• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.553-558
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• 2001

The effect of poor feather cover on feed intake and production was examined in two commercial strains of layers (tinted and brown egg) over 91-98 weeks of age. Hens were housed at four per cage ($600cm^2/bird$) in a commercial layer shed which ranged in temperature from 13.2 to $16.8^{\circ}C$. At the start of the experiment 50% of the birds were classified as having poor feather cover. Feather score was highly correlated with feed intake. Poor feather cover on the neck and the back were the best indicators of hens with high feed intake. Feed intake of hens with poor feather cover was 16% higher (p<0.05) than hens with good feather cover. Hens with good feather cover produced more eggs (p<0.05) early in the trial and had a higher (p<0.05) liveweight, but there was no significant differences in egg weight. Feed per dozen eggs was superior (p<0.05) in hens with good feather cover. Feather cover on the back and vent were the best indicators of overall feather score, while the tail, base of tail and vent were the body parts most affected in birds with poor feather cover.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.589-600
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• 2021

The present study investigated the effect of perch material type (wood and steel) on performance, blood characteristics, and feather pecking. A total of 1,700, one-day-old female Hy-Line brown chicks were evenly assigned to two treatments (wood and steel). The body weight and uniformity of birds were investigated over a 10-week experimental period. Blood characteristics and feather pecking was conducted at week 10. The wood perch treatment (WP) and steel perch treatment (SP) did not differ in their body weight, uniformity, and serum biochemical profile (except inorganic phosphorus) of pullets. Inorganic phosphorus on serum in WP significantly higher than that in SP (P<0.05). Blood corpuscle composition (leukocyte, erythrocyte, and Heterophil / Lymphocyte ratio) of pullets did not show any significant differences among treatments at week 10. Serum corticosterone and feather score that is stress and welfare indices were not affected by the type of perch material. In conclusion, our results suggest that performance, blood characteristics, and feather pecking of pullets were not affected by the perch material type. The results of this study can serve as basic data for investigating the effects of perch type on layer pullets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.937-945
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• 2010

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary zinc (Zn), environmental temperatures and Zn${\times}$temperature interaction on growth, feathering score and mineral composition of broilers. A total of 256 d-old Avian male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to a $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement with four corn-soybean meal basal diets (containing 44 mg Zn/kg) supplemented with 0, 40, 60 mg/kg Zn (Diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively; 0.8% Ca for these three diets) and non-Zn supplementation, 1.6% Ca (Diet 4) and two temperature conditions (low: 26, 24, $22^{\circ}C$ vs. high: 30, 28, $26^{\circ}C$). All birds were given feathering coverage scores for back, breast, wing, under-wing and tail. The wing and tail were further evaluated for the occurrence and severity of defect feathers. Feathers were then pooled for mineral composition analysis. The results showed that in high temperature conditions, broilers fed Zn-unsupplemented, 0.8% Ca ration (Diet 1) had significantly (p<0.05) lower ADFI and ADG (wk 1-6) than birds under low temperature conditions. However, when the birds were fed 40 and 60 mg/kg Zn supplementation (Diets 2 and 3), the ADFI and ADG in both temperature conditions were not significantly different. In low temperature conditions, the ADFI, ADG (p<0.05), all feather coverage (p<0.01) and tail defect scores (p<0.001) of birds fed Diet 4 (excess Ca) were significantly poorer than those fed Diet 1. More Ca (p<0.05) was retained in the feathers of broilers fed Diet 4 under high temperature conditions. Broilers fed the Zn-unsupplemented ration (Diet 1) had significantly higher feather phosphorus (p<0.01) and potassium (p<0.05) concentrations than those fed the 60 mg/kg Zn-supplemented ration (Diet 3). A reduction of feather phosphorus (p<0.01) and potassium (p<0.05) and higher manganese (p<0.05) concentrations were observed in Diet 4 broilers as compared to those fed Diet 1. Under high temperature conditions, broilers had lower iron (p<0.05) and higher manganese (p<0.05) concentrations in feathers. Broilers kept in high temperature conditions had a higher Zn requirement and 40 mg/kg Zn supplementation was sufficient for the birds to achieve optimum growth. Supplemental Zn ameliorated the adverse effect of high temperature on growth and occurrence of tail feather defects. Excess Ca disrupted Zn metabolism to exert a detrimental effect on growth performance and normal feathering and this was elucidated in the birds kept in low temperature conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.95-96
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of feather meal (FM its) digests on the performance of broiler chicks and taurine content in broiler meat. A total of 1,000 broiler chickens were assigned to five dietary treatments : Control, FM diet(FM), FM+pyridoxine(FM+Pyridox), H$_2$O$_2$ treated FM diet(H$_2$O$_2$-FM) and enzyme treated FM diet (Enzyme-FM). Treated diets were supplemented with FM or FM digests at the level of 5 % to the control diet. During the stater period, weight gain of chicks fed FM+Pyridox was significantly higher(P<0.05) than those of the other FM or FM digest treatments but was not different from the control. Weight gam of overall period were not significantly different among treatments. Feed intake of the control was greater than that of FM or FM digest treatments. Feed conversion ratio(feed intake/gain) of chicks fed FM and H$_2$O$_2$-FM were significantly higher than those of Enzyme-FM and FM+Pyridox, but were not significantly different from the control. Taurine contents of leg and breast mucle were significantly (P<0.01) different among treatments but those of liver were not significantly different. Taurine content of FM+Pyridox was highest in both leg and breast muscle. It was 85 % higher in leg muscle and 15 % higher in breast muscle than that of the control. Sensory evaluation data showed significant but not consistant responses in various parameters. FM + Pyridox treatment showed highest score in aroma of raw leg muscle of male and in juiciness and tenderness of broiled breast muscle of male chickens. Control group showed highest color score in raw leg muscle of female and lowest overall acceptability score in broiled breast and leg muscle of male chicken. It is concluded that taurine can be enriched especially in broiler leg meat by 5 % FM diet supplemented with pyridoxine.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.536-546
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• 2024

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m² (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m² (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. Results: There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. Conclusion: It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.93-94
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• 2004

The experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of feather meal and pyridoxine on the taurine content of egg yolk and performance of laying hens. Feeding trial was conducted with 900 31-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers for 4wks. The experiment consisted of six dietary treatments: control(basal diet), feather meal(FM) 3 % diet(FM 3 %), FM 3 % + pyridoxine supplemented diet(FM 3 % + Pyridox), FM 6 % diet, FM 6 % + pyridoxine supplemented diet(FM 6% + Pyridox), Synthetic taurine 0.25 % supplemented diet(Taurine). Egg production of birds fed FM 3% was highest and those of the FM diets were also higher than those of Taurine and the control. Egg weight of Taurine was significantly lower than those of FM 3 %, FM 6 % and the control but were not significantly different from those of FM 3 % + Pyridox or FM 6 % + Pyridox. Feed intake of the control was greater than those of FM 6 %, FM 6% + Pyridox or Taurine treatment but was not significantly different from those of FM 3 % and FM 3 % + Pyridox. Feed conversion of the control was significantly higher than other treatments in which that of FM 6 % was lowest. Broken and soft egg production of Taurine was highest while that of the control was lowest among treatments. Taurine content of egg yolk significantly increased by supplementation of taurine(64.7 %). FM 6 % + pyridoxine(57 %), FM 3% + pyridoxine (32.1%) and FM 6% (16.6 %). Sensory evaluation data of Taurine has shown the highest score in most of sensory attributes. It is concluded that taurine can be enriched in egg yolk by supplementation of 6 % FM diet and pyridoxine as well as 0.25 % synthetic taurine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.622-629
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• 2010

The effects of dietary supplementation of feather meal (FM) and pyridoxine ($B_6$) on the taurine content of egg yolk and performance of laying hens were investigated. A feeding trial was conducted in nine hundred 31-wk-old $Hy-Line^{\circledR}$ Brown layers over 4 wk. The hens received 6 dietary treatments: Control, FM 3% supplemented diet (FM 3%), FM 3%+$B_6$ supplemented diet (FM 3%+$B_6$), FM 6% supplemented diet (FM 6%), FM 6%+$B_6$ supplemented diet (FM 6%+$B_6$), and synthetic taurine 0.25% supplemented diet (Taurine). Parameters of production were significantly (p<0.05) affected by treatments. The egg production of hens fed FM 3% was the highest and hens fed FM diets were more productive than the Taurine and Control groups. The egg weights of the Taurine group were significantly lower than those of the FM 3% and FM 6% groups, but not significantly different from those of other treatments. The feed intake of the Control group was highest among all groups. The feed conversion ratio of the Control group was higher than in groups receiving other treatments of which FM 6% was the lowest. The broken egg production of the Taurine group was highest, while that of the Control group was lowest among treatments. The taurine content of egg yolk was significantly (p<0.01) increased by supplementation of taurine (64.7%), FM 6%+$B_6$ (57%), FM 3%+$B_6$ (32.1%), and FM 6% (16.6%) over a 4 wk average. Sensory evaluation data of the Taurine group showed the highest score in all of the sensory attributes and those of other treatments were not significantly (p<0.05) different. In conclusion, taurine can be enriched in egg yolk by supplementation of 6% FM and $B_6$, as well as 0.25% synthetic taurine.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2022

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of single-sex or mixed rearing on the growth and laying performance, blood parameters, egg quality, and feather scores of laying hens in an aviary system. A total of 2,928 (females, 2,856; males, 72), Hy-Line Brown chickens at 20 weeks were evenly assigned to two treatments: termed here the single-sex (only female) and mixed-sex (female to male 20 : 1) conditions. They were allowed an ad libitum diet for 20 weeks in an aviary system. There were eight replicates of each treatment, each consisting of 12.42 m²·birds^-1 (n=183), respectively. The body weight and uniformity in the mixed-sex condition were higher than those in the single-sex condition, but egg production did not show any significant differences between the two types of treatment for 20 weeks. The mixed-sex group showed an effect through stress parameters (corticosterone), whereas the feather score on the back was low at the end of the experiment. These results suggest that the presence of males affect corticosterone level for mating but can reduce the vigilance and aggressive behavior of laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1000-1006
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• 2004

Selenium and vitamin E are micronutrients essential for normal health and maintenance in poultry. They are necessary in preventing free radical damage to phospholipid membranes, enzymes and other important molecules. Two experiments were conducted in a semi-commercial environment to examine the effect of Se source and vitamin E level in diet on broiler performance and meat quality. Increasing vitamin E from 50 IU to 100 IU did not affect growth performance of broilers although the 24 h drip-loss was tended to be reduced (p=0.06). There was an interaction between vitamin E and the source of Se in glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) and Se concentration in excreta. Increasing vitamin E from 50 IU to 100 IU elevated GSH-Px and Se concentration in excreta by 42 IU/g Hb and 0.9 ppm for the organic Se group, respectively, but reduced GSH-Px and Se concentration in excreta by 16 IU/g Hb and 1.3 ppm for inorganic group, respectively. Vitamin E played no role in the feather coverage of the birds when scored on day 37. Organic Se is more effective in improving feather score and 24 h drip-loss, with a markedly higher deposition rate in breast muscle and a lower excretion rate in the excreta (p<0.05) compared to the inorganic Se source. Both vitamin E and the source of Se did not affect (p>0.05) the energy utilisation by birds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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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.