afternoon (30%) while for the forage treatments 45% of the birds were in the range both during the morning and afternoon. When shelterbelts were provided there was a significantly (p<0.05) higher % of birds in the range (43% vs. 24%) and greater numbers of birds were observed in areas further away from the poultry house. The results from the on-farm trials mirrored the research trials. Overall 3 times more hens used the shaded areas than the non shaded areas, with slightly more using the shade in the morning than in the afternoon. As the environmental temperature increased the number of birds using the outdoor shade also increased. Overall 17 times more hens used the shelterbelt areas than the control areas, with slightly more using the shelterbelts in the afternoon than in the morning. Approximately 17 times more birds used the forage areas compared to the control area in the corresponding range. There were 8 times more birds using a hay bale enriched area compared to the area with no hay bales. The use of forage sources (including hay bales) were the most successful method on-farm to attract birds into the range followed by shelterbelts and artificial shade. Free range egg farmers are encouraged to provide pasture, shaded areas and shelterbelts to attract birds into the free range.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1717-1724
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• 2004

The study was conducted to determine the effect of Salmonella typhymurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on egg-laying performance, inflammatory response, zinc metabolism in layer fed diets supplemented with organic or inorganic zinc since 3-wk-old. The three dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal basal diet without supplemental zinc or with supplemental zinc at 60 mg/kg zinc from $ZnSO_4$ or zinc amino acid complex (ZnAA). At the age of 58 wk-old, twelve hens from each dietary treatment were allotted into two sub-groups. On day 1, 3, 5, 7 of the $58^{th}$ week of age, six birds of one sub-group were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 2 ml LPS (1.0 $\ell$/ml) or sterile saline. Neither zinc source ${\times}$ immune challenge interaction nor zinc source effect on egg production performance was observed (p>0.05), LPS-challenge decreased egg production (p<0.04) and increased percentage of cracked eggs (p <0.01). With LPS challenged, the fever response of hens fed ZnAA peaked and subsided earlier than in hens fed $ZnSO_4$ or basal diet. Serum IL-1$\beta$ at 3 h was higher (p<0.01), but lower (p<0.001) at 12 h post-challenge with LPS in hens fed ZnAA than $ZnSO_4$. In salinetreated groups, serum IL 1$\beta$ was higher in hens fed ZnAA than the basal diet at 3 h post-injection (p<0.01). LPS-challenged birds had lower serum zinc and higher zinc sequestered in liver and spleen (p<0.001). In saline-treated birds, there was no difference in zinc concentration of serum, liver and spleen among different dietary treatments (p>0.05). Supplementation of 60 mg/kg zinc from either ZnAA or $ZnSO_4$ significantly (p<0.05) elevated metallothionein (MT) concentration in liver and spleen. MT concentration in liver of birds fed ZnAA diet was higher than in those fed $ZnSO_4$ diet (p<0.05). The magnitude of increase of hepatic and splenic MT due to LPS challenge was higher by supplementation of ZnAA than $ZnSO_4$. The results suggest that zinc amino acid complex enhanceed MT synthesis and zinc sequestered in liver and spleen and increased the sensitivity to immune response due to LPS challenge.