• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of natural mineral complex fed to laying hens during the summer in terms of the egg quality. A total of 480 laying hens (160 leghorns, 160 Korean native chickens and 160 silkies, all 62 weeks old), were used for 4 weeks. The four dietary treatments were as follows: CON) basal diet; MC1) CON + 0.1% natural mineral complex (NMC); NMC3) CON + 0.3% NMC, and NMC5) CON + 0.5% NMC. In terms of egg weight, the NMC3 and NMC5 treatments had significantly higher egg weights than that of the CON (p < 0.001) in all species. Eggshell strength in the NMC3 and NMC5 treatments was significantly higher than that of the CON in the leghorns on 2 week (p < 0.01). In the Korean native chickens, the eggshell strength for the NMC1, NMC3 and NMC5 treatments was significantly higher than that of the CON during all periods. In 4 week, the eggshell strength for the CON and NMC1 treatment was significantly higher in the leghorns (p < 0.001), but the MC treatments had a significantly higher eggshell strength than that of the CON in Korean native chickens. Egg production was significantly improved in all the treatments compared to the NMC3 treatment (p < 0.05), and hatchability was also improved compared to the CON (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of natural mineral complex in chicken diets influenced the egg quality during the summer season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.839-844
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• 2012

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of single or multi-particle size limestone on the egg shell quality, egg production, egg quality and feed intake in laying hens. A total of 280 laying hens (ISA brown) were used in this 10-wk trial. Laying hens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 14 replications per treatment and 5 adjacent cages as a replication (hens were caged individually). The experimental treatments were: i) L, basal diet+10% large particle limestone; ii) LS1, basal diet+8% large particle limestone+2% small particle limestone; iii) LS2, basal diet+6% large particle limestone+4% small particle limestone; iv) S, basal diet+10% small particle limestone. The egg production was unaffected by dietary treatments. The egg weight in S treatment was lighter than other treatments (p<0.05). The egg specific gravity in S treatment was lower than other treatments (p<0.05). The eggshell strength and eggshell thickness in S treatment were decreased when compared with other dietary treatments (p<0.05). The laying hens in LS1 and LS2 treatment had a higher average feed intake than the other two treatments (p<0.05). Collectively，the dietary multi-particle size limestone supplementation could be as efficient as large particle size limestone.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2020

In this study, sixteen egg quality traits, including egg weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, eggshell weight, albumen weight ratio, yolk weight ratio, eggshell weight ratio, yolk color, eggshell color, egg height, egg width, shape index, albumen height, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness, and eggshell strength were investigated in 12 strains of Korean native chicken using 600 eggs from birds at 38 weeks of age. Results showed that the Korean White Leghorn F strain had the highest egg weight of 62.7 g and the lowest (47.5 g) was observed in the Korean native chicken W strain. The Haugh unit was significantly different between strains. The mean Haugh unit for Korean native chicken ranged between 84.2 (L strain) and 76.0 (F strain), with an overall average of 79.9. Eggshells were the thinnest in Korean Rhode Island Red C and D strains (0.342 mm), whereas the highest eggshell thickness (0.393 mm) was observed in the Korean White Leghorn K strain. Korean Rhode Island Red C and D strains had low egg strength compared to that of other strains. Korean Cornish and Korean native chicken showed significant differences in egg quality traits between strains within breeds. Positive correlation coefficients were observed between egg weight and egg quality traits. The traits for color showed zero or low correlations with most egg quality traits. Egg shape index showed no correlation with most egg quality traits. Albumen height and the Haugh unit showed a positive correlation with albumen traits. Eggshell strength showed a positive correlation with eggshell traits.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1044-1054
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• 2020

This study was performed to investigate the effects of lotus leaf hot water extracts treatment on the quality and stability of eggs using impregnation treatment through ultrasonication during storage. A total of 480 eggs were categorized into four treatment groups (n=30 each)-non-treated (CON), soaked for 30 min in lotus leaf hot water extracts without ultrasonication (T1), sonicated in distilled water (T2), and sonicated in lotus leaf hot water extracts (T3)-and stored for 15 d at 30℃. The egg weight, Haugh unit (HU), egg grade, albumen height, yolk color, eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, and weight loss were measured for egg quality assessment. 2-Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) contents were measured as stability indicators. Additionally, total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were evaluated. The HU, egg grade, albumen height, and yolk color of T3 were significantly higher than those of CON (p<0.05). No significant differences in eggshell thickness and eggshell breaking strength are observed among the groups. The weight loss of T3 was significantly lower than that of the other groups during storage (p<0.05). The application of lotus leaf hot water extracts also significantly reduced TBARS and VBN (p<0.05). The TPC, TFC, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of T3 were significantly higher than those of the other groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that lotus leaf hot water extracts may be useful as a natural ingredient for improving the quality and stability of eggs during storage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1458-1463
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• 2016

A 42-d study with 384 Hy-line brown laying hens was conducted to assess the effects of dietary octacosanol supplementation on laying performance, egg quality and blood metabolites of laying hens. Hens were randomly allocated into 4 dietary groups of 8 cages each, which were fed basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 9 (OCT9), 18 (OCT18), and 27 (OCT27) mg/kg diet of octacosanol isolated from rice bran, respectively. The experiment was conducted in an environmental controlled house and hens were fed twice daily for ad libitum intake. Laying performance was determined over the 42-d period, and egg quality as well as blood metabolites were estimated on d 21 and d 42. Diets in OCT18 and OCT27 increased (p<0.05) laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, egg albumen height, Haugh unit and eggshell strength on d 42, but decreased (p<0.05) feed conversion rate and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum as compared to those of Control. Feed intake, yolk color, yolk diameter, eggshell thickness and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were similar (p>0.05) among treatments. Results demonstrate that supplementing 18 to 27 mg/kg diet of rice bran octacosanol can improve laying rate and egg quality and reduce blood lipid of laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.290-296
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• 2003

Tsaiya ducks and Leghorn hens are the two major laying birds raised in Taiwan. They are all excellent egg layers. Tsaiya ducks are small in body size (1.3 kg) with bigger egg weight (65 g) and stronger eggshell breaking strength than eggs from hens. The eggshell consists mainly of calcium carbonate, hence calcium plays an important role in the eggshell formation. Magnesium is also present in eggshell in small amounts, which may have effect on maintaining eggshell quality. In comparison studies, it was shown that the duck eggshells contained higher calcium and lower magnesium content than chicken eggshells. The eggshell magnesium content was not affected by the dietary magnesium levels (690-2380 ppm) in ducks, but in hens, it increased linearly with dietary magnesium levels. The palisade layer ($5000{\times}$) of the eggshell was found to have a compact form for ducks while there are many hallow vesicles in chicken eggshells. The eggshell magnesium deposition model is different for ducks and hens with ducks having a one-peak and hens having a two-peak model. The calcium deposition model is similar for both birds. Both the carbonic anhydrase specific activity and total activity in the shell gland mucosa of ducks are higher than those in hens. Ducks retain higher magnesium and lower calcium in the shell gland mucosa and secret less magnesium and more calcium into the shell gland lumen for eggshell deposition. The ATPase specific activity is maintained fairly constant during the eggshell forming stage, indicating continuous calcium transport into the shell gland lumen for eggshell formation. The magnesium content in duck eggshells is much lower than that in hens indicating that the magnesium content in the eggshell may have an effect on eggshell quality.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1998

The effects of dietary levels and feeding period of Korean hot pepper (Capsicum annum) seed on the performance and egg quality were investigated. Rhode Island Red layers of 84 wk of age were fed the experimental diets containing O.O(Control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% of HPS, respectively, in individual cages during 10 wk of the feeding period. The dietary hot pepper seed significantly(P<0.05) improved hen-day egg production and daily egg rnass, but reduced egg weight(P<0.05). During the 10 wk of the feeding period, the egg production and daily egg mass improved after 6 or 7 wk of feeding 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0% hot pepper seed diets. When the layers were fed the 3.0% HPS diet, it only took 1 wk to improve the egg production and daily egg mass. In addition, the birds fed 3.0% hot pepper seed diet showed relatively constant egg weight while those of the Control increased gradually as the feeding period passed. The dietary hot pepper seed significantly improved the eggshell thickness, and redness and whole color of egg yolk. The results indicate that dietary hot pepper seed( $\geq$2.0%) may improve the egg production and egg shell thickness, and increase the redness of egg yolk in layers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.671-682
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Ca levels and some feed additives such as isoflavone and casein phosphopeptide (CPP) on eggshell quality and hatching egg production in aged egg-type breeder hens. A total of three hundred and sixty, 56-week-old Hy-Line Brown breeder hens were divided into six groups and fed experimental diets of two levels of Ca (3.3% or 3.6%) either with addition of 0.2% isoflavone, 0.5% CPP or devoid of all for 5 weeks. There were no significant differences in laying performances and settable egg production among the groups. Significant increases (P<0.05) in eggshell strength were observed with increasing dietary Ca and addition of isoflavone, but not with addition of CPP. Fertility and hatchability were not influenced by dietary Ca and addition of isoflavone or CPP. The treatment had few significant effects on tibial proximal compositions and breaking strength. The concentrations of Ca, P, estrogen and calcitonin in serum were not affected by the dietary treatments. These results indicated that relatively high level of dietary Ca in combination with isoflavone had a beneficial effect on improving eggshell quality in aged egg-type breeder hens. But hatching egg production was not affected by dietary isoflavone or CPP.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.404-408
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effects of laying productivity and egg quality according to providing germinated and fermented soybean (GFS) as feed additive. Among the strain, we selected Monascus purpureus KCCM 12002 so that inoculated in soybean and fermented for 48 h at $20^{\circ}C$. A total of two-hundred forty 70-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were divided into four groups (4 treatment${\times}$6 replication${\times}$10 birds each) and fed diets containing 0 (as control) (T1), 0.5% (T2), 1.0% (T3) or 2.0% GFS (T4) for 6 wk. The laying productivity, egg quality and blood property in the egg yolk were experimented. There were no significant differences in the laying productivity, relative liver and spleen weights, egg yolk color and eggshell strength among another groups. The eggshell color, eggshell thickness and haugh unit significantly increased in the GFS-supplemented group (p<0.05) compared to control. However, no significant differences were observed in the blood property after supplementation. The amount of lactic acid bacteria present during storage increased by providing of GFS (p<0.05) compare to control group. Our study results suggested that GFS can be used as a favorable feed additive and feedstuff for the productivity of high quality eggs and promoted relative industry.