• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2008

The experiment was conducted to determine effect of the mixed herbal medicine for the substitution of antibiotics on the performance of laying hens. Day old hyline 1,500 layer chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments. Control were 600 chicks and there were three treatments of each 300 chicks. The 4 treatments were as follows: the mixed herbal medicine 0.1%(T-1), 0.3%(T-2) and 0.5%(T-3) after removed antibiotics on commercial feed and commercial feed( control) from 5th week to 13th week, each treatment was replicated 3 times and from 14th week to 18th week. Each 100 hens of the mixed herbal medicine 0.1%(CT-1), 0.3%(CT-2) and 0.5%(CT-3) were moved to cage. Body weight were measured on 4th, 8th, 13th week and feed intake, mortality were measured on every weeks. Body weight at fourth week, all treatments tended to be higher than control and T-3 statistically was highest(p<0.01). On 8th week, also treatments statistically high and T-1 was highest(p<0.01). But 12th week, there was not significantly different among treatments. Therefore it will be possible that the mixed herbal medicine substitute for antibiotics after vaccination. Mortality was not different between treatment and control overall rearing period. Early laying period($19{\sim}41wk$), T-2 showed highest feed intake(107.1g) among treatments, later laying period($42{\sim}77wk$), T-1 showed highest feed intake(134.3g) and was not any different among each treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.850-854
• /
• 2001

Feed intake, egg weight, rate of lay and shell quality characteristics were measured in an Australian tinted egg laying strain from 31-42 weeks of age, housed at $30^{\circ}C$ and provided drinking water at 5, 10, 17 and $30^{\circ}C$. In a second experiment a European brown egg laying strain (59-66 weeks of age) housed at $30^{\circ}C$ were provided drinking water at 5, 10, 15 and $30^{\circ}C$. Brown egg layers given cool drinking water (5, 10 and $15^{\circ}C$) consumed more (p<0.05) feed and produced significantly (p<0.05) thicker and heavier shells than hens given drinking water at ambient temperature ($30^{\circ}C$). However the tinted egg layers given chilled drinking water only consumed more (p<0.05) feed and produced thicker (p<0.05) and heavier (p<0.05) shells when consuming drinking water at $5^{\circ}C$. As the tinted egg layers acclimatised to the environmental temperature there was a decline in the influence of cool drinking water on feed intake and shell quality. For brown egg layers, however, cool drinking water resulted in an improvement (p<0.05) in feed intake and shell quality over the entire period birds were provided cool water. These studies suggest that there is potential for using cool drinking water to improve feed intake and shell quality of hens housed under hot conditions. The combination of high ambient temperature and high drinking water temperature, a common occurrence in Australian layer sheds, should be avoided.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.1043-1048
• /
• 2010

This study investigated the effects of Fe-soy proteinate (Fe-SP) and magnesium oxide (MgO) dietary supplements on eggshell quality in laying hens. A total of 800 26-wk-old Hy-Line Brown hens were assigned to four dietary treatments: control (C), Fe-SP 100 (100 ppm Fe-soy proteinate), MgO (3 g MgO/kg diet), and Fe-SP 100+MgO. Each treatment had five replicates of 40 hens. The FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) spectra of Fe-soy proteinate were different from those of $FeSO_4$ and soy digest. There were no significant differences among treatments in hen-day egg production, hen-house egg production, broken and soft egg rate, feed intake, or feed conversion. The MgO and Fe-SP 100+MgO treatments showed significantly (p<0.05) higher egg weights than the control group. Eggshell strength and thickness were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the MgO supplemented groups. The lightness and yellowness of the eggshells decreased, and the redness increased significantly in the Fe-SP treated groups. There were no significant differences among treatments in leukocyte level, but hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were higher with Fe-SP treatments. In conclusion, supplementation with Fe-SP significantly affects eggshell color and hemoglobin concentration, whereas MgO supplementation increases eggshell strength and thickness. Egg weight and egg shell quality can be improved by supplementation of 100 ppm Fe in the form of Fe-SP and 3 g MgO/kg diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.630-639
• /
• 2010

Immune response and yolk cholesterol are crucial factors for commercial chicken producers. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of selenium-enriched Japanese radish sprouts (Se-enriched JRS) and R. capsulatus synergistically on immune response and cholesterol in laying hens. A total of 50 laying hens (20-wk old) were assigned to 5 dietary treatment groups, and fed diets supplemented with 2.5 ${\mu}g/kg$, 5 ${\mu}g/kg$, 10 ${\mu}g/kg$ Se-enriched JRS and 5 ${\mu}g/kg$ Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus (0.02%). Egg production and yolk color were significantly improved by the supplementation of Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus in the layer diet (p<0.05). Compared to the control, serum cholesterol concentration and triglyceride levels were decreased by all the treatments (p<0.05). After 8-wk of the experiment, supplementation of 5 ${\mu}g/kg$, 10 ${\mu}g/kg$ and Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus significantly reduced yolk cholesterol and triglycerides, while the greatest reduction was observed when R. capsulatus was incorporated with Se-enriched JRS. Spleen, bursa and thymus weight were significantly increased by both the 5 ${\mu}g/kg$ and 10 ${\mu}g/kg$ Se-enriched JRS. Compared to the control, supplementation of 5 ${\mu}g/kg$ and 10 ${\mu}g/kg$ Se-enriched JRS significantly increased serum IgG and yolk IgY concentration and foot web index activity by Newcastle Disease Virus (p<0.05). After 4-wk and 8-wk of supplementation, the highest number of leukocytes was observed with Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus (p<0.05). The highest concentration of serum and yolk Se was found in Se-enriched JRS plus R. capsulatus treatment. Combined dietary supplementation of Se-enriched JRS and R. capsulatus might be beneficial for better health, disease protection and overall production performance.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.3_spc
• /
• pp.371-384
• /
• 2021

Objective: Wheat bran (WB) was co-fermented with Aspergillus oryzae and phytase (Phy) to determine whether co-fermentation improve WB phosphorus and fiber utilization in Isa-brown layers. Methods: A total of 112 Isa brown layer were randomly divided into 7 treatments with 8 replicates per a treatment and 2 hens per a replicate. The treatments included basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 250 unit/kg Phy (control+Phy), diet with 10% WB (10% WB), diet with 5% WB and 250 unit/kg Phy (5% WB+Phy) diet with 10% WB and 250 unit/kg Phy (10% WB+Phy), diet with 5% fermented WB supplemented with molasses and phy (PCFWH) and 125 unit/kg Phy (5% PCFWH), and diet with 10% PCFWH (10% PCFWH). The intestinal microbial population, intestinal morphology, serum antioxidant enzyme activities, and excreta phosphorus content were assessed. Results: In PCFWH, spore counts, protease activity, xylanase activity, and ferulic acid were 8.50 log/g dry matter (DM), 190 unit/g DM, 120 unit/g DM, and 127 ㎍/g, respectively. Xylobiose and xylotriose were released in PCFWH, while they were not detectable in WB. Antioxidant capacity was also enhanced in PCFWH compared to WB. The 10% WB+Phy and 10% PCFWH groups produced higher egg mass, but hens fed 5% WB+Phy had the lowest amount of feed intake. Eggs from 10% PCFWH had better eggshell weight, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness. Birds fed with 10% PCFWH also had higher serum superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Compare to control, 10% PCFWH significantly reduced excreta phosphorus content. Conclusion: Diet inclusion of 10% PCFWH improved egg quality, antioxidant status, and excreta phosphorus content of laying hens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.62 no.3
• /
• pp.374-384
• /
• 2020

Two experiments were conducted to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn), and ileal digestible amino acid (AA) content of brown rice (BR) and to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of BR on laying performance and egg quality of laying hens. In Exp. 1, 72 Hy-line Brown layers (49-week-old) were allocated to two treatments using a completely randomized block design, and each treatment included six cages per treatment and six hens per cage. A semi-purified diet was formulated to include BR as the sole source of AA and energy and an N-free diet was used to determine basal endogenous loss of AA. The hens were fed a commercial layer diet for adaptation to the experimental environment and diet for 7 days from d 0, and then fed experimental diets for 5 days from d 7. Excreta were collected from d 10 to 11 and ileal digesta were collected on d 12. On a dry matter (DM) basis, the AME and AMEn of BR was determined at 3,773 and 3,729 kcal/kg, respectively. The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of BR ranged from 32.7% for Thr to 73.7% for Arg. The range of the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) value was between 79.4% for Met and 96.6% for Lys. In Exp. 2, 252 Hy-line Brown layers (44-week-old) were divided into four groups, comprising seven replicates of nine birds each and assigned to four experimental diets containing 0 (Control), 5%, 10%, or 15% BR for 5 weeks. The BR-containing diets were formulated to be equal in the content of AMEn and digestible AA to those of the diet without BR. No significant differences were observed in laying performances. Egg quality and blood profiles were not linearly or quadratically affected by dietary treatments. These results suggest that up to 15% BR can be included into layer feed without any adverse effects on laying performance and egg quality, if its energy and digestible AA values are well evaluated.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.54-55
• /
• 2001

The experiments were conducted to evaluate the feeding values of red pepper seed (Exp. 1) and to investigate its dietary supplementation on layer performances (Exp. 2). The values of TME, TMEn and average TAAA determined by force-feeding 14 roosters (Hy-line) were 2.83 kcal/g, 2.94 kcal/g and 82.72%, respectively. a total of 200 layers (ISA-brown) was divided into 4 groups with 5 replicates of 10 birds per replicate, and fed the experimental diets containing different level of red pepper seed (0, 3, 5, 10%). There were no differences in performances of laying hens among treatments. Liver lipids in all groups containing red pepper seed were significantly reduced as compared to those of control (P＜0.05).

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.259-266
• /
• 2001

This study conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Korean medical herb residue on egg quality and serum cholesterol of laying hens under heat stress. One hundred forty four, 41 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were used in a 28 d growth assay with a 7d adjustment period. Dietary treatments Included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) KMHR1.0 (basal diet+1.0% korean medical herb residue), 2) KMHR2.0 (basal diet+2.0% Korean medical herb residue). For overall Period, laying hens fed KMHR1.0 diet were higher hen-day egg production than laying hens fed Control and KMHR2.0 diets with significant difference (quadratic effect, p<0.01). Egg weight, egg shell breaking strength and egg shell thickness were not influenced by Korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). As adding level of Korean medical herb residue increased in the diets, yolk color tended to increase, however, the differences failed to reach significance (P>0.05). Also, egg yolk index was not influenced by korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). Total-, HDL- LDL+VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum tended to increase as the concentration of Korean medical herb residue in the diets was increased without significant difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 1.0% Korean medical herb residue to a corn SBM meal diet for laying hens increased hen-day egg production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.1028-1033
• /
• 2010

The effects of delta-aminolevulinic acid (DALA) or chito-oligosaccharide (COS) in layer diets on production performance, egg quality and hematological characteristics were investigated in this 8-week trial. Two hundred and seventy 27-week-old (Hy-Line brown) layers were randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 9 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were i) Control (basal diet); ii) DALA1 (basal diet+DALA 2 mg/kg); iii) DALA2 (basal diet+DALA 4 mg/kg); iv) COS1 (basal diet+COS 100 mg/kg) and v) COS2 (basal diet+COS 200 mg/kg). In this study, no significant difference was observed in feed intake and egg shell quality (eggshell breaking strength and egg shell thickness) among treatments. The inclusion of DALA increased egg production during the first 4 weeks. Egg weight was increased in both DALA (quadratic, p<0.05) and COS (linear, p<0.05) treatments compared with the control treatment. Laying hens fed the DALA treatment had an increased yolk color unit (quadratic, p<0.05) and haugh unit (linear, p<0.05) compared with the control group. Similarly, these characteristics were also affected by COS treatments, with both values being linearly increased (p<0.05) in COS treatments compared with the control treatment. Additionally, birds fed DALA treatments significantly increased (quadratic, p<0.05) the number of RBC, WBC and lymphocytes compared with the control treatment. Dietary DALA supplementation linearly increased (p<0.05) the serum iron concentration at the end of the 8th week. The inclusion of COS increased (linear, p<0.05) the concentration of RBC, WBC and lymphocytes compared with the control treatment. In conclusion, dietary DALA at the lower dosage (2 mg/kg) could exert better effects in laying hens than higher dosage (4 mg/kg). Birds fed DALA supplemented diet had an increased iron availability, egg weight, eggshell quality and immunity. Moreover, the inclusion of COS (200 mg/kg) can increase egg weight, eggshell quality and immunity in laying hens. Therefore, both the utilization of COS and DALA could be considered as a new strategy for optimizing egg quality and health condition of laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.559-568
• /
• 2012

White (Lohmann LSL) and Brown (ATAK-S) laying hens, were reared under organic and conventional cage rearing systems, and the effects of the rearing system on performance parameters, egg production, egg characteristics, and immune response were investigated. For this purpose, a total of 832 laying hens of two commercial hybrids, i.e., 416 white (Lohmann LSL) and 416 Brown (ATAK-S) layers, were used. The experiment lasted between 23 and 70 wk of age. In this study, the white layers yielded more eggs as compared to the brown layers in both organic and conventional production systems. Egg weight exhibited a similar pattern to that of laying performance. However, the total hen-housed egg number for the white birds in the organic system was fewer than that of white birds in the conventional cage facility; conversely, a contradictory tendency was observed for the brown birds. Livability of the white layers in the organic system was remarkably lower (14%) than that of the brown line, whereas the white line survived better (3.42%) than their brown counterparts in conventional cages. The feed conversion ratio of the white hens was markedly inferior in the organic system as compared to that of the white hens in the conventional system, whereas relatively lower deterioration was reported in brown layers when reared in an organic system. The organic production system increased egg albumen height and the Haugh unit in eggs of the brown layers. The yolk color score of organic eggs was lower than that of conventional eggs for both brown and white hens. The egg yolk ratio of eggs from white layers was found to be higher in organic eggs as compared to those obtained in the conventional system. All organic eggs had heavier shells than those produced in the conventional system. Eggs from brown layers had more protein content than eggs from white layers. Neither housing systems nor genotype influenced egg yolk cholesterol concentration. When compared to conventional eggs, n-3 fatty acid content was lower in organic eggs, and the n-6:n-3 ratio was higher in organic eggs. In conclusion, two hen genotypes showed different responses in terms of performance and egg quality to two different rearing systems. A commercial white strain produced more eggs with higher egg quality as compared to a native brown strain. The brown strain was found to have adapted well to organic production conditions when survival and total egg number was taken into consideration.