• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.119-128
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• 1998

On account of the recent improvement in performance of brown layers, the market share taken by brown layers has increased to about 50% in the world and to almost 100% in Korea. There are several other reasons why the industry has moved from white to brown, such as : brown layers are used to be more robust, more docile and easier to manage ; e brown layers are easier to sex at the hatchery ; brown layers lay less second grade eggs, due to a better shell Quality ; brown eggs seem to be more attractive than white ; and a clear consumer preference, thus a better price per egg. More recently, however, the trend towards brown eggs has been slowing down. The main reasons for this lie in that white layers can still produce an egg at a lower cost and that white eggs have better de-shelling properties, easier candling and higher yolk and solid content of the liquid egg which are benefits for egg processing industry. Although the performance of the brown layers is still improving, there are increasing opinions in the poultry industry that the market portion of white layers should be increased based on the following reasons, such as : shell color has no effect on the nutritive value of eggs ; . brown layers consume more feed ; the percentage of meat spots is significantly higher in brown eggs than in white eggs ; . brown layers are less efficient in the second cycle of production than in the first ; white layers are more resistant to the disease of fowl typhoid. In order to increase the market share of white layers in Korea, it may be needed to enlighten the consumers not to prefer the brown and large eggs and to inform the excellencies of white eggs widely.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.141-151
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• 2000

Over-grown seaweeds in Donghae(east sea of Korea peninsula) may impedes ocean environment, however, they can be a good nutrient resources for poultry feeds if they are utilized properly. In this study, seaweeds powder were tested for laying hens\` ration to investigate the effects on egg production rate, egg quality and calcium phosphorus excretion. One hundred 65wks-old brown layers were fed for 5 weeks alotted with seaweeds powder addition to experimental diet by 0(control), 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%, respectively, and obtained following results; 1. Seaweeds proved a mid-protein low-energy feed resources with planty of K, Na, Ca, Mg, Sr and Fe. 2. Seaweeds addition by 0.5% and 1.0% improved egg production rate and egg-mass output markedly(p<0.05) than control. Seaweeds addition did not alter cholesterol level of yolk and yolk index, however egg shell thickness showed increasing trend by increasing seaweeds addition level. 3. Protein absorption and digestibility in seaweed addition treatments were significantly higher(p<0.05) than control group and protein contents of excreta in 0.5% and 1.0% treatments were reduced(p<0.05), which suggests effective protein metabolism for egg production. Increasing seaweeds addition reduces Ca and P contents in rectum and excreta, suggesting Ca and P utilization improvement in laying hens and lessening soil pollution. 4. In conclusion, seaweeds addition in layers' diet by 1.0% level improves egg-mass production and might be egg quality by increasing metabolism of protein, calcium and phosphorus.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2011

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of supplementing different levels of kaolin (Exp. 1) and effects of age of layers and levels of kaolin (Exp. 2) on the performance, egg and shell quality parameters of laying hens. In Exp.1, 64 laying hens of 58 wks age were randomly allotted to 4 treatments of 16 hens in each. Dietary treatments were basal diet supplemented with 0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% kaolin. In Exp. 2 96 laying hens were divided into 6 groups of 16 hens each in a 2 ${\times}$ 3 factorial arrangement (two different ages, 30 and 58 wk and three levels of kaolin, 0.0, 0.2 and 0.4%). In both the experiment there were linear decreases in feed intake (P<0.001), improvement in FCR (P<0.05), and egg production (P<0.05), with increasing dietary kolin level. Supplementation of kaolin had no effect on the egg and shell quality parameters in both experiments. Thus, it is concluded that kaolin may improve performance, and 0.2% level showed the best laying performance.

• 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.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1296-1302
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• 2009

Ninety six beak-trimmed 72 week-old Lohmann Brown hens were randomly divided into four equal groups. Each group comprised 4 replicates. Isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets contained low calcium (3.5%); optimum calcium (4.2%); low Ca (3.5% Ca)+1% Clinoptilolite (CLP); low Ca (3.5% Ca)+2% CLP. Data were collected biweekly and the experiment lasted 6 weeks. Egg production, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, tibia Ca, P, ash and eggshell thickness were not affected by addition of CLP to the diets (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in egg shell strength and ash when data were analyzed individually in measurement periods ($74^{th}$, $76^{th}$ and $78^{th}$ weeks). However, according to pooled data ($74^{th}$-$78^{th}$ weeks), eggshell strength was increased (p<0.05) only by 2% CLP supplementation versus low Ca (3.5%) diet, and shell ash was significantly increased by 2% CLP supplementation compared with the other diets. The damaged egg ratio on 1% and 2% CLP diets was significantly decreased between 76-78 weeks'data when compared with the low Ca diet. However; damaged egg ratio on the 2% CLP diet was significantly decreased when pooled data (74-78) were compared with no CLP diets. The differences in marketable egg ratio paralleled damaged egg ratio. The plasma calcium level at the end of experiment was increased on the 2% CLP diet when compared with the low Ca (3.5%) diet (p<0.05). Furthermore, at the end of the experiment a marked decrease of manure moisture was observed on both CLP diets (p<0.01). In conclusion, Clinoptilolite (2%) supplementation to layer diets tends to improve eggshell quality and manure dry matter (1% and 2% CLP) after six weeks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2007

The effects of microbial phytase on laying performance, egg quality, and ileal digestibility of nutrients and amino acids were examined at three levels of phytase (0, 300, 600 unit/kg) in 55-wk-old White Leghorn for 4 weeks. Egg productivity tended to increase with supplemental phytase compared to that of control. Daily feed intake of hens fed phytase also increased. Egg shell thickness was not significantly different among the treatments. Haugh unit and yolk color were not statistically different. However, egg shell breaking strength was high at phytase treatment. Excretion and absorption of nitrogen were no difference among all treatments, but those of phosphorus was higher in the phytase treatment than control. The digestibility was high at crude fiber, crude ash, calcium and phosphorus in nutrients, at lysine, methionine and phenylalanine in essential amino acids, and alanine, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine and tyrosine in non-essential amino acids. In conclusion, supplemental microbial phytase in laying hens diet may help to improve egg production and to decrease P of feces. But, further studies were needed to investigate on the digestibility.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2001

This study conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Korean medical herb residue on egg quality and serum cholesterol of laying hens under heat stress. One hundred forty four, 41 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were used in a 28 d growth assay with a 7d adjustment period. Dietary treatments Included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) KMHR1.0 (basal diet+1.0% korean medical herb residue), 2) KMHR2.0 (basal diet+2.0% Korean medical herb residue). For overall Period, laying hens fed KMHR1.0 diet were higher hen-day egg production than laying hens fed Control and KMHR2.0 diets with significant difference (quadratic effect, p<0.01). Egg weight, egg shell breaking strength and egg shell thickness were not influenced by Korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). As adding level of Korean medical herb residue increased in the diets, yolk color tended to increase, however, the differences failed to reach significance (P>0.05). Also, egg yolk index was not influenced by korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). Total-, HDL- LDL+VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum tended to increase as the concentration of Korean medical herb residue in the diets was increased without significant difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 1.0% Korean medical herb residue to a corn SBM meal diet for laying hens increased hen-day egg production.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing earthworm meal(EWM) on the egg quality and performance of laying hens. A total of 360 laying hens at 55 weeks of age were fed the experimental diets containing 0(Control), 0.3 and 0.6% of EWM for 5 weeks. Eggs were collected and weighed in every day and egg production and feed conversion were weekly recorded. However egg quality were measured fer last week of experimental period. When fed both 0.3 and 0.6% of EWM, egg production and daily egg mass tended to increase but were not different between those treatments. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio of laying hens were not different among three groups. Egg shell thickness, breaking strength, color and egg yolk color were tend to improve in both 0.3 and 0.6% of EWM compared to those of control. The haugh units(HUs) showed no difference among each treatments at 14 after laying egg, but increased in EWM treatments compared to control for storage period. As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb detected 4.41, 1.23, 1.18, 0.00 and 3.39ppm in EWM, respectively, but which were not detected in control. It assumed that supplementing 0.3% of earthworm meal in the 55 weeks old laying hens diet, improved the laying performance and egg quality.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.748-757
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• 2019

The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of probiotic mixture (PM) including Bacillus subtillus, Streptomyces galilaeus and Sphingobacteriaceae on egg production, egg quality, and eliminating odor in laying hens. A total of 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (50 wks of age) were divided into four treatment groups (60 replicates of birds, each) in completely randomized design. Groups were assigned to four experimental diets: CON (a basal diet of no PM additive as control), basal diet supplemented with either CP3 (0.3% commercial probiotics), PM3 (0.3% PM), or PM5 (0.5% PM 0.5). Data of egg production and egg quality were obtained during 6 weeks of experimental period. Egg production, Haugh unit, shell thickness, breaking strength, yolk color, and albumin high were significantly increased in CP3 and PM3 compared to those in CON and CP3. Ammonia levels and numbers of E. coli, total aerobic bacteria, Coliform, and Salmonella in feces were significantly increased in order of CON>CP3>PM3>PM5. The present study indicates that addition of 0.3% probiotic mixture including B. subtillus, S. galilaeus and Sphingobacteriaceae to diets may improve egg production, egg quality, and eliminate fecal ammonia of laying hens.