• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of taurine supplementation on the egg production and egg quality in laying hen. In experiment 1, 19-wk-old laying hens were allowed one of four taurine supplemented diets (0 (control), 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% taurine) for 10 weeks. The mean egg weight was lower about 1.2g in the 0.8% diet compared to the control. Egg production rate, egg mass, and feed intake in layers fed with 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% taurine supplemented diets decreased by 8%∼24%, 3%∼l4% and 11%∼l5%, respectively, relative to the control. However, the feed conversion, parameters of egg quality, and the concentration of triacylglycerol and the level of cholesterol in yolk were not different among the treatments. In experiment 2, 81-wk-old laying hens were allocated one of three taurine supplemented diets(0 (control), 1 and 2% taurine) for 6 weeks. The egg weight, egg production rate, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion, parameters of egg quality, and level of yolk cholesterol were not different among the treatments, but the concentration of triacylglycerol in yolk was higher by 14%∼19% compared to the control. In conclusion, these results indicated that taurine supplementation in early laying stage of layers decreased hen performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.559-568
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• 2012

White (Lohmann LSL) and Brown (ATAK-S) laying hens, were reared under organic and conventional cage rearing systems, and the effects of the rearing system on performance parameters, egg production, egg characteristics, and immune response were investigated. For this purpose, a total of 832 laying hens of two commercial hybrids, i.e., 416 white (Lohmann LSL) and 416 Brown (ATAK-S) layers, were used. The experiment lasted between 23 and 70 wk of age. In this study, the white layers yielded more eggs as compared to the brown layers in both organic and conventional production systems. Egg weight exhibited a similar pattern to that of laying performance. However, the total hen-housed egg number for the white birds in the organic system was fewer than that of white birds in the conventional cage facility; conversely, a contradictory tendency was observed for the brown birds. Livability of the white layers in the organic system was remarkably lower (14%) than that of the brown line, whereas the white line survived better (3.42%) than their brown counterparts in conventional cages. The feed conversion ratio of the white hens was markedly inferior in the organic system as compared to that of the white hens in the conventional system, whereas relatively lower deterioration was reported in brown layers when reared in an organic system. The organic production system increased egg albumen height and the Haugh unit in eggs of the brown layers. The yolk color score of organic eggs was lower than that of conventional eggs for both brown and white hens. The egg yolk ratio of eggs from white layers was found to be higher in organic eggs as compared to those obtained in the conventional system. All organic eggs had heavier shells than those produced in the conventional system. Eggs from brown layers had more protein content than eggs from white layers. Neither housing systems nor genotype influenced egg yolk cholesterol concentration. When compared to conventional eggs, n-3 fatty acid content was lower in organic eggs, and the n-6:n-3 ratio was higher in organic eggs. In conclusion, two hen genotypes showed different responses in terms of performance and egg quality to two different rearing systems. A commercial white strain produced more eggs with higher egg quality as compared to a native brown strain. The brown strain was found to have adapted well to organic production conditions when survival and total egg number was taken into consideration.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2005

Much of the interest on the chemopreventive properties of herbs and plants has been raised, whereas little is regarding to anti-tumor effect of farming and aquatic products. In the present study, the anti-tumor effect of hot-water extract of a seaweed, BLC (Sargassum fulvellum) and BLC/HEN egg was investigated using MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo systems. We found that the BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, which might be mediated through up-regulation of p53. Furthermore, this test compound can directly induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which might be mediated through up-regulation of a pro-apoptotic Bax protein and down-regulation of a anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, not by immune system. Nude mice bearing established breast tumors (with exogenous estradiol) were treated with BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg. Treatment BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg caused a 42% and 71% inhibition of tumor growth, respectively. Both agents caused a significant inhibition of volume and weight growth of estrogen independent human breast tumors established from MCF-7 cells. Our results suggested that BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg have the efficacious effect of human breast cancer not only in vitro but also in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.127-137
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• 1997

This study was conducted to estimate the laying performance and heterosis of Korean Native Chicken(KNC), Rhode Island Red(RIR), and KNC x RIR crossbreds A total of 1,274 female pullets were produced from KNC, RIR and RIR crossbreds in National Livestock Research Institute, Korea. The experiment was conducted for 2O~64 weeks from Jan 20. to Nov.25, 1996. The age at first egg of crossbreds were 144.1~148.7 days. The first egg weight of crossbreds was 39. 4~40.3 g, and body weights at first egg of KNC dark brown strain x RlR(DR), KNC light brown strain x RlR(LR) and KNC dark black strain x RlR(BR) were 1,943 g, 1,925 g and 2,044 g, respectively. During the laying period the average viability of crossbreds was 96.6~98.3%. The hen-day egg production of crossbreds were 111.1~113.O eggs at 40 weeks of age, and 223.5~227.5 eggs at 64 weeks of age, respectively. The hen-day egg production peaks were 78.2~80.1% in KNC, and 85.8~87.5% in crossbreds. The heterosis were estimated to be 3.61%, 9.21%, 4.78%, 2.97% and -1.63% for the first egg days, body weights at first egg, layer viability, hen-day egg production, and feed conversion ratio, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2012

Different housing systems have considerable influence on performance in poultry production. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of different housing systems on the performance, bone mineral density and egg yolk fatty acid composition in laying hen. Hy-line brown pullets (n=450) of 12 weeks age were randomly divided into 3 housing systems with 6 replicates of 25 birds in each room. A diet with 2,750 kcal/kg ME and 16.5% CP was assigned to all birds. The pullets provided free access to feed and water. Significantly (P<0.05) higher values for egg production, egg mass and feed conversion efficiency were found in battery cages, however egg weight, egg shell color and breaking strength was remarkably (P<0.05) higher in floor system. The albumin height and Haugh unit were significantly higher (P<0.05) in battery cages which was statistically similar to aviary housing system. The egg yolk fatty acids concentration of linoleic acid and linolenic acids were significantly higher in aviary and in floor system, respectively, however both values were lower in battery cages. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content (%) in egg yolk did not influence by any housing systems. Bone mineral density was significantly higher (P<0.05) in floor and aviary housing system than that of battery cage system. It was concluded that in battery cages the egg production and composition maximized, however higher bone mineral density and yolk fatty acids content can be improved in the laying hen reared on floor and aviary housing systems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1174-1178
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of copper chelates in the form of methionine, chitosan and yeast on the performance of laying hens. Four hundred ISA Brown layers, 84 wks old, were assigned to 4 treatments: control, 100 ppm Cu in methionine chelate (Met-Cu), 100 ppm Cu as chitosan chelate (Chitosan-Cu) and 100 ppm Cu as yeast chelate (Yeast-Cu). Each treatment had five replicates of 20 hens. Hen-day and hen-housed egg production and egg weight were significantly (p<0.05) increased by Met-Cu supplementation. The increase by Chitosan-Cu and Yeast-Cu supplementation was not significant. Contrast of the control vs. Cu chelates showed egg weight was significantly (p<0.05) increased by Cu chelate supplementation. Soft-shell egg production was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by supplementation of Cu chelates. Met-Cu treatment showed the lowest incidence of soft egg production. Gizzard erosion index was increased by Cu chelate supplementation. Crude fat in liver, total cholesterol in yolk and Cu content in liver and yolk were not significantly influenced by Cu chelate supplementation. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of 100 ppm Cu as Met-Cu significantly increased egg production and egg weight. Cu-Met chelate was also effective in reducing soft-shell egg production but increased gizzard erosion index.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1605-1609
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• 2001

A total of 252, 50 week-old Isa-brown laying hens were randomly allotted to 7 groups of 3 replicates. Mustard meal (MM) which is a by-product from mustard processing plant, was dried under the sun or in a gas heated pan. It contained on DM basis 30-32% CP, 19-22% EE and 12-13% CF. The meal from either drying method was incorporated into the diets at 0, 10, 20 and 30% which was equivalent to the substitution levels for soybean meal at 0, 31, 63 and 94%, respectively. All birds were individually kept in battery cages where feed and water were freely accessed throughout 84 days experimental period. It was found that egg production, feed intake, body weight gain and egg weight significantly decreased with the increased MM level. The inclusion of 20% MM did not show a significant difference in egg production and quality from the control, but produced 6-8% lower egg production. Feed intake was linearly decreased with the MM levels, except the 10% sun dried MM group. Fat deposition of the birds fed MM diets significantly decreased, while kidney weight increased when compared with the control group. However, the weight of thyroid glands and spleen trended to be heavier in the MM groups, but this was not significantly different among dietary treatments. It was concluded, MM from both drying methods could be incorporated in laying hen diets at the level of 10% without any adverse effect.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 1997

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of pelleting layer diets on the laying perforrnance and nutrients utilizability, using either 50-wk-old(Experiment 1) or 80-wk-old (Experiment 2) layers. There was no effect of pelleting layer diets on hen-day egg production and average egg weight but decreased (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio(intake /egg weight) in both experiments. Although both egg specific gravity and eggshell thickness were not influenced by pelleting eggshell breaking strength was improved(P<0.05) only in Experiment 1. Utilizability of dietary fat was improved(P<0.05) by pelleting layer diets with no difference in other nutrients utilizability. There was no difference in the passage rate of mash and pelleted layer diets.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2008

Broken eggs not only cause the economic loss in the egg producing industry, but also may not be good for the consumer's health. In order to identify the causes of eggshell breakage in laying hen houses, analyses on the status of eggshell breakage in the step of egg conveyer system of the laying hen house were conducted. The survey of eggshell breakage rate was implemented by four different stages egg conveying system. In the results, the breakage rate showed 4.7% in the egg collection belt, 2.5% in the egg elevator, 1.7% in the egg grading system and 0.9% in the egg conveyor belt. In particular, to Hy-line Brown variety, as the hens' raising week old increased, the breakage rate of eggshell increased while the strength of eggshell decreased. In the regression analysis between the breakage rate of eggshell and the strength of eggshell, the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) by the test of significance was computed as 0.7, therefore the changes of the strength of eggshell affects the breakage rate of eggshell. However, between the strength of eggshell and thickness of egg shell, and between the strength of eggshell and strain of eggshell, there was no significant difference detected in the regression analysis.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2021

The present study investigated production traits, including body weight, egg production, egg weight, and egg quality in Korean indigenous parent stocks. Parent stocks produced from a nine-combination association from five pure line strains (C, D, F, K, and Y) were used. The body weight analyses results showed that the CY combination had the highest body weight (1,604.9 g) and the DK combination had the lowest (1,424.4 g). The average age at first egg of the nine combinations was 118.6 days; however, that of the YD combination was 111.6 days, making it the fastest growing combination, whereas the DK combination was the slowest, at 126 days. Hen-day egg production was 74% or more for the CF, CK, and DK combinations. The DK combination hens showed excellent persistence in egg laying. Hen-housed egg production exhibited results similar to those of hen-day egg production. Egg weight was significantly higher in the DK combination than in the other combinations and was observed to increase from 20 (43.9 g) to 40 (58.1 g) weeks. The egg quality analyses results showed that the combinations based on the F and K strains had a bright eggshell color, with relatively high egg weights. Eggshell strength and thickness were the highest in the DK combination (3.8 kg/cm², 0.38 mm). In summary, the CF and DK combinations showed excellent egg production ability and egg quality, while the YC, YD, and YK combinations with the Y strain as the paternal strain exhibited poor performance.