• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1009-1014
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• 2012

Environmental stress boosts the levels of stress hormones and accelerates energy expenditure which subsequently imbalance the body's homeostasis. L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) has been recognized to mitigate the negative impact of environmental stress on production performances in birds. The present investigation was carried out to elucidate the effect of different dietary levels of L-AA on production performance, egg quality traits and fertility in Japanese quail at low ambient temperature. Sixty matured females (15 wks) were equally divided into three groups (20/group) based on the different dietary levels of L-AA (0, 250 and 500 ppm) and coupled with an equal number of males (1:1) obtained from the same hatch. They were managed in uniform husbandry conditions without restriction of feed and water at 14 h photo-schedule. Except for feed efficiency, body weight change, feed consumption and hen-day egg production were recorded highest in 500 ppm L-AA supplemented groups. Among the all egg quality traits studied, only specific gravity, shell weight and thickness differed significantly (p<0.05) in the present study. Fertility was improved significantly ($p{\leq}0.01$) to a dose dependent manner of L-AA. The findings of the present study concluded that dietary L-AA can be a caring management practice at least in part to alleviate the adverse effect of cold induced stress on production performance in Japanese quail.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2008

This experiment deals with lycopene-enriched egg production in chicken and their effects on egg quality, especially antioxidant status of eggs upon their long term storage. Forty two laying hens(Hyline, 36 weeks of age) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 diets containing 0 mg and 2 mg lycopene per kilogram feed for 4 weeks. There was a comparable concentration of lycopene in egg yolk($1.57{\mu}g$/1 g yolk) of chickens supplemented with dietary lycopene. No measurable concentration of lycopene was detected in egg yolk of chickens fed the control diet. Dietary lycopene supplementation increased egg yolk color(P<0.01), egg yolk height(P<0.08), egg yolk diameter(P<0.19), egg shell intensity(P<0.19), egg white height(P<0.33), and Haugh unit (P<0.34). After 4 week of storage of eggs in room temperature, lycopene treated eggs were tested for freshness. The ESI, EYH, EWH, HU, and EYC of lycopene treated eggs were comparably higher than those of control groups, even though there was not statistically significant difference between two groups whereas EYD of the control group was smaller than that of lycopene treated group. In conclusion, dietary lycopene supplementation to chickens might be improved egg quality.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.361-368
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to determine optimum levels of dietary crude protein for productivity and egg quality in laying hens during early stage. A total of seven hundred and twenty 24-wk-old Hy-Line Variety Brown layers were randomly assigned to 4 experimental diets varying with 16%, 17%, 18%, and 19% CP and fed the diets for 12 wks. There were no significant differences in egg production, daily egg mass and feed intake among experimental diets. Although no difference was found on egg weight among experimental diets, decreasing levels of dietary crude protein tended to reduce the egg weight. Haugh unit and egg shell quality were not affected by different levels of dietary crude protein. Although there was no difference on yolk color among experimental diets, increasing levels of dietary crude protein slightly reduced the yolk color. It is concluded that laying hens did not need more than 16% CP to maximize egg production.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2006

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of medicinal plant by-products on productivity and egg quality in laying hens. A total of five hundred sixty laying hens was randomly distributed into 7 treatments with 4 replicates of 20 birds per replicate and fed com-soy based experimental diets containing 1.5% and 3.0% by-products of Cordyceps militaris, Artemisia capillaris and Curcuma aromatica S., respectively for 12 weeks. Egg production was not significantly different among treatments. Haugh unit was significantly increased in all treatments compared to control(p<0.05). There was no difference among the treatments in egg shell breaking strength, shell thickness, and yolk color. In conclusion, three medicinal by-products used in this experiment did not affect feed intake, egg production and showed positive effect on Haugh unit when they used $1.5{\sim}3.0%$ of feed.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and a probiotic mixture on egg production and quality, blood parameters, and stress levels (corticosterone) in Hy-Line parent stock during summer in Korea. A total of 105 Hy-Line parent stock aged 24 weeks were randomly divided into three groups, each containing thirty-five birds: control, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and probiotics (1 × 10⁸/g Bacillus licheniformis, 1 × 10⁷/g Lactobacillus plantarum, and 1 × 10⁷/g Corynebacterium butyricum). The hens were fed a diet containing 50 ppm GABA or 0.1% probiotics for 6 weeks. Compared with the control group, the hen-day egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio over the total period were significantly higher in the probiotic group (P<0.05). In contrast no significant differences were detected among groups with respect to egg weight, albumen height, Haugh units, yolk color, shell thickness or shell strength. Similarly, no significant difference were observed among groups with regards to biochemical profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, and inorganic phosphorus). However, compared with the control group, we did detect significant reductions in corticosterone levels in the GABA and probiotics groups (P<0.05). On the basis of our findings in this study, it would appear that dietary GABA and probiotics can alleviate heat stress in Hy-Line parent stock, with probiotics in particular being found to promote significant improvements in the hen-day egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion of laying hens during the summer season in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the ffeding value of dried fly larva (DFL), and the effects of dietary DFL on the performance of laying hens. Ninety laying hens of 43 weeks of age(ISA brown) were randomly allotted to 5dietary treatments (0, 2, 5, 10 and $15\%$ DFL), and fed one of the experimental diets for 8 weeks. The formulae of 5 experimental diets were modified to contain $18.8\%$ CP and 2,900 ME kcal/kg. There were 3 replicates per treatment, and 6 brids Per replicate. No significant difference was found in egg Production among dietary treatments. The egg weight was increased (p<0.05) in DFL treatments compared to the control. Also, the egg shell breaking strength was increased(p<0.05) in DFL treatments by $14\%$ compared to the control. The saturated fatty acid content in egg yolk was decreased by $16\%$, and that of unsaturated fatty acid increased by $7\%$ in DFL treatments. Therefore, it could be suggested that DFL supplementation could improve the egg Qualify by increasing the egg weight, egg shell strength, and unsaturated fatty acid content in egg yolk.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.215-220
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• 2017

Cut Kimchi cabbages ($3{\times}3cm$) were dipped in the egg shell solution (0.5% egg shell calcium/0.5% citric acid solution) and stored in the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film bag at $4^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks. Using this cut Kimchi cabbage, kimchi was prepared and their physicochemical qualities were investigated. Moreover, their sensory qualities were compared with Kimchi prepared with normal Kimchi cabbages. Egg shell calcium pretreatment (ET) showed the lower weight loss of cabbages than non-treatment (NT), and soluble solid compounds were decreased in all samples. Titratable acidity showed no statistical difference. After making a kimchi using cut Kimchi cabbages stored for 2 weeks no statistical differences in soluble solids and titratable acidities of kimchi stored for 7 days were shown. As a result of sensory test, preference of color was decreased and salted condition of control was the most significantly decreased. Pickled seafood odor of kimchi showed statistical difference, compared with the control. Crispness decreased in all samples. On the other hand, salty flavor and pickled seafood flavor were increased, fresh cabbage flavor, bitter flavor and carbonic flavor were decreased. Overall sensory quality of cut Kimchi cabbage (ETK) didn't show significant difference compare with kimchi prepared with normal cabbage (CON). It is possible to make kimchi with approvable sensory quality using cut Kimchi cabbage treated with egg shell calcium.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1006-1013
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• 2015

Heat-stress remains a costly issue for animal production, especially for poultry as they lack sweat glands, and alleviating heat-stress is necessary for ensuring animal production in hot environment. A high ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producer Lactobacillus strain was used to investigate the effect of dietary GABA-producer on laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed Hy-line brown hens. Hy-Line brown hens (n = 1,164) at 280 days of age were randomly divided into 4 groups based on the amount of freeze-dried GABA-producer added to the basal diet as follows: i) 0 mg/kg, ii) 25 mg/kg, iii) 50 mg/kg, and iv) 100 mg/kg. All hens were subjected to heat-stress treatment through maintaining the temperature and the relative humidity at $28.83{\pm}3.85^{\circ}C$ and 37% to 53.9%, respectively. During the experiment, laying rate, egg weight and feed intake of hens were recorded daily. At the 30th and 60th day after the start of the experiment, biochemical parameters, enzyme activity and immune activity in serum were measured. Egg production, average egg weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and percentage of speckled egg, soft shell egg and misshaped egg were significantly improved (p<0.05) by the increasing supplementation of the dietary GABA-producer. Shape index, eggshell thickness, strength and weight were increased linearly with increasing GABA-producer supplementation. The level of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein and albumin in serum of the hens fed GABA-producing strain supplemented diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the hens fed the basal diet, whereas cholesterol level was decreased. Compared with the basal diet, GABA-producer strain supplementation increased serum level of glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.009) and superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, GABA-producer played an important role in alleviating heat-stress, the isolated GABA-producer strain might be a potential natural and safe probiotic to use to improve laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed hens.