• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.772-776
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary domestic Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) extracts (SCE) on laying performance and egg quality in laying hens. There were no significant differences in feed intake, egg production, or relative liver and spleen weights. The egg weights in groups fed diets containing SCE were significantly increased as compared with the control. The number of cecal total microbes in the group fed a diet containing 0.5% SCE was significantly reduced as compared with other groups. The malondialdehyde contents in stored eggs were significantly lowered by feeding SCE. The Haugh unit in the groups fed diets containing SCE tended to be increased after 2 weeks storage, but not significantly. This result indicated that dietary domestic SCE may delay lipid oxidation in eggs when added to laying hen diets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age of laying hens on egg internal and external qualities. A total of 8,300 eggs were randomly collected from 15 grading & packaging (GP) centers, and 50 eggs per farm during April to May in 2015. Age of laying hens ranged from 18 to 65 weeks of age and they were classified into 5 age groups (18~25, 26~35, 36~45, 46~55, and 56~65 weeks). Egg weight increased, but the Haugh unit decreased as the age of laying hens increased. Yolk color was higher in eggs laid from 25~35 weeks of laying hens compared with that of 18~25-weeks-old chickens. The incidence of dirty eggs was highest (P<0.05) in 18~25 week group and remained constant after 26 weeks. Among eggshell defects, speckled and pimpled eggs increased as the age of laying hens increased. The incidence of calcium deposits and misshapen eggs was highest during 18~25 weeks of age and remained constant after 26 weeks. The percentage of total eggshell cracks increased as the age of laying hens increased. Among eggshell cracks, star- and hair-like cracks were frequently noted. The percentage of meat spot was higher than that of blood spot and their incidence was highest among the 56~65 week group. Age of laying hens significantly increased egg weight, incidence of pimpled or speckled eggs, star- or hair-like cracks, and meat spot. On the other hand, a significant negative interaction between age of laying hens and the Haugh unit was noted. In conclusion, our study revealed that the age of laying hens affected internal and external egg qualities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2006

A total of 120 male and 240 female quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) were used to determine the effect of feeding time on laying and reproductive performance of Pharaoh quail. They were fed ad libitum between 09:00 to 17:00 or full day, daily. Each female-male pair was housed in multiple-bird cages and colony cages. Initial and final body weight, quail-day egg production, feed consumption per egg and mortality were measured to determine laying performance of breeders. A total of 960 eggs were used to determine reproductive performance of quail in each treatment group. Eggs were incubated in a commercial setter and hatcher in standard conditions. Embryonic mortality, apparent fertility, hatchability of total and fertile eggs were calculated to determine the reproductive performance. Results indicated that feeding between 09:00 to 17:00 h reduced final body weight and egg production (p<0.001, p<0.001). Whereas, limited time of feeding improved hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001) and reduced embryonic mortality (p<0.001) when compared with the effects of feeding full day. It was found that there were no significant differences for the egg production of quail housed in different cage systems. Quail caged in multiple-bird cages consumed less feed (p<0.01) compared to quail housed in colony cages. There were significant differences for the mortality (p<0.05), hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001), and embryonic mortality (p<0.001) during the incubation due to main effect of cage systems. There were significant cage $systems{\times}feeding$ time interactions for hatchability of total and fertile eggs and embryonic mortality (p<0.001). As a conclusion; feeding from 09:00 to 17:00 reduced laying performance of quail and improved the reproductive traits compared to full day feeding of quail breeders. But, further investigations are needed to determine the optimum length of feeding time and egg production of breeders in quail fed limited time must be evaluated in comparison with its beneficial or detrimental effects.

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

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.935-938
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• 2020

This study investigated the oviposition characteristics of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis after emergence as adults from the larva collected from three regions in Gangwon-do, Chungcheongnam-do, and Jeju-do. The laying egg method was identified with zone breeding, and the average and cumulative number of eggs laid were measured once a week for seven weeks. The average number of eggs laid peaked until 4 weeks, and subsequently decreased. The source areas with respect to average number and cumulative number of eggs laid were in the order of Jeju > Chungnam > Gangwon. In conclusion, this result suggests a method for continuously improving management and economic feasibility of insect farming by securing genetic diversity, and raising the most productive breeds to select individuals form regions associated with high numbers of laid eggs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1408-1417
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larvae oil (HILO) could serve as an alternative fat source to soybean oil (SBO) in laying hen diets. Methods: We randomly assigned 25-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens (n = 144) to receive (n = 6 hens/group; eight replicates) a control or an experimental diet in which SBO was replaced with 50% (50HILO) or 100% HILO (100HILO). Results: Dietary HILO did not negatively affect body weight or productive performance during the study. The eggs also had similar quality parameters, proximate composition, and cholesterol levels. However, the yolk color index was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the 100HILO than in the other groups. Dietary HILO significantly altered the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in abdominal fat and eggs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were significantly increased and decreased in the 50HILO and 100HILO groups, respectively, compared with those in the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Specifically, the medium-chain FAs lauric and myristic acids were remarkably increased in the abdominal fat of laying hens fed HILO (p<0.0001), whereas only myristic acid increased in eggs (p<0.0001). Undesirable heavy metal (aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium) concentrations were below permissible limits in eggs. Conclusion: We considered that HILO could be an alternative dietary fat to SBO for laying hens with maintained productive performance and good egg quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1495-1499
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of enrichment resources (a perch, dustbath, and nest) layout in furnished laying-hen cages (FC) on exterior quality of eggs. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight (168) Hy-Line Brown laying hens at 16 weeks of age were randomly distributed to four treatments: small furnished cages (SFC), medium furnished cages type I (MFC-I), medium furnished cages type II (MFC-II), and medium furnished cages type III (MFC-III). Each treatment had 4 replicates or cages with 6 hens for SFC (24 birds for each SFC) and 12 hen/cage for MFC-I, -II, and -III (48 birds for each MFC-I, -II and -III). Following a 2-week acclimation, data collection started at 18 weeks of age and continued till 52 weeks of age. Dirtiness of egg surface or cracked shell as indicators of the exterior egg quality were recorded each week. Results: The results showed that the proportion of cracked or dirty eggs was significantly affected by the FC type (p<0.01) in that the highest proportion of cracked or dirty eggs was found in MFC-I and the lowest proportion of dirty eggs in SFC. The results of this showed that furnished cage types affected both dirty eggs and cracked eggs (p<0.01). The results also indicated that not nest but dustbath lead to more dirty eggs. Only MFC-I had higher dirty eggs at nest than other FC (p<0.01). The results of dirty eggs in MFC-I and MFC-II compared with SFC and MFC-III seemed suggest that a low position of dustbath led to more dirty eggs. Conclusion: SFC design affected exterior egg quality and the low position of dustbath in FC resulted in higher proportion of dirty eggs.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 1997

Oral application of fenoxycarb, O-ethyl N-(2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethyl) carbamate, the commercial formulation Insegar, on the 1st day of the 3rd instar made no difference in the egg laying and the hatchability as compared to 750 grains for the number of eggs laid, 53 grains for the number of the resideual eggs unlaid, 749 grains for the number of fertirized eggs, 97% for the total hatchability, and 95% for the useful hatchability as in the control but on the first day of the 4th instar, the number of the remainder eggs in the ovary increased by 2.4 folds, and reduced number of the eggs laid, number of unfertilized eggs, the hatchabillity and useful hatchability by 39%, by 66%, by 68% and by 72%, respectively. When diluted Insegar was applied topically every other two days from the pupae to the moth at concentration of 10-6, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 10-10 the number of eggs laid, the number of the unfertilized eggs, the total hatchability and the useful hatchability were decreased. More severe decrease took place as concentration lowered and the earlier application.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-218
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary pitamin, pine bark extracts, as a organic livestock feed additives on the egg production and egg quality of laying hens. One hundred-fifty laying hens (Hyline brown) were randomly allocated to one of the following 3 treatment groups for 6 weeks: control, pitamin 0.1% and pitamin 0.2%. The egg production of hens fed the diet containing 0.1% pitamin was similar to that of the control; however, the egg production of the pitamin 0.2% group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<0.05). Additionally, the Haugh unit was higher in groups fed diets that contained 0.1% or 0.2% pitamin than in the control group (p<0.05), but no significant difference in egg shell thickness and egg shell breaking was observed between the pitamin 0.1% group and the control group. Furthermore, the concentration of cholesterol in eggs produced by the pitamin 0.1% group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<0.05). Moreover, the saturated fatty acid content of eggs from hens in the pitamin 0.2% group was lower than that of eggs produced by hens in the other groups, whereas the unsaturated fatty acid content of eggs produced by hens in the pitamin 0.2% group was higher than that of eggs produced by hens in the other groups (p<0.05). Finally, the values corresponding to the storage days, Haugh unit, yolk index and albumin index of eggs produced by hens that were provided with a diet that contained 0.1% or 0.2% pitamin were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that providing hens with a diet supplemented with 0.1% pitamin as a organic livestock feed additives may extend the shelf-life of eggs with maintaining the egg quality and egg production in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.279-284
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of storage temperature and time on the quality parameters of eggs from laying hens at peak production. A total of 576 eggs were obtained from Lohmann Light-Brown hens, which were collected 3 times when the hens were 26, 27, and 28 weeks old. The fresh eggs were collected and measured within 2 h of being laid. Samples of 48 eggs each were stored in chambers for 2, 5, or 10 d inside a refrigerator ($5^{\circ}C$), at room temperature ($21^{\circ}C$), and at a high temperature ($29^{\circ}C$). As the storage temperature and time increased, egg weight, percentage of albumen, Haugh unit (HU), and yolk color significantly (p<0.001) decreased. In addition, egg shell weight, shell percentage, and albumen weight significantly (p<0.001) decreased with storage time. Yolk weight, yolk percentage, and albumen pH significantly (p<0.001) increased with increasing storage temperature, and yolk pH significantly (p<0.001) increased with increasing storage time. When the storage temperature was increased to $29^{\circ}C$, egg weight loss dramatically increased from 1.74 to 3.67% at 5 and 10 d of storage time, respectively. With the exception of the $5^{\circ}C$ storage temperature, HU dramatically decreased according to storage time and temperature, decreasing from 91.3 to 72.63 at $21^{\circ}C$ and from 87.62 to 60.92 at $29^{\circ}C$ during 10 d of storage; however, this decline was not found at $5^{\circ}C$. A rapid increase in albumen alkalinity was observed even after just 2 d of storage regardless of the storage temperature. Interactions between storage time and temperature were significant (p<0.001) with respect to egg weight loss, egg shell weight and percentage, albumen weight and percentage, yolk weight and percentage, albumen and yolk pH, HU, and yolk color. The results of the current study indicated that eggs from laying hens at peak production had significant deterioration of internal quality with increasing storage temperature and time. The results suggest that egg weight loss, albumen pH, and HU are parameters that are greatly influenced by the storage temperature and time of eggs from hens at peak laying.