• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.584-591
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• 2012

To evaluate the role of using forage, shade and shelterbelts in attracting birds into the range, three trials were undertaken with free range layers both on a research facility and on commercial farms. Each of the trials on the free range research facility in South Australia used a total of 120 laying hens (Hyline Brown). Birds were housed in an eco-shelter which had 6 internal pens of equal size with a free range area adjoining the shelter. The on-farm trials were undertaken on commercial free range layer farms in the Darling Downs in Southeast Queensland with bird numbers on farms ranging from 2,000-6,800 hens. The first research trial examined the role of shaded areas in the range; the second trial examined the role of forage and the third trial examined the influence of shelterbelts in the range. These treatments were compared to a free range area with no enrichment. Aggressive feather pecking was only observed on a few occasions in all of the trials due to the low bird numbers housed. Enriching the free range environment attracted more birds into the range. Shaded areas were used by 18% of the hens with a tendency (p = 0.07) for more hens to be in the paddock. When forage was provided in paddocks more control birds (55%) were observed in the range in morning than in the afternoon (30%) while for the forage treatments 45% of the birds were in the range both during the morning and afternoon. When shelterbelts were provided there was a significantly (p<0.05) higher % of birds in the range (43% vs. 24%) and greater numbers of birds were observed in areas further away from the poultry house. The results from the on-farm trials mirrored the research trials. Overall 3 times more hens used the shaded areas than the non shaded areas, with slightly more using the shade in the morning than in the afternoon. As the environmental temperature increased the number of birds using the outdoor shade also increased. Overall 17 times more hens used the shelterbelt areas than the control areas, with slightly more using the shelterbelts in the afternoon than in the morning. Approximately 17 times more birds used the forage areas compared to the control area in the corresponding range. There were 8 times more birds using a hay bale enriched area compared to the area with no hay bales. The use of forage sources (including hay bales) were the most successful method on-farm to attract birds into the range followed by shelterbelts and artificial shade. Free range egg farmers are encouraged to provide pasture, shaded areas and shelterbelts to attract birds into the free range.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2018

This study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary addition of Germanium (Ge) on performance, egg quality, serum biochemical properties and yolk fatty acid composition in laying hens. At 74 weeks of age, a total of 360 Hy-line brown commercial layers were divided into four treatments with five replicates per treatment. Four dietary levels of Ge (0, 1, 2 and 4%) were added to the basal diets (ME: 2,750 kcal/kg, CP: 16%) and fed corresponding diet for a period of 12 weeks. The effects of these treatments on production performance and egg quality were measured three times at four week intervals, and at the end of the experiment, blood and egg yolk fatty acid were analyzed. The results showed that production performance parameters including egg production rate, feed intake, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were non-significant, but dietary addition of 2% Ge tended to increase egg production rate. Eggshell strength was found to be significantly higher in Ge supplemented groups than in the control group (P<0.05), and eggshell thickness was also trended to be improved in Ge treated groups. In serum, triglyceride content was significantly greater (P<0.05), and the highest total cholesterol was found in hens of the control group as compared with that of the Ge supplemented groups. The yolk fatty acid composition including polyunsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid and saturated fatty acid were not affected among the treatments but addition of 2 or 4% Ge in basal diet had significantly (P<0.05) increased monounsaturated fatty acid. Therefore, supplementation of Ge in laying hens diet has positive effects on egg quality and triglyceride in serum.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of activated charcoal (AC) mixed with wood vinegar on performance and egg quality in laying hens. A total of one hundred ninety two, 56-wk-old Lohmann brown laying hens were divided into four groups, consisting four replicates of 12 birds each and fed one of the four experimental diets containing AC 0%, AC 0.5%, AC 1%, AC 2% for 5 wks. The blood profiles and contents of total lipid and cholesterol, fatty acid profiles in egg yolk were determined. There were no significant differences in laying performance, feed intake and vitelline membrane strength among the treatments. The eggshell breaking strength and Haugh unit were significantly increased in 2% AC group compared to the other groups (P<0.05). Egg yolk index in 2% AC group was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the control and 0.5% AC group and yolk color was significantly improved by the dietary AC (P<0.05). The levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and enzyme activities were not influenced by feeding AC. Total lipid of egg yolk in 1 % and 2% AC groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared to that of the control, although there was no significant difference in yolk cholesterol. In conclusion, the addition of activated charcoal with wood vinegar in layer diet resulted in improving egg quality by means of enhancing eggshell breaking strength, Haugh unit, yolk index and yolk color.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of natural mineral complex supplementation on egg production and characteristic in laying hens. A total of two hundred forty laying hens were randomly allocated into four treatments with ten replications for six weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (control, basal diet) 2) M0.5 (basal diet + 3% chitosan + 0.5% natural mineral complex), 3) M1.0 (basal diet + 3% chitosan + 1.0% natural mineral complek) and 4) M1.5 (basal diet + 3% chitosan + 1.5% natural mineral complex). In the egg production, the M1.5 treatment was significantly higher than other treatments(P<0.05). However, egg weight was significantly higher in M0.5 treatment than CON and M1.0 treatments(P<0.05). Egg shell breaking strength was higher in M1.5 treatment than M0.5 treatment. Egg shell thickness was the highest in M1.5 treatment compared to other treatments(P<0.05). The hens 134 M0.5 diet were improved egg yolk color compared to those fed other diets(P<0.05). The Haugh unit, CON and M1.0 treatments showed significantly different results compared to those of M1.5 treatment(P<0.05). The M1.5 treatment had higher Ca and Fe concentration in blood and higher K concentration in yolk than CON(P<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of natural mineral complex in laying hen diets influenced on egg production, egg shell qualify and mineral concentration in blood and yolk.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of key genes involved in lipid metabolism in response to dietary Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in hens. A total of 36 forty week-old Lohmann Brown were randomly allocated into 3 groups consisting of 4 replicates of 3 birds. Laying hens were subjected to one of following treatments: Control (BD, basal diet), T1 (BD+ CoQ10 100 mg/kg diet) and T2 (BD+ micellar of CoQ10 100 mg/kg diet). Birds were fed ad libitum a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with CoQ10 for 5 weeks. Total RNA was extracted from the liver for quantitative RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of HMG-CoA reductase(HMGCR) and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins(SREBP)2 were decreased more than 30~50% in the liver of birds fed a basal diet supplemented with CoQ10 (p<0.05). These findings suggest that dietary CoQ10 can reduce cholesterol levels by the suppression of the hepatic HMGCR and SREBP2 genes. The gene expressions of liver X receptor (LXR) and SREBP1 were down regulated due to the addition of CoQ10 to the feed (p<0.05). The homeostasis of cholesterol can be regulated by LXR and SREBP1 in cholesterol-low-conditions. The supplement of CoQ10 caused a decreased expression of lipid metabolism-related genes including $PPAR{\gamma}$, XBP1, FASN, and GLUTs in the liver of birds (p<0.05). These data suggest that CoQ10 might be used as a dietary supplement to reduce cholesterol levels and to regulate lipid homeostasis in laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2022

This study investigated correlations between egg quality indicators to identify external egg quality traits to predict internal egg quality using non-destructive and convenient measurements. Thirteen indicators, including Haugh unit, albumen height, eggshell breaking strength, eggshell thickness, eggshell color (CIE L^*, CIE a^*, CIE b^*), and reflectivity value, egg weight, egg length, egg width, shape index, and yolk color, were investigated. A total of 180 brown eggs were obtained from one 27-week-old flock of Hy-line brown-laying hens raised in a cage system. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). The results showed strong correlations between Haugh unit and albumen height, eggshell color CIE L^* and reflectivity, egg weight and width, egg weight and length, eggshell color CIE L^* and CIE a^*, eggshell color CIE a^* and reflectivity, and shape index and egg length (P<0.001). Moderate correlations were observed between eggshell breaking strength and eggshell thickness, eggshell color CIE a^* and CIE b^*, and shape index and egg width (P<0.001). Eggshell color CIE L^* was correlated with eggshell breaking strength (P<0.01), and eggshell color CIE a^* was correlated with Haugh unit, albumen height (P<0.01), and eggshell breaking strength (P<0.001). The present study showed significant correlations between eggshell color and other quality indicators. Thus, this study suggests that eggshell colors based on reflectiveness and the CIE L^*a^*b^* value can be used to estimate the Haugh unit, albumen height, eggshell breaking strength, and thickness.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary activated coconut charcoal (ACC) on Performance, e99 quality and Plasma cholesterol level of Plasma in laying hens. One hundred forty four, 47-wk-old, ISA Brown commercial layers were used in a 28-d feeding trial after a 7-d adjustment Period. Four dietary treatments were 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5e% levees of ACC supplemented to a corn-soybean meal basal diet. Egg Production was significantly increased as the levels of ACC increased. However, egg weight was significantly decreased by the addition of ACC in diets. Egg shell breaking strength tended to decrease as the level of ACC increased, however, no significance was found in this respect. As the levels of ACC increased, egg shell thickness decreased significantly. Although not significant, yolk color tended to increase by the addition of ACC. Egg folk index were significantly increased by the addition of ACC In diet. No significant difference was found among four treatments in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL+VLDL cholesterol concentrations in plasma. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of ACC to layer diets could be used to increase egg Production, and yolk index.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2004

A total of 225 ISA Brown layers, 63-wk-old, were used in a 5-wk feeding trial to measure the effect of dietary canthaxanthin(0, 50, 100, 200, and 300mg/kg feed) on its accumulation in various body parts and the egg yolk. There were three replications per treatment and 15 birds per replication. The redness(a$\^$*/) and yellowness(b$\^$*/) of wing and thigh skin significantly(P＜0.05) increased when canthaxanthin was fed at 2200 and 250mg/kg feed, respectively. However, the color of breast skin was not significantly affected by the canthaxanthin supplementation. Skin lightness(L$\^$*/) was not influenced by the dietary canthaxanthin. The dietary canthaxanthin supplementation did not significantly affect the redness or the yellowness of breast and thigh muscles. However, feeding canthaxanthin at 300mg/kg, compared to the control(0mg/kg feed), significantly(P＜0.05) decreased the lightness of wing and breast muscles. Feeding of canthaxanthin for 1-3d also significantly increased the color of egg yolks. In conclusion, canthaxanthin can be used to improve the color of skin and egg yolks, but it should be used cautiously because too intense egg yolk redness could be rejected by consumers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding organic acid mixture and yeast culture on the Performance and e99 quality of laying hens fur sixteen weeks. Four hundred and fifty 19-wk-old ISA Brown layers were alloted to five treatments with five replications of each. The supplemental levels of organic acid mixture(OAM) and yeast culture(YC) in the experimental diets were 0(control), OAM 0.1, 0.2%, and YC 0.1, 0.2%, respectively. Corn -Soy basal diet containing 16.0% CP and ME 2,770 kca1/kg ME. Eggs were collected and weighed every day. Eg3 Production, fred intake and fled conversion were recorded in every four weeks. Fatty acid composition of e99 Yolk, e99she11 breaking strength, thickness and Haugh unit were measured a(her every eight weeks. Egg Production and daily egg mass of birds fed 0.2% OAM and 0.1% YC tended to be higher than those of the other treatment groups. Egg weight was the highest in hens fed with 0.2% OAM treatment, but was not significantly different. Feed conversion of hens in all OAM and YC treatments was lower than those of control, but was not statistically different. Eggshell breaking strength of hens on OAM treatments tended to be higher than those of YC treatment and control. Haugh units of the birds fed OAM was significantly higher than controls (P<0.05). 599 yolk color score of OAM treatment was higher than those of YC treatments and control, but the difference was not significant. At 27-wk-old, arachidonnic acid content in eggs from the birds fed 0.1% OAM diet was significantly higher(P<0.05) than controls. The results of this experiment indicated that dietary organic acid mixture and yeast culture tended to improve the egg Production and internal egg quality.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of copper-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) on the performance of laying hens. A total of 1,000 Hy-Line Brown laying hens of 32 wks old were assigned to one of the following 5 dietary treatments: Control, Cu-SP 50, 100, 150, 200 (50, 100, 150, 200 ppm Cu supplementation as Cu-soy proteinate). Each treatment was replicated 4 times with fifty birds per replication, housed in 2 birds cages. Fifty birds units were arranged according to randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted 5 wks under 16L : 8D lighting regimen. There were no significant differences among treatments in hen-day and hen-house egg production, egg weight, broken & soft egg production. Feed intake and feed conversion rate (FCR) were significantly (P<0.01) lower in Cu-SP treated groups than Control. Eggshell thickness was significantly (P<0.01) higher in Control than Cu-SP 100, 150 and 200. Egg yolk color index was significantly (P<0.01) higher in Cu-SP 200 than other treatments. Egg shell color index was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Cu-SP 150 and Cu-SP 200 than Cu-SP 100. Concentration of copper, iron and zinc of the egg yolk were not significantly influenced by treatment. There were no significant differences in the level of leukocytes and erythrocytes in the chicken blood. The result of this experiment showed that dietary supplementation of Cu-SP at the level of 50ppm of Cu can reduce feed intake and FCR.