• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권9호
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• pp.1426-1433
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• 2022

Objective: The present research was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of dietary concentration of calcium (Ca) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25OHD3) on the performance, blood composition and digestibility of laying hens. Methods: A total of 540 Hy-line brown laying hens aged 61 to 70 weeks were randomly allotted in a 3×3 factorial arrangement, consisting of three levels of 25OHD3 (0, 25, and 50 ㎍/kg) and three levels of Ca (3.5%, 4.0%, and 4.5%). All diets had basal concentration of 3,000 IU/kg of vitamin D3 including the 2,800 kcal/kg of metabolic energy and 16% of crude protein. Results: The results showed that interactive effect (p<0.05) between Ca and 25OHD3 was such that dietary 25OHD3 linearly increased interleukin-6 at all levels of Ca inclusion. Interaction (p<0.05) occurred with the highest parathyroid hormone in laying hens that received dietary concentration of Ca (3.5%) with 25OHD3 (50 ㎍/kg), and Ca (4.0%) with 25OHD3 (50 ㎍/kg). Egg production and egg weight significantly (p<0.05) increased in the 4.5% Ca group compared to the 3.5% to 4.0% Ca groups. Egg shell thickness and tibia bone length also increased (p<0.05) in groups fed a high-Ca diet (4.0% to 4.5%). Phosphorus digestibility significantly (p<0.05) increased along with dietary Ca level. Among the tested 25OHD3 groups, higher (p<0.05) egg production and tibia thickness were present in hens fed 50 ㎍/kg of 25OHD3. Furthermore, Ca digestibility serum Ca and 25OHD3 were significantly increased in group offered 50 ㎍/kg of 25OHD3. Conclusion: The results gathered in this study indicate that dietary concentrations of 4.0% to 4.5% Ca and 50 ㎍/kg 25OHD3 improve the performance of hens from 61 to 70 weeks of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.887-894
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• 2016

This study was conducted to compare the effects of layout of furniture (a perch, nest, and sandbox) in cages on behavior and welfare of hens. Two hundred and sixteen Hyline Brown laying hens were divided into five groups (treatments) with four replicates per group: small furnished cages (SFC), medium furnished cages type I (MFC-I), medium furnished cages type II (MFC-II), and medium furnished cages type III (MFC-III) and conventional cages (CC). The experiment started at 18 week of age and finished at 52 week of age. Hens' behaviors were filmed during the following periods: 8:00 to 10:00; 13:00 to 14:00; 16:00 to 17:00 on three separate days and two hens from each cage were measured for welfare parameters at 50 wk of age. The results showed that feeding and laying of all hens showed no effect by cage type (p>0.05), and the hens in the furnished cages had significantly lower standing and higher walking than CC hens (p<0.05). The birds in MFC-III had significant higher preening, scratching and feather-pecking behavior than in the other cages (p<0.05). No difference in nesting behavior was found in the hens between the furnished cages (p>0.05). The hens in MFC-I, -II, and -III showed a significant higher socializing behavior than SFC and CC (p<0.05). The lowest perching was for the hens in SFC and the highest perching found for the hens in MFC-III. Overall, the hens in CC showed poorer welfare conditions than the furnished cages, in which the feather condition score, gait score and tonic immobility duration of the hens in CC was significantly higher than SFC, MFC-I, MFC-II, and MFC-III (p<0.05). In conclusion, the furnished cage design affected both behavior and welfare states of hens. Overall, MFC-III cage design was better than SFC, MFC-I, and MFC-II cage designs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권10호
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• pp.1477-1482
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of diets with varying levels of calcium on egg production, shell quality and overall calcium status in aged laying hens. A total of five hundred 70-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were divided five groups and fed one of the five experimental diets with 3.5%, 3.8%, 4.1%, 4.4%, or 4.7% Ca, for 10 weeks. There were no significant differences in feed intake, egg production and egg weight among groups. The cracked eggs were linearly reduced as dietary Ca levels increased to 4.7% (p<0.01). A significant linear improvement for eggshell strength and thickness were determined with increasing dietary Ca levels (p<0.01). The contents of serum Ca and phosphorus were not affected by dietary Ca levels. With increase in dietary Ca levels, the tibial breaking strength slightly increased. There were no significant differences in the tibial contents of ash, Ca and phosphorus among groups. In conclusion, eggshell quality, as measured by appearance, strength and thickness of eggshell, were influenced by dietary Ca content as expected (p<0.05). These results suggested that aged laying hens require relatively higher level of Ca than required levels from current Korean feeding standards for poultry.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제24권9호
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• pp.1233-1237
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of red ginseng marc powder on egg freshness in laying hens during 4 weeks. A total of 60 Hy-line Brown laying hens, 50 week of age, were randomly assigned to 2 groups with diets containing 0% and 2% red ginseng marc powder. There were 3 replications per group with 10 laying hens per pen. Throughout the period of the trial, there were no effects of red ginseng marc powder on egg weight (but not 4 weeks). Haugh Unit (HU) values were observed by showing significant differences between red ginseng marc powder and controls at 0 and 4 weeks, except for HU at 1 through 3 weeks. For egg yolk color, red ginseng marc powder has no difference in comparison with controls at 0, 3 and 4 weeks (but not 1 and 2 weeks). In conclusion, the dietary supplementation with 2% red ginseng marc powder improved HU values throughout the experiment.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2002

본 연구의 목적은 게르마늄을 함유한 비특이 면역증가제를 산란계에 급여하였을 때 계란품질 및 면역반응에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 실시하였다. 사양시험은 32주령 ISA Brown 산란계 144수를 공시하였으며, 처리구로는 대조구(CON; 기초사료), 대조구 사료 내 게르마늄이 0.5 ppm(GC0.5), 1.0ppm(GC1.00) 처리구로 구성되었다. 총 40 일간의 사양시험 기간동안, 난각강도에 있어서는 GC0.5처리구가 대조구 및 GC10. 처리구보다 유의적으로 낮게 평가되었다(quadratic effect, p<0.01). 난각두께에 있어서는 대조구와 처리구간에 통계적으로 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다. 난황색은 대조구와 처리구간에 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았으며, 난황계수에 있어서는 GC1.0 처리구가 다른 처리구와 비교하여 높게 평가되었다(quadratic effect, P<0.02). 혈청내 총 콜레스테롤 및 중성지질 함량에 있어서는 GC의 첨가수준이 증가함에 따라 감소하는 경향을 나타내었으나 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다. 또한, 혈청 내 HDL 및 LDL+VLDL 콜레스테롤 함량에 있어서는 GC0.5 처리구가 다른 처리구와 비교하여 가장 낮게 평가되었으나 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다. 혈중 내 적혈구 및 백혈구 농도는 비특이 면역증가제의 첨가수준이 증가함에 따라 유의적으로 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다(linear effect, p<0.01) . 혈중내 hematocrit 함량은 대조구와 비교하여 게르마늄 용질액을 첨가함에 따라 유의적으로 증가하는 경향을 보였다(linear effect, p<0.01). 결론적으로, 산란계 사료내 GC의 첨가는 난각특성에는 영향을 미치지 못하는 것으로 사료되나, 산란계의 면역활성화를 유도할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제63권6호
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• pp.1275-1285
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• 2021

The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary palm kernel meal (PKM) and β-xylanase supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, fatty liver incidence, and excreta characteristics in laying hens. A total of 320 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (33 weeks of age) were allotted to 1 of 4 treatments with 8 replicates in a feeding trial. Each replicate consisted of 10 consecutive cages with 1 hen per cage. The corn-soybean meal-based control diet was prepared. Additional diet was prepared by including 10% of PKM in the control diet with a partial replacement of corn, soybean meal, and animal fat. In addition, 0.025% β-xylanase was supplemented at the expense of celite to those 2 diets to produce 4 treatment diets in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. All hens were provided the diet and water ad libitum for 8 weeks. Results indicated no significant interactions between inclusion of dietary PKM and β-xylanase for all measurements; therefore, the main effects were mainly discussed. Hens fed diets containing 10% PKM had greater (p < 0.05) feed intake and yolk color than those fed diets containing no PKM. However, dietary PKM did not influence fatty liver incidence and excreta characteristics. Dietary β-xylanase supplementation had no effects on all measurements, regardless of inclusion of PKM. In conclusion, PKM can be a potential feed ingredient for laying hens at the inclusion of 10% in the diet. It appears that dietary β-xylanase used in the current experiment has little effect on layer productivity, regardless of inclusion of 10% PKM in the diet.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.285-294
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the supplementary effect of a phytogenic blend (SPA: a mixture containing fermented Schisandra chinensis pomace, fermented Pinus densiflora needle extract, and Allium tuberosum powder in the ratio of 2:2:1) on egg production, egg quality, blood constituents, and visceral organs in laying hens. Methods: A total of 135 Hy-line brown laying hens (48-wk-old) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments with 5 replicates of 9 hens. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet (no exogenous SPA addition) and the experimental groups were fed the basal diet containing SPA at the level of 0.1% and 0.3% for 6 weeks. Results: The feed intake was significantly improved in SPA supplemented groups as compared with the control (p<0.05). However, egg production, daily egg mass, and feed conversion ratio were not different among the dietary treatments (p>0.05). For egg quality traits, only Haugh unit (HU) was significantly improved in SPA (0.3%) (p<0.05) as compared with other groups. However, HU was not affected during 4-wk of storage at 18℃ among the dietary treatments (p>0.05). Furthermore, SPA supplementation did not affect the blood biochemical constituents except for the phosphate content, which was significantly higher in SPA groups than the CON group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in visceral organ characteristics and immune indicators (immunoglobulin A [IgA], IgG, and IgM) in SPA or CON groups. Conclusion: This study suggested that the supplementation of SPA may have beneficial effects on feed intake and egg quality in laying hens.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

본 실험은 구기자와 감초 복합제를 수준별 급여가 산란계의 생산성, 혈액성상 및 면역 성상에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위해 실시하였다. 사양시험은 60주령의 산란계(Hy- Line Brown) 800수를 선별하여 A형 2단 4열 케이지에 대조구 포함, 총 4처리구(HM 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 및 1.5% 첨가구)로 구성하여 처리당 4반복, 반복당 50수씩(2수 수용 케이지 25개) 난괴법으로 임의 배치하였다. 시험 기간 동안 물과 사료는 자유 섭취하게 하였으며, 일반적인 점등관리(자연일조+조명=16hr)를 실시하였다. 산란율(hen-day egg production)은 7주 평균에서 HM 0.5%, 1.5%을 첨가한 처리구에서 대조구와 비교하여 유의적으로(P<0.05) 높았으며, HM을 첨가한 처리구 간에는 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 사료 요구율은 HM 0.5% 첨가구에서 유의적으로(P<0.05) 가장 낮았다. 난황색은 HM 첨가구들이 대조구와 비교하여 유의적으로(P<0.05) 높았다. 반면, 혈액 성상 중 leukocytes 함량들은 모든 항목에서 유의적인 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 혈장 IgM 함량은 HM 첨가구들이 대조구와 비교하여 유의적으로(P<0.05) 높았다. 결론적으로 HM은 산란계의 산란율 개선에 효과적이었으며, 면역성상중 IgM을 향상시키는 효과를 나타내었다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권10호
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• pp.1478-1483
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• 2006

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of supplementation of L-carnitine and humic substances alone or in combination in laying hen diets on performance, egg traits and blood parameters. A total of 180 IGH type brown laying hens aged 22 weeks were employed in a completely randomized block design with one control group and three treatment groups. Each group was divided into five replicates as subgroups, each comprising 9 hens. The diets of the first, second and third treatment groups were supplemented with 0.1 g/kg L-carnitine, 1.5 g/kg humic substances (Farmagulator$^{(R)}$ Dry Plus) and 0.1 g/kg L-carnitine+1.5 g/kg humic substances, respectively. The experimental period lasted 18 weeks. Feeding supplemental carnitine, humic substances or carnitine+humic substances resulted in increases in body weight gain (p<0.05). Dietary treatments did not significantly affect daily feed intake, daily metabolizable energy intake, egg production, egg weight, feed efficiency, mortality, egg shape index, egg breaking strength, egg shell thickness, egg albumen index, egg yolk index, egg Haugh unit and the percentages of egg shell, albumen and yolk. Supplementation of humic substances reduced egg yolk cholesterol as mg per g yolk and mg per yolk (p<0.05). Blood serum parameters were not affected by the supplementation of carnitine, humic substances or carnitine+humic substances. The results in this study demonstrated that humic substances supplementation reduced egg cholesterol without adverse effects on performance, egg traits and blood parameters of laying hens. It was concluded that the usage of L-carnitine alone or in combination with humic substances in diets had no beneficial effects in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권10호
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• pp.1450-1455
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary ${\beta}-mannanase$ on productive performance, egg quality, and utilization of dietary energy and nutrients in aged laying hens raised under hot climatic conditions. Methods: A total of 320 84-wk-old Hy-line Brown aged laying hens were allotted to one of four treatments with eight replicates in a completely randomized design. Two dietary treatments with high energy (HE; 2,800 kcal/kg nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy [$AME_n$]) and low energy (LE; 2,700 kcal/kg $AME_n$) were formulated. Two additional diets were prepared by adding 0.04% (MN4) or 0.08% ${\beta}-mannanase$ (MN8) to LE treatment diets. The feeding trial was conducted for 28 d, covering a period from July to August in South Korea. The average daily room temperature and relative humidity were $29.2^{\circ}C$ and 83%, respectively. Results: Productive performance, egg quality, and cloacal temperature were not influenced by dietary treatments. The measured $AME_n$ values for MN8 diets were similar to those for HE diets, which were greater (p<0.05) than those for LE and MN4 diets. However, the $AME_n$ values for MN8 diets did not differ from those for LE and MN4 diets. Conclusion: The addition of ${\beta}-mannanase$ to low energy diets increases energy values for diets fed to aged laying hens. However, this increase has little positive impacts on performance and egg quality. These results indicate that dietary ${\beta}-mannanase$ does not mitigate the heat stress of aged laying hens raised under hot climatic conditions.