• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권6호
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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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권11호
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• pp.1715-1724
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• 2019

Objective: As laying hens become aged, laying performance and egg quality are generally impaired. One of the practical methods to rejuvenate production and egg quality of aged laying hens with decreasing productivity is a forced molting. However, the changes in intestinal microbiota after forced molting of aged hens are not clearly known. The aim of the present study was to analyze the changes in excreta bacterial communities after forced molting of aged laying hens. Methods: A total of one hundred 66-wk-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were induced to molt by a 2-d water removal and an 11-d fasting until egg production completely ceased. The excreta samples of 16 hens with similar body weight were collected before and immediately after molting. Excreta bacterial communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Results: Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the three major bacterial phyla in pre-molting and immediate post-molting hens, accounting for more than 98.0%. Lactobacillus genus had relatively high abundance in both group, but decreased by molting (62.3% in premolting and 24.9% in post-molting hens). Moreover, pathogenic bacteria such as Enterococcus cecorum and Escherichia coli were more abundant in immediate post-molting hens than in pre-molting hens. Forced molting influenced the alpha diversity, with higher Chao1 (p = 0.012), phylogenetic diversity whole tree (p = 0.014), observed operational taxonomic unit indices (p = 0.006), and Simpson indices (p<0.001), which indicated that forced molting increased excreta bacterial richness of aged laying hens. Conclusion: This study improves the current knowledge of bacterial community alterations in the excreta by forced molting in aged laying hens, which can provide increasing opportunity to develop novel dietary and management skills for improving the gastrointestinal health of aged laying hens after molting.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권10호
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• pp.1566-1574
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• 2022

Objective: This study investigated the effects of dietary methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and selenium (Se) on the laying performance, egg quality, gut health indicators, egg yolk Se content, and antioxidant markers in laying hens. Methods: One hundred ninety-two 73-wk-old laying hens were randomly divided into four groups with eight replicates of six hens each. Four diets were prepared in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with or without MSM and Se. The trial lasted for 12 wk. Results: There were no interaction effects or main effects (p>0.05) on laying performance and egg quality. However, feed intake increased in Se-fed hens (p = 0.051) and decreased in MSM-fed hens (p = 0.067) compared with that of hens in the control group. Dietary MSM increased (p<0.05) the ileal villus height and villus height:crypt ratio in hens compared with those receiving the non-supplemented control diet. Dietary MSM and Se did not affect the percentage of short-chain fatty acids in the ileal contents. Dietary Se enriched the Se content in egg yolk compared with that of the non-supplemented control diet (p<0.05). Dietary Se increased (p<0.05) glutathione peroxidase levels in the liver and serum samples compared to the control diet. The total antioxidant capacity in the liver increased (p<0.05) in laying hens that were fed MSM-supplemented diets than in hens fed the control diet. Dietary MSM significantly increased the relative superoxide dismutase levels in serum samples (p<0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation with either MSM or Se independently improved the antioxidant capacity of laying hens. Furthermore, dietary Se produced Se-enriched eggs, but this effect was neither additive nor synergistic with dietary MSM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.573-581
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supplemental methionine, lysine, choline, and sulfur on laying performance, metabolic parameters, and egg quality of hens fed diets containing sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) during the peak laying period. Lohman layers (n = 144), 30-wk of age as 6 replicate cages of 4 hens, were allocated randomly to receive basal diets containing either 22% corn (B) or 22% sorghum (BS) and diets BS plus 0.57% methionine, 0.66% lysine, 0.47% choline, or 0.05% sulfur for 98 d. Feed intake (FI) and egg production (EP) were recorded daily, egg weight (EW) was measured bi-weekly, and body weight (BW) was measured monthly. A sample of 12 eggs from each experimental group was collected every month to evaluate egg quality. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for metabolite concentrations. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA as repeated measures and significant differences between the experimental groups were assessed using Duncan's Multiple Range test. Partial replacement of corn with sorghum in the basal diet did not affect BW, EP, and FCR but increased FI by 5.7% and EW by 2.4%. The effects of additives on laying performance were variable. Except for serum total protein (STP) concentration, other metabolic parameters were not affected by partial replacement of corn with sorghum in the basal diet. Hens fed diet BS had lower SPT concentration than hens fed diet B. Except for methionine supplementation, other supplements ameliorated depression in STP concentration. The additives did not affect other metabolic parameters. Egg quality responses to the experimental diets were also variable. Partial replacement of corn with sorghum in the basal diet did not affect eggshell characteristics (both thickness and stiffness), whereas it had variable effects on inner egg quality parameters (increased yolk index, depressed yolk color, and unaltered albumen index and Haugh unit). In conclusion, laying hen diets could include low-tannin sorghum (0.26%) up to 22% without necessitating extra supplements to overcome compromised performance.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.311-316
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• 2009

본 시험은 하여 산란계 사료내 누에고치 산가수분해물 첨가시 생산성, 계란 품질, 혈액 성상에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 수행하였다. 41주령 Hy-Line Brown 갈색계 240수를 공시하여, 4주간 사양 시험을 실시하였다. 일반 무첨가 사료를 대조구로 하여 SP1(일반 사료+누에고치 산가수분해물 0.05%), SP2(일반 사료+누에고치 산가수분해물 0.1%), SP3 (일반 사료+누에고치 산가수분해물 0.2%)으로 총 4개 처리구였으며, 처리 당 5반복, 반복 당 12수씩 완전 임의 배치하였다. 산란율과 난중에 있어서 전체 시험 기간 동안 누에고치 산가수분해물 첨가 수준에 따라 처리구간의 차이를 보이지 않았다. 난각 특성을 나타내는 난각 강도와 두께는 처리구간에 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 난황고와 Haugh unit에 있어서는 누에고치 산가수분해물을 첨가 급여한 처리구가 유의적으로 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 면역 물질인 IgG 함량과 WBC 함량은 누에고치산가수분해물을 첨가한 SP1, SP2, SP3 처리구가 대조구와 비교하여 유의적으로 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 누에고치 산가수분해물 첨가 급여는 산란계에서 혈액 내 총 단백질, 알부민 함량에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 그러나 혈청 내 인지질, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol 함량을 높여주었다. 사료 내 누에고치 산가수분해물 0.05% 이상 첨가 급여 시 계란의 신선도를 증가시키고, 산란계의 면역과 지질 대사에도 영향을 미치는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국축산시설환경학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.199-208
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• 2009

산란계에 대한 비금속광물의 급여가 계사내 암모니아 발생 및 생산성에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위하여, 49주령의 갈색 Lohman 종 산란계 1,020수에 대하여 사료용 공시광물로 소디움벤토나이트, 장석 및 세사를 사료섭취량의 2% 수준으로 첨가 급여하면서 분에서 발생하는 암모니아 농도 및 산란율, 난각강도 등을 조사하였다. 소디움벤토나이트 및 장석 급여구는 세사 급여구에 비해 계분에서 발생하는 암모니아 농도를 유의적으로 감소시키고(P<0.05) 계분 내 질소 함량은 증가시킴으로써 이들 규산염광물질의 급여가 암모니아 발생을 억제함을 보여줌과 동시에 친환경 유기질 비료로서의 가능성을 시사하였다. 또한 산란수에 있어서 처리구 간에 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 나타나지 않았으며(p>0.05), 난각강도의 경우 장석 급여군이 유의적으로 낮게 나타났으나(p<0.05) 기존에 보고된 연구결과와 비교해볼 때 우려할 만한 수준은 아닌 것으로 판단된다. 결론적으로 산란계에 대한 규산염계 광물 소디움벤토나이트와 장석의 급여는 생산성에 영향을 미치지 않으면서 계분의 암모니아 발생을 최소화시키는 효과를 발휘하는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

관행적인 산란계 사료와 관행적 산란계 사료에서 칼슘 공급제를 배제한 저 칼슘사료의 2가지 배합사료를 급여하면서 각각 오후 3$\~$4시에 일반적인 관행사료의 칼슘 공급제 배합량의 1$\~$3배의 칼슘 공급제(석회석)를 추가로 공급할 경우 산란능력과 사료섭취량, 사료효율 및 난각질에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 480수의 갈색산란계를 공시하여 10주간 사양시험을 실시한 결과 산란율은 처리간에 유의적인 차이가 없었으며, 평균난중은 처리간에 유의성은 인정되었으나(P<0.05)처리 간에 일정한 경향은 보이지 않았다. 칼슘공급제가 들어있지 않은 배합사료의 1일 1수당 섭취량은 2가지 배합사료에서 모두 칼슘공급제의 추가공급량이 증가할수록 유의적으로 감소하였으나(P<0.05), 칼슘공급제를 포함한 사료의 섭취량은 칼슘공급제의 추가공급량이 증가할수록 유의적으로 증가하였다(P<0.05). 칼슘공급제가 들어있지 않은 배합사료의 산란 kg당 요구율은 2가지 배합사료에서 모두 칼슘공급제의 추가공급량이 증가할수록 감소하는 경향을 보였으나, 칼슘공급제를 포함한 사료의 산란 kg당 요구율은 칼슘공급제의 추가공급량이 증가할수록 유의적으로 증가하였다(P<0.05).계란의 비중은2가지 배합사료에서 모두 칼슘공급제의 추가공급량이 증가할수록 유의적으로 증가하는 경향을 보였고(P<0.05), 난각 파괴강도와 난각 후도는 모두 처리간에 유의성은 인정되지 않았으나 칼슘 공급제 추가공급량이 증가할수록 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 결론적으로 고칼슘의 관행산란계사료를 계속 급여하는 대신 관행산란계 사료에서 칼슘 공급제를 배제한 저칼슘의 사료를 급여하면서 칼슘 요구량이 증가하는 오후 3$\~$4시 이후에 충분한 칼슘 공급제를 추가 공급하면 사료섭취 량과 사료요구율을 감소시키고 난각질을 개선할 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.1049-1056
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary glutamine (Gln) on the productive performance and egg quality of laying hens. A total of four hundred Lingnan Yellow laying hens aged 34 weeks were randomly assigned into four groups (100 laying hens/group), and fed, respectively, with diets supplemented with 0% (control group), 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8% Gln during the 6-week feeding period. The results were as follows. First, the productivity of laying hens fed with 0.8% Gln in diet was significantly increased (p<0.05); however, the egg quality (egg weight, yolk weight, shell weight, egg shape index, shell thickness, shell density, shell breaking strength, yolk color, yolk index, and Haugh unit) was not affected compared with that of the control group (p>0.05). Second, luteinizing hormone (LH) (p<0.01), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (p<0.01), triiodothyronine ($T_3$), and tetraiodothyronine ($T_4$) contents (p<0.05) in blood of laying hens fed with 0.8% Gln in diets were also significantly improved, and greater improvement in the duodenum and oviduct structure was observed in that treatment group. This study indicated for the first time that diets with 0.8% Gln were able to increase the productive performance of laying hens through stimulating hormone secretion and better development of both the duodenum and oviduct structure in laying hens.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2016

This study aimed of effects of replacing maize with rice or brown rice on laying performance, egg quality, and apparent fecal digestibility of nutrient in Hy-Line Brown laying hens. A total of 200, 25-week old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to one of 5 treatments, each of which was replicated 4 times. Four experimental diets that were formulated two different grains (brown rice or rice) with two inclusion levels of (15 and 30%) as a replacement of maize. The experimental period was 8 weeks. During the experiment, hens were provided with feed and water ad libitum and were exposed to a 16:8=L:D lighting schedule. There were no differences in feed intake, egg weight, and egg mass during the 8 weeks of the feeding trial among groups. However, hen-day egg production was greater (P<0.05) for Brown rice treatment groups than that for basal and rice treatment groups. In addition, the supplementation of brown rice or rice did not have an effect on eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, and HU during of the feeding trial (Table 4). However, egg yolk color was less (P<0.05) for basal treatment groups than that for among treatment group. ATTD of dry matter (DM) and crude fat were greater (P<0.05) for brown rice 15 treatment than for rice 30 treatment. Crude protein (CP) was greater (P<0.05) for brown rice 15 treatment than for basal treatment. In conclusion, brown rice or rice grains is a good alternative energy feedstuff and can be used in laying hens, totally replacing maize, without any negative effect on the laying performance, egg quality, and nutrient digestibility.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.89-96
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• 2016

This study aimed to determine the effect of different dietary level of rice bran extract (RBO) on the laying performance, egg quality, blood parameter, cholesterol, and fatty acids in yolk of Hy-Line Laying hens. In all, 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (29 weeks old) were randomly allocated to one of 4 dietary treatments, with 4 replicates per treatment. A commercial basal diet was used and three additional diets were prepared by supplementing 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g/kg of RBO to the basal diet. The experimental diets were fed on an ad libitum basis to the bird during 8 weeks. Hen-day egg production increased (quadratic, p<0.05) with inclusion level of RBO, but feed intake, egg weight, and egg mass were not influenced by inclusion of level of RBO in diet. However, the supplementation of RBO did not have an effect on eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, egg yolk color, and HU during the feeding trial. There were no significant differences in the level of leukocyte. However, heterophil and lymphocytes decreased (quadratic, p<0.01) with inclusion level of RBO. H:L ratio tended to decrease (linear p=0.08) with inclusion level of RBO. As expected, increasing inclusion level of RBO in diets decreased (linear, p<0.01) the concentrations of total cholesterol in plasma. AST, ALT, glucose, and albumin were not affected by inclusion of RBO in diets. Egg yolk cholesterol increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) with inclusion level of RBO in diet. The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation of RBO improves laying performance and decreased total cholesterol and egg yolk cholesterol levels in laying hens. Therefore, dietary RBO is considered a valuable functional ingredient to improve the performance of birds.