• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1310-1319
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of cage density (CD) and humate supplementation (HS) on laying performance, metabolic profile, and egg quality during the peak production period in hens. Lohman layers (n = 180, 46 wks of age) were blocked according to the location of cages and then allocated randomly to two levels of CD (4 or 6 hens per cage or 540 vs. 360 $cm^2$/hen) and three levels of HS (0, 0.15, and 0.30%). Egg production (EP) and feed consumption (FC) were measured daily; egg weight was measured bi-weekly; and BW was measured before and after the experiment. Blood and additional egg samples were obtained at the end of the experiment for determination of metabolic profile and egg quality. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA as repeated measures. Except for FC, CD did not affect laying performance parameters. Hens placed in high-density cages had lower FC than hens placed in normal-density cages. Increasing HS level linearly increased FC, EP, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). There was a CD by HS interaction effect on FC and EP. Hens placed in high-density cages had greater serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, Ca, and P concentrations and tended to have greater serum corticosterone concentration than hens placed in normaldensity cages. Increasing HS level linearly increased serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatine, and Ca concentrations and linearly decreased serum triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein concentrations. There was a CD by HS interaction effect on serum glucose and albumin concentrations. There were no alterations in egg quality parameters in response to increasing CD. Albumen index and Haugh unit decreased linearly and other egg quality parameters did not change as HS level increased. In conclusion, increased caging density adversely affected metabolic profile, despite insignificantly deteriorating laying performance. Moreover, benefits from humate supplementation seem to be more noteworthy for hens housed in stressing conditions than for hens housed in standard conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1674-1678
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate genetic correlations between the behavioural profile and performance in laying hens as an indirect answer to the question whether the observed behavioural responses are associated with increased levels of stress in these birds. Methods: The assessment of birds' temperament was carried out using the novel objects test. The behavioural test was conducted in two successive generations comprising 9,483 Rhode Island White (RIW) birds (approx. 4,700 individuals per generation) and 4,326 Rhode Island Red (RIR) birds (approx. 2,100 individuals per generation). Based on the recorded responses, the birds were divided into two groups: a fearful profile (1,418 RIW hens and 580 RIR hens) and a brave/curious profile (8,065 RIW hens and 3,746 RIR hens). The birds were subjected to standard assessment of their performance traits, including SM, age at sexual maturity; ST, shell thickness; SG, egg specific gravity; EW, mean egg weight; IP, initial egg production; and HC, number of hatched chicks. The pedigree was three generations deep (including two behaviourrecorded generations). Estimation of the (co)variance components was performed with the Gibbs sampling method, which accounts for the discrete character of the behavioural profile denotation. Results: The analyses revealed negative correlations between the performance traits of the laying hens and the behavioural profile defined as fearful. In the group of fearful RIW birds, delayed sexual maturation (0.22) as well as a decrease in the initial egg production (-0.30), egg weight (-0.54), egg specific gravity (-0.331), shell thickness (-0.11), and the number of hatched chicks (-0.24) could be expected. These correlations were less pronounced in the RIR breed, in which the fearful birds exhibited a decline in hatchability (-0.37), egg specific gravity (-0.11), and the number of hatched chicks (-0.18). There were no correlations in the case of the other traits or they were positive but exhibited a substantial standard error, as for the egg weight. Conclusion: To sum up the results obtained, it can be noted that behavioural responses indicating fearfulness, i.e. escape, avoidance, and approach-avoidance may reflect negative emotions experienced by birds. The negative correlations with performance in the group of fearful hens may indirectly indicate a high level of stress in these birds, especially in the white-feathered birds, where stronger performance-fearfulness correlations were found. Fearful birds should be eliminated from breeding by inclusion of the behavioural profile in the selection criterion in the case of laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1391-1399
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• 2009

Two hundred and sixteen 68-week-old Hy-Line brown laying hens were used in a 6-week feeding trial to compare the efficacy of phytases Optiphos (OPT) and Natuphos (NAT), which were isolated from Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger, respectively. Hens were randomly allotted into six treatments with six replications (six layers in three adjacent cages) per treatment according to their initial BW. The hens were then subjected to one of the following dietary treatments: i) Positive Control (PC; available phosphorus (AP) 0.4%); ii) Negative control (NC; AP 0.2%); iii) NAT1 (NC+250 FTU/kg NAT); iv) NAT2 (NC+500 FTU/kg NAT); v) OPT1 (NC+250 FTU/kg OPT); vi) OPT2 (NC+500 FTU/kg OPT). Feed intake, egg production, egg quality, apparent nutrient digestibility and serum P and Ca concentration were evaluated to compare the effect of the two phytases. Feed intake and eggshell thickness were not affected by the treatments. Superior effects (p<0.05) of OPT were only observed in egg production and egg weight compared with NAT. Characteristics such as eggshell breaking strength, apparent digestibility of N, Ca and P and serum P concentration were equally increased with the supplementation of both phytases (p<0.05), where no significant difference was observed in those characteristics between PC and phytase supplementation at 500 FTU/kg. Equally effective improvements (p<0.05) were also observed in egg production and DM digestibility, where no improvements were observed (p<0.05) between the PC group and the groups with phytase supplementation at 500 FTU/kg. Equal increases in the serum Ca level were observed when the groups with phytase supplementation were compared to the PC group. Overall, the results of this study suggest that NAT and OPT are equally effective at liberating phytate-bound complexes when included in 0.2% available phosphorus diets for 68-week laying hens; either source of phytase can be fed to commercial 68-week laying hens at 500 FTU/kg to correct the negative effects associated with a 0.2% available phosphorus diet. In conclusion, either source of phytase can be fed to commercial first cycle laying hens at 500 FTU/kg to effectively replace inorganic phosphorus when economically justified.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2022

This study was conducted to produce a nutrient-balanced complex fertilizer using compost from laying hens fed with phytase levels. A total of 30 laying hens were randomly assigned in individual cages. The dietary treatments were fed from 51 to 60 wks of age, and included a phytase; 0, 1,000, and 2,000 FTU/kg in basal diets. Fresh feed (110 g) and drinking water were supplied to the laying hens every day. Feces from hens were collected daily and analyzed for N, P₂O₅, and K₂O after compost maturity. This result showed there was no difference on the fecal excretion per feed intake of laying hens supplemented with phytase levels in the diets. On the other hand, the excretions of dried feces, N, P₂O₅, and K₂O were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in 2,000 FTU/kg treatment than 0, 1,000 FTU/kg treatments. There was no difference on the compost composition and nutrient contents in compound fertilizer using compost from hens fed dietary phytase levels. However, compost content in the fertilizer was 69.6~71.6% when compost of 25~30% moisture content was used, and 13.0~47.1% at compost of 40~60% moisture content. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that hen's compost controlled moisture content could be produced as a nutrient-balanced compound fertilizer.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2012

Studies of non-cage or alternative systems have been discussing in EU because the EU has banned use of conventional cages for laying hens since 2012. This survey was carried out the information related to laying hens' welfare in Korea. Laying hens' breeding systems divided into deep litter, free range and alternative system, and livestock housings divided into windowless housing and open-type housing. The ratios of trough and bell feeder types were 37.5% and 62.5%, respectively. The ratios of nipple, trough, and bucket in waterer types 75%, 12.5%, and 12.5%, respectively. What stocking density is the most appropriate for production and welfare has been aroused. All laying hen farms met the required standards of stocking density ranged from 3.4 birds/$m^2$ to 7.6 birds/$m^2$ in this survey. According to welfare standards for laying hens, perch length should not be less than 15 cm. However, most laying hen farms did not satisfied the standards. We believe that presentdata contribute to develop alternative systems and to improve animal welfare in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2005

Two hundred and eighty-eight 21-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to 9 treatments, 32 birds for each treatment. A 3${\times}$3 (chromium${\times}$L-carnitine) factorial experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactive effects of adding yeast chromium (0, 400 and 600 ${\mu}g/kg$) and L-carnitine (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg) to corn-soybean diets on lipid metabolism of laying hens for 7 weeks. The results showed that 600 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine had significant effects on most indices of lipid metabolism (p<0.05 or 0.01). There were significant interactions on the concentration of liver triglycerides, egg yolk cholesterol, abdominal fat percentage between chromium and L-carnitine (p=0.0003-0.0500). Adding 400 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium and 100 mg/kg Lcarnitine simultaneously was the best for reducing egg yolk cholesterol and adding 400 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium and 50 mg/kg L-carnitine at the same time was the best for reducing abdominal fat percentage. There was no side effect on production performance of laying hens while chromium or (and) L-carnitine reduced liver lipid, abdominal fat and egg yolk cholesterol.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.993-1000
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE) as feed additive in broilers and laying hens. In broilers, 480 Arbor Acre male broilers were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 6 replications per treatment and 20 chicks per pen. The experiment lasted 5 weeks and dietary treatments were as follows: i) CON, basal diet; ii) FRGE1, basal diet+1 g/kg fermented red ginseng extract; iii) FRGE2, basal diet+2 g/kg fermented red ginseng extract and iv) FRGE3 basal diet+4 g/kg fermented red ginseng extract. Throughout the experiment, no effects were observed (p>0.05) in performance in response to FRGE. At the end of the experiment, FRGE administration improved (p<0.05) the lymphocyte level compared with CON. The relative weight of bursa of fabricius and spleen were increased (p<0.05) by the inclusion of FRGE3. Besides, redness ($a^*$) value for the breast meat was higher (p<0.05) in FRGE1 and FRGE3 treatments than that in CON. In laying hens, 240 ISA brown layers at 35 weeks of age were used in this 8-week trial. Dietary treatments were the same as in the broilers trial with 10 replicates per treatment and 6 layers per replicate. During the entire experiment, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in performance or egg quality among all the treatments. However, the layers fed diets supplemented with FRGE had higher lymphocyte level (p<0.05) compared with those fed CON. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation with FRGE did not influence performance but improved the lymphocyte level in both broilers and laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary betaine on egg production, estradiol, progesterone, and melatonin secretion in laying hens. Seventy two ISA-Brown laying hens were placed into individual cage and fed four different levels of betaine (0, 300, 600, 1,200 ppm) in diets for four weeks. Basal diets were mainly mixed with corn-soybean and contained 2,800 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP. Dietary supplementation of betaine showed significantly higher (p<0.05) egg weight and daily eggmass than controls, but did not have consistent influence on the egg production. The serum estradiol was statistically different in betaine treatments compared to that of control (p<0.05). No significant changes in serum progesterone concentrations were observed by the addition of betaine in diets. Serum melatonin concentrations also increased with betaine supplementation in diets (p<0.05). The results of this study indicate that the dietary betaine may contribute to increase daily eggmass, serum estradiol and melatonin concentration in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1177-1181
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• 2003

This study investigated the effects of cod liver oil and chromium picolinate on the serum traits and egg yolk fatty acids and cholesterol content in laying hens. One hundred 45-week old single comb white Leghorn laying hens were assigned randomly to four groups. These groups were: (1) control (soybean oil), (2) 1,000 ppb (${\mu}g/kg$) chromium (organic form chromium picolinate) (Crpic), (3) 3% cod liver oil (CLO), and (4) 1,000 ppb chromium with 3% cod liver oil (CLO+Crpic). The experiment was conducted for 40 days. Results indicated that serum triacylglycerol (TG) and cholesterol contents in the CLO group and the serum glucose content in the Crpic group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05-0.01). The yolk cholesterol content in the CLO and Crpic groups were also lower than the control group (p<0.01). The lipoprotein profile displayed that in the Crpic group, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the control group. Meanwhile, low-density lipoprotein+very low-density lipoprotein (LDL+VLDL) and LDL-C+VLDL-C were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control group. Notably, of all four groups, the CLO group displayed a more profound effect on serum traits and lipoprotein (p<0.05-0.001). Furthermore, the fatty acid composition of the egg yolks presented that C18:2 in the CLO and Crpic groups was significantly lower (p<0.05-0.001) compare to the control. However, only in the CLO group, C18:3, C20:5 and C22:6 were significantly higher (p<0.001) than the control. Only serum glucose and LDL+VLDL showed the CLO${\times}$Crpic interaction (p<0.05), most parameters did not. Therefore, supplemented chromium picolinate or cod liver oil in the diet of laying hens had beneficial effects. However, when these two factors were combined, there was no interaction with most parameters.

• 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.