• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the effects of feeding diets with different levels of energy and nutrient density on the egg quality of laying hens during the pre-peak and peak periods. A total of 192 (Hy-line brown) laying hens were used in a 15-week trial. The hens were randomly allotted to one of four treatments, each with four replicates (12 hens per replication). We assessed the effects of four level of dietary energy (2,710, 2,850, 2,870 and 2,890 kcal/kg) and three levels of nutrient density (Methionine + Cysteine: 0.56%, 0.85%, 0.80% and Crude Protein: 14.5%, 19%, 18%). Differences in the energy and nutrient density contents of diets showed no significant effect (P>0.05) on the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, or egg production of hens during the pre-peak and peak periods. However, hens subjected to 2,890 kcal/kg during the pre-peak period were found to lay eggs with significantly thicker shells, and yolk color was found to be significant enhanced in hens fed this diet during the pre-and peak periods. In contrast, we detected no significant effects of dietary energy or nutrient density on the Haugh unit or eggshell strength. In summary, increasing the energy level of diets from 2,710 to 2,890 kcal/kg was found to have positive effects on the shell thickness and yolk color of eggs produced by laying hens.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.159-162
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• 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary microbial-fermented molasses on egg production and egg quality in laying hens.In total, 90 Hy-line Brown laying hens were divided into two treatment groups (control and 1% microbial-fermented molasses)with three replicates of 15 birds each. During the experimental period, supplementation of hen diets with 1% microbial-fermented molassesdid not influence egg weight, hen-day egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05), except for feed intake. Regarding egg quality, diets containing 1% microbial-fermented molasses significantly affected eggshell thickness, Haugh unit, and albumen height (p < 0.05). However, there were no remarkable differences between control and 1% microbial-fermented molasses in eggshell color and egg yolk color (p > 0.05). These results indicate that supplementing 1% microbial-fermented molasses to the diet of laying hens improved egg quality parameters such as eggshell thickness, Haugh unit, and albumen height rather than egg production.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2017

This experiment was aimed at investigating the effects of dietary supplementation with fermented rice bran (FRB) or fermented broken rice (FBR) on egg-laying performance, egg quality, blood parameters, and cholesterol level in egg yolk of Hy-Line Brown egg-laying hens. Altogether, 144 Hy-Line Brown egg-laying hens (32-week-old) were randomly allocated to one of 4 dietary treatment groups, with 4 replicates per treatment. Of them, 3 treatments diets were prepared by supplementing the basal diet with 0.1% probiotics (PRO), 1% fermented rice bran (FRB), or 1% fermented broken rice (FBR) at the expense of corn. Hen-day egg production was higher (P<0.05) in PRO and FRB treatment groups than in the basal treatment groups. However, feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio did not differ among the treatment groups. Additionally, supplementation with FRB or FBR did not affect eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, egg yolk color, and Haugh unit during the feeding trial. There was no significant difference in leukocyte count. Total cholesterol level was lower (P<0.05) in the FRB treatment group than in the basal treatment groups. Asparate aminotransferase, alanine transferase, glucose, and albumin levels were unaffected by dietary supplementation with FRB or FBR. Egg yolk cholesterol level was lower (P<0.05) in the FRB and FBR treatment groups than in the basal treatment groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with FRB or FBR improved egg-laying performance, and reduced the levels of total serum cholesterol and cholesterol in egg yolk of Hy-Line Brown egg-laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.538-543
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to measure the effects of olive leaf powder on performance, egg yield, egg quality and yolk cholesterol level of laying hens. A total of 120 Lohmann Brown laying hens of 22 weeks old were used in this experiment. The birds were fed on standard layer diets containing 0, 1%, 2%, or 3% olive leaf powder for 8 weeks. Egg weight and yield were recorded daily; feed intake weekly; egg quality and cholesterol content at the end of the trial. Olive leaf powder had no effect on feed intake, egg weight, egg yield and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05) while olive leaf powder increased final body weight of hens (p<0.05). Dietary olive leaf powder increased yellowness in yolk color (p<0.01) without affecting other quality parameters. Yolk cholesterol content was tended to decrease about 10% (p>0.05). To conclude, olive leaf powder can be used for reducing egg yolk cholesterol content and egg yolk coloring agent in layer diets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of adding phytase on nutrient availability and serum Ca and P level and to determine the effects of phytase on laying performance and egg quality in laying hens. In Exp. 1, twenty four laying hens(1.9kg average body weight and 78.4% egg production) were allotted to four treatments. Treatments included 1) corn-soybean meal based-control diet and 2), 3) and 4) control diet with phytase 200, 400 and 600 unit/kg, respectively. There were no significant effects of treatments on dry matter and nitrogen digestibility(P〉0.05). Ash, Ca and P digestibility in layer fed diet with phytase were greater than those in layer fed control diet(P〈0.05). Laying hens fed diets with phytase 200 and 400 unit retained more Ca than those fed other treatments (P〈0.05). No statistical difference was found for Ca exsretion(P〉0.05). P retention was greater for laying hens fed diet phytase 600 unit than other treaments(P〈0.05). P level in serum was higher for laying hens fed diets with phytase 400 and 600 unit than for laying hens fed other treatments. In Exp. 2, three hundred, IAS Brown layer, 40-week-old, divided into two treatment groups(control vs phytase supplementation without inorganic phosphate in the diets) with five replications per treatment and 30 layers per replication were fed the diets for 6 weeks. Egg production, egg weight and eggshell breaking strength and thickness were not different significantly(P〉0.05). In conclusion, phytase supplementation can be used to increase P utilization and retention in laying hens. Also, phytase supplementation was effective to spare inorganic phosphate in laying hen diets without any adverse effects on production performances.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1605-1610
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• 2012

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of red pepper (Capsicum frutescens) powder or red pepper pigment on the performance and egg yolk color of laying hens. In Exp. 1, 210, thirty-wk old, Hy-line Brown laying hens were fed one of seven diets containing 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.0, 4.8 or 9.6 ppm red pepper pigment or 0.3 ppm carophyll red. Each diet was fed to three replicate batteries of hens with each battery consisting of a row of five cages of hens with two hens per cage (n = 3). In Exp. 2, 180, thirty-wk old, Hyline Brown laying hens, housed similarly to those in Exp. 1, were fed an unsupplemented basal diet as well as treatments in which the basal diet was supplemented with 0.8% red pepper powder processed in a laboratory blender to an average particle size of $300{\mu}m$, 0.8% red pepper powder processed as a super fine powder with a vibrational mill ($44{\mu}m$) and finally 0.8% red pepper powder processed as a super fine powder with a vibrational mill but mixed with 5% $Na_2CO_3$ either before or after grinding. A diet supplemented with 0.3 ppm carophyll red pigment was also included (n = 3). In both experiments, hens were fed the red pepper powder or pigment for 14 days. After feeding of the powder or pigment was terminated, all hens were fed the basal diet for eight more days to determine if the dietary treatments had any residual effects. In Exp. 1, there were no differences in egg-laying performance, feed consumption or feed conversion ratio due to inclusion of red pepper pigment in the diet. Average egg weight was higher (p<0.05) for birds fed 1.2, 2.4 or 9.6 ppm red pepper pigment than for birds fed the diet containing 0.3 ppm red pepper pigment. On d 14, egg color scores increased linearly as the level of red pepper pigment in the diet increased. In Exp. 2, feeding red pepper powder did not affect egg-laying performance, feed consumption or feed conversion ratio (p>0.05). However, compared with the control group, supplementation with all of the red pepper powder treatments increased egg weight (p<0.05). All the red pepper powder treatments also increased (p<0.05) the yolk color score compared with the control. The results of the present study suggest that both red pepper powder and pigment are effective feed additives for improving egg yolk color for laying hens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1205-1214
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• 2022

Objective: Spent ginger is a byproduct of juice extraction from the rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale). Despite its nutritional value, it is difficult to preserve or further process and thus is often wasted. This study uses spent ginger as a substrate for fermentation and cultivates spent ginger yeast cultures (SGYCs) that are then added to the feed of laying hens. The effects of SGYCs on production performance, egg quality, serum composition, and intestinal microbiota of laying hens were investigated. Methods: Eighty 60-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were separated into 5 experimental groups with 4 replicates per group (4 hens per cage, 4 cages per replicate). The control group was fed a basal diet while experimental groups were also given SGYCs at the levels of 5, 10, 20, and 40 g/kg for 6 weeks. Results: The addition of SGYCs significantly increased the laying rate and nutrient digestibility, decreased feed conversion ratio, and enhanced the color of egg yolks (p<0.05). No changes were observed in activity levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the serum (p>0.05), but the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and peroxidase all significantly increased, and contents of malondialdehyde were significantly reduced (p<0.05). In addition, changes in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes might be the main factor contributing to the significant increase in the apparent digestibility of crude protein and crude fat in laying hens (p<0.05). Conclusion: The current evidence shows that dietary supplementation of SGYCs to the feed of laying hens can improve laying rates, enhance antioxidative defenses, and influence dominant intestinal bacteria.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.444-452
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• 2022

Objective: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of crude protein (CP) and two rearing systems (cage and floor), on blood parameters and digestive and reproductive organ development of brown laying hens. Methods: A total of 400 Hisex Brown laying hens between 30 and 45 weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized design and a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with main effects including two rearing systems (cage and floor) and levels of CP (140, 150, 160, and 180 g/kg), in a total of eight treatments and five replicates of 10 birds each with initial body weight of 1,877 g (laying hen in cage) and 1,866 g (laying hens in floor). The parameters evaluated were plasma total protein, albumin, uric acid, total cholesterol, relative weights of oviduct, abdominal fat, liver, gizzard, crest and dewlap, length of small intestine and oviduct. Results: The blood parameters were similar in birds reared in cage and floor systems. The birds reared on the floor showed greater small intestine and oviduct weight (%) and lower liver and pancreas weight (%). A significant interaction was observed between factors for the relative gizzard, crest and dewlap weight, serum protein, uric acid, and total cholesterol (p<0.05). The diets with 140 g/kg CP resulted in lower serum protein and lower cholesterol in birds reared in floor system, while birds reared in cage system showed no effect of CP on both parameters. Birds reared in cage and fed with 140 and 150 g/kg CP presented lower uric acid. The group of birds reared in floor system fed 180 g/kg had greater uric acid. Conclusion: The dietary protein level can be reduced up to 140 g/kg for Hisex Brown hens (30 to 45 weeks of age) without an important effect on metabolic profile and organ development in both rearing systems.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.341-344
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• 2018

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary bentonite supplementation on the fatty acid profiles of eggs in older laying hens. A total of 90 Hy-line Brown layers, 74 weeks of age, were confined in 6 wire cages and then assigned randomly to two groups to receive one of the two diets (3 replicates of 15 older layers each) containing 0 and 0.2% bentonite for 4 weeks. After the 4-week feeding trial, no remarkable differences in individual fatty acid, saturated fatty acid (SFA), unsaturated fatty acid (UFA), and mono unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels were found. However, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and UFA/SFA ratio were influenced by 0.2% bentonite. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.2% bentonite improved the profiles of PUFA more than those of SFA, UFA, and MUFA inthe eggs of the older laying hens.