• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2008

Broken eggs not only cause the economic loss in the egg producing industry, but also may not be good for the consumer's health. In order to identify the causes of eggshell breakage in laying hen houses, analyses on the status of eggshell breakage in the step of egg conveyer system of the laying hen house were conducted. The survey of eggshell breakage rate was implemented by four different stages egg conveying system. In the results, the breakage rate showed 4.7% in the egg collection belt, 2.5% in the egg elevator, 1.7% in the egg grading system and 0.9% in the egg conveyor belt. In particular, to Hy-line Brown variety, as the hens' raising week old increased, the breakage rate of eggshell increased while the strength of eggshell decreased. In the regression analysis between the breakage rate of eggshell and the strength of eggshell, the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) by the test of significance was computed as 0.7, therefore the changes of the strength of eggshell affects the breakage rate of eggshell. However, between the strength of eggshell and thickness of egg shell, and between the strength of eggshell and strain of eggshell, there was no significant difference detected in the regression analysis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.17.1-17.6
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• 2015

The present study investigated the nutritional and economic suitability of cashew reject meal (full fat and defatted) as replacement for groundnut cake (GNC) in the diets of laying chickens. A total of eighty four brown shavers at 25 weeks of age were randomly allotted into seven dietary treatments each containing 6 replicates of 2 birds each. The seven diets prepared included diet 1, a control with GNC at $220gkg^{-1}$ as main protein source in the diet. Diets 2, 3 and 4 consist of gradual replacement of GNC with defatted cashew reject meal (DCRM) at 50%, 75% and 100% on weight for weight basis respectively while diets 5, 6 and 7 consist of gradual inclusion of full fat cashew reject meal (FCRM) to replace 25%, 35% and 50% of GNC protein respectively. Each group was allotted a diet in a completely randomized design in a study that lasted eight weeks during which records of the chemical constituent of the test ingredients, performance characteristics, egg quality traits and economic indicators were measured. Results showed that the crude protein were 22.10 and 35.4% for FCRM and DCRM respectively. Gross energy of DCRM was 5035 kcal/kg compared to GNC, 4752 kcal/kg. Result of aflatoxin $B_1$ revealed moderate level between 10 and $17{\mu}g/Kg$ in DCRM and GNC samples respectively. Birds on control gained 10 g, while those on DCRM and FCRM gained about 35 g and 120 g respectively. Feed intake declined (P < 0.05) with increased level of FCRM. Hen day production was highest in birds fed DCRM, followed by control and lowest value (P < 0.05) was recorded for FCRM. No significant change (P > 0.05) was observed for egg weight and shell thickness. Fat deposition and cholesterol content increased (P > 0.05) with increasing level of FCRM. The cost of feed per kilogram decreased gradually with increased inclusion level of CRM. The prediction equation showed the relative worth of DCRM compared to GNC was 92.3% whereas the actual market price of GNC triples that of DCRM. It was recommended that GNC could be completely replaced by DCRM in layer's diets in regions where this by product is abundant. However, FCRM should be cautiously used in diets of laying chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to examine the dietary effects of local granular ark shell(GAS) replacing limestone on egg shell quality in aged hens. A total of 200 Hy-Line Brown layers of 54-weeks-old were allotted into four treatments with five replications each. They were fed control(limestone only) 1% GAS, 2% GAS and 3% GAS diets for 6 weeks. GAS was substituted for coarse-type limestone at 0, 1, 2 or 3% of diet on weight basis. Particle sizes of limestone and GAS were within the ranges of 2~4 mm in diameters. In vitro HCl solubility of GAS was significantly lower(6.27 vs. 7.90%) compared to that of limestone(p < 0.05). The dietary treatment did not affect feed intake and egg production rate of the birds. Egg shell strength and thickness tended to be improved for birds fed the diets containing higher levels of GAS. The average egg shell strength and thickness of 2 or 3% GAS groups were significantly greater than those of the control (P < 0.05). The Tibial ash content of birds from 3% GAS group increased significantly as compared to that of the control. Tibial breaking strength, however, was not affected by the dietary treatment. Serum Ca and P contents of the birds were also not different among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, locally prepared GAS can be used as a calcium source in aged layer diet.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2007

A layer feeding trial was conducted for 10 weeks to investigate the effects of the addition of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to layer diets on the laying performance, egg qualities, and yolk fatty acid composition. Nine hundred Hyline Brown layers, 24 weeks of age,were randomly allotted to 20 replicate laying cages, 45 birds per replicate. There were four diet treatments (0, 10, 15, and 20% DDGS), and five replicates per treatment. All experimental diets were prepared to contain iso-protein (17%) and iso-calorie (TMEn 2,780 kcal/kg). The use of DDGS up to 20% level in layer diets did not exert any influence on feed intake, laying rate, total egg mass, mean egg weight, and feed conversion ratio. DDGS did not exert any influence in weight of egg, breaking strength, and color of eggshell. The albumen height and Haugh unit was not influenced by DDGS addition. The yolk color was significantly increased by DDGS supplementation. As the DDGS level increased, the oleic acid content decreased, and the linoleic acid increased (P<0.05). The degree of saturation of yolk fatty acids was not affected by dietary DDGS. The inclusion of DDGS up to 20% in layer diets resulted in the decrease of feed cost per kg without any effect in the laying performance. In conclusion, the use of DDGS up to 20% level in layer diets could replace corn and soybean meal without any harmful effect on the laying performances.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding probiotics(gene modified yeast) on the egg quality in laying hens. The laboratory method of this study is as follow: In hens, 300, 36 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were employed in 13weeks feeding trial with a 7 days adjustment period. Dietary treatments are 1) control (basal diet) 2) Y0.3 (basal diet+0.3% probiotics), 3) Y0.5% (basal diet+0.5% probiotics), 4) PY0.3% (basal diet+0.3% plasmid modified probiotics), 5) PY0.5% (basal diet+0.5% plasmid modified probiotics). For overall period, hen-day egg production, egg weight (p<0.05) by dietary probiotic supplementation were recorded. Eggs were collected and weighed every day. Egg production number and egg production rate, egg weight, failure egg ratio and trouble egg ratio were recorded for 13weeks days. Diets PY0.3 and PY0.5 improved Egg production rate, egg production number and egg weight, compared to control diet (linear effect. p<0.05). And, diets PY0.3 and PY0.5 improved Egg production rate, egg production number, compared to Y0.3 and Y0.5 (linear effect. p<0.05). But, in Inferior egg and cracked egg, diets PY0.3 and PY0.5 did not tended to increase by dietary probiotic supplementation compared to control diet and Y group (0.3, 0.5) (linear effect. p<0.05). The productivity enhance on the egg quality in laying hens is considered from the effects of feeding probiotics(gene modified yeast).

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary safflower seed (SFS) powder and chitosan on hatching egg production and eggshell qualify in aged egg-type breeder hens. A total of four hundred 54-week-old Hy-Line Brown breeder hens were divided into five the groups and fed experimental diets either with addition of 0.25 and 0.50% SFS powder or 0.10 and 0.20% chitosan or devoid of all for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in feed intake and laying performances among the groups. The rate of sellable egg in the groups fed diets containing SFS powder or chitosan was significantly increased compared to that of control (P<0.05), irrespective of dose-dependent manner. The addition of SFS powder or chitosan significantly improved the eggshell strength (P<0.01). Eggshell thickness was also significantly increased in the groups 134 diets containing chitosan as compared with that of control (P<0.01). Fertility and hatchability of egg set were significantly improved by dietary chitosan that those of control (P<0.05). ike contents of tibial Ca and P were significantly increased in the groups fed diets containing 0.5% SFS powder, 0.1 and 0.2% chitosan as compared with those of control. The levels of blood estrogen, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone were not affected by the dietary treatments. The overall results indicated that the proper use of some feed additives such as safflower seed powder and chitosan might provide means of improving eggshell quality and reproductive performances in aged egg-type breeder hens.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.787-796
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic mixture on fecal ammonia, caecal microorganism, immune response, egg quality and production in layer under heat stress (HS).A total of four hundred 50 week olds Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly divided into four groups of 100 heads each: C (control, room temperature $25^{\circ}C$), HS (heat stress $33^{\circ}C$), PM (HS plus probiotic mixture 500, 750 mg/kg of diets). Egg production, egg quality, spleen weight, blood IgG and lymphocyte concentrations were increased in the PM group compared to the HS group, while mortality, the heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, and corticosterone levelswere significantly decreased. Lactobacillus was increased in the PM group compared to the HS group, but E. coli, coliform bacteria and aerobic bacteria were significantly reduced. Fecal ammonia production was significantly increased in the HS group compared to the PM group. In conclusion, the results of this study that these mixed probiotics can reduce the heat damage of the summer laying hens and can be an effective nutritional strategy to reduce odor generation from feces, and to improve egg quality and laying production through immune response and caecal microbial balance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2002

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin C supplementation on the performance and egg quality of layers. A total of 800 ISA Brown layers of 71 weeks old were assigned to one of the following diets containing 0, 3, 10, 50 or 100 ppm LG-vitamin C, 100ppm free ascorbic acid, 100 ppm Rovimix stay C-35 or 50 ppm LG-vitamin C supplemented with 100 ppm Zn methionine chelate. The feeding trial was conducted for flour weeks during the period of May to June when the average ambient temperature was $23.8^{\circ}C$ (5 :00 PM). Each treatment was replicated five times with 20 birds housed in 2 birds cage units. Vitamin C supplementation did not improve the overall performances (egg Production and egg Quality). Birds fed 100 ppm of LG vitamin C had the lowest egg Production while birds fed 100 ppm of Rovimix-35 had the lowest egg weight among birds fed different sources of vitamin C. Although supplementation of vitamin C over 50 ppm increased soft and broken egg Production, supplementation of 10 ppm LG vitamin C showed lowest soft and broken egg Production among all treatments. E99she11 thickness was highest in the treatment of 50 ppm LG vitamin C. In conclusion, supplementation of vitamin C at the level of 3 ~ 100 ppm did not significantly influence the laying performance and eggshell quality of laying hens under normal ambient(20 ~$26^{\circ}C$ ) condition.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.328-333
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• 2010

The effects of green tea on the physicochemical properties of eggs were investigated. One-hundred-and-fifty Isa Brown hens (27 weeks of age) were studied over 10 weeks. Green tea was added to the diet at levels of 4% and 8% w/w. The contents of Ca, K, P, Fe and Mg in eggs increased upon dietary supplementation with green tea powder, and were higher in the yolk than in the white, with the exception of Mg. The increase was greatest for Ca, from 41.0 mg% to 119.8 mg%, in egg white. For Fe, an increase from 3.7 mg% to 12.6 mg% was apparent in egg yolk. When hens consumed the green tea-supplemented diets, average egg weight decreased from 68.8 g to 64.4 g, but the total cholesterol content of egg yolk did not significantly change (control value: 1,899.1 mg% test value: 2,011.3 mg%). In sensory evaluation tests, egg white was similar in terms of astringency and grayness regardless of diet, and egg yolk was yellow-to-orange in color, and rated as fishy or slightly fishy, when green tea diets were administered. Such diets reduced pH values in all of the white, yolk, and white/yolk combination groups. The major fatty acids of egg yolk, constituting more than 90% of total fatty acids, were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acid. Green tea diets reduced the saturated fatty acid level from 32.0% to 27.4% of total fatty acids, and unsaturated fatty acid levels increased from 68.0% to 72.6% in egg yolk.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of feeding various Lactobacillus on production performance, nutrients digestibility, intestinal microflora, and fecal $NH_{3}$ gas emission in laying hens. Three hundred and sixty ISA Brown layers, 21 weeks of age, were randomly allotted to nine treatments, with low replicates per treatment. Nine treatments consisted of Control(no Lactobacillus), Lactobacillus crispatus avibrol(LCB: KFCC-11195), Lactobaciilus reuteri avibro2(LRB: KFCC-11196), Lactobacillus crispatus avihenl(LCH: KFCC-11197), Lactobacillus vaginalis avihen2(LVH: KFCC-11198). Each Lactobacillus was added at two levels ($10^{4}$and $10^{7}$ cfu/g diets). Egg production, and egg weight were measured daily. A metabolism trial was conducted following the 12-week feeding trial, during which egg qualities, intestinal microflora and fecal $NH_{3}$ gas emission were examined. Egg production and daily egg mass improved significantly by the addition of various Lactobacillus(P<0.05), of which effect was more notable during the latter part of the feeding trial. But, no significant differences were found among Lactobacillus strains and between two levels of supplementation. Egg weight and feed intake showed no difference among all treatments. Feed conversion ratio of birds fed lactobacillus was significantly improved compared to that of the Control(P<0.05), but not different among lactobacillus treatments. Digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and crude ash improved significantly in lactobacillus treatments(P<0.05). However, there were not statistically different by adding levels and strains. Total counts of Lactobacillus spp. in ileum of layers fed Lactobacillus were significantly higher than that of the control, but no consistent trend was found in cecum. There were no significant differences in intestinal yeast and anaerobes counts among all treatments. The Lactobaciilus supplementation did not exert my effect on the eggshell quality and Haugh unit. Fecal $NH_{3}$ gas emission decreased significantly in Lactobacillus treatments, and showed no difference between the two supplementation levels. From the result of this study, it could be concluded that dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus, regardless of their species, Improves the laying performance and decreases the fecal ammonia gas emission. The proper level of supplementation appears to be $10^{4}$ cfu/g of diet.