• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1553-1561
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• 2004

Two feeding trials were conducted with 128 pullets from 4 to 20 weeks of age and 96 laying hens from 23 to 63 weeks of age to evaluate the effects of scavenging and type of protein supplement on the feed intake and performance of improved pullets and laying hens. The experiments had a completely randomized design with four dietary treatments and four replicates. Treatments were: Control (Cont), scavenging but with access to a balanced concentrate at night; confinement (CF) and given the control feed ad libitum; scavenging and supplemented at night with the control feed, but with soybean meal replaced by cassava leaf meal (CLM); scavenging and supplemented at night with the control feed, but with fishmeal replaced y soybean meal (SBM). The mean daily dry matter (DMI), metabolizable energy (MEI) and crude protein intakes (CPI) of the pullets and laying hens, respectively, were 28%, and 18% higher for the confinement treatment (CF) compared to the scavenging treatments (p<0.001). The DMI, MEI and CPI of the pullets were not significantly different among scavenging treatments (p>0.05), but for the layers DMI, MEI and CPI were significantly higher for the CLM and SBM treatments compared to the Cont treatment (p<0.001). In the growing period, the average daily weight gain (ADG), supplement feed conversion ratio (FCR) and supplement feed cost/kg eggs (FCS) were not significantly different for CF compared to Cont, and among scavenging treatments (p>0.05). In the laying period, the hen-day production was significantly lower, and supplement FCR and FCS significantly higher for the CF compared to the scavenging treatments (p<0.001). Egg weight, and yolk, albumen and shell percentage and shape index were not significantly different among the scavenging treatments (p>0.05). However, shell and yolk percentages were significantly lower for the CF compared to the Cont treatment (p<0.01). Mortality was significantly higher for the CF compared to the scavenging treatments for pullets, and was significantly lower for the CF compared to scavenging treatments for laying hens (p<0.001). It was concluded that scavenging pullets and layers were getting around 28% and 18%, respectively, of their nutrient requirements from scavenging activities, resulting in correspondingly lower supplement feed conversion ratios and feed costs. Daily gains of the pullets were not affected by scavenging or protein supplement, but egg production and mortality were lower for the confined hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.588-596
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low doses of organic trace minerals (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) on productive performance, egg quality, yolk and tissue mineral retention, and fecal mineral excretion of laying hens during the late laying period. Methods: A total of 405 healthy hens (HY-Line White, 50-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 9 replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments included feeding a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (ITM), and a basal diet + proteinated trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (TRT). The trial lasted for 56 days. Results: Compared to CON, ITM decreased (p<0.05) egg production, daily egg mass, albumen height, eggshell strength, yolk Fe concentration, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and total protein, and increased (p<0.05) egg loss and feed to egg ratio. Whereas with productive performance, egg quality, yolk mineral retention, and serum indices there were no differences (p>0.05) between CON and TRT. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in the tissue and tibia were changed notably in ITM relative to CON and TRT. Both ITM and TRT reduced (p<0.05) fecal mineral excretion compared to CON. Conclusion: These results indicate that dietary supplementation of low-dose organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without negatively impacting hen performance and egg quality.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the performance of laying period of two-crossbred of Korean native chickens for producing laying hens. A total of four hundred eighty female 2-crossbred chicks that restored strains and were aboriginal at National Institute of Animal Science. There were four crossbreds (4 replications/crossbred, 30 birds/replication) as A) C strain ${\times}$ Y strain, B) C strain ${\times}$ L strain, C) C strain ${\times}$ G strain, and D) C strain ${\times}$ W strain, respectively. There were no significant difference on age at first egg among crossbreds (P>0.05). Egg weight and body weight of B crossbred at first egg was higher than other crossbreds (P<0.05). Body weight of B crossbred was the highest 20 to 72 weeks (P<0.05), and C and D crossbreds were lower compared to A and B crossbreds (P<0.05). Average feed intake of B crossbred was the highest among crossbreds (P<0.05), and that of A crossbred was higher compared to C and D crossbreds (P<0.05). Weekly feed intake of four crossbreds decreased from 50 weeks. Weekly egg weight of B crossbred was the highest and that of D crossbred was the lowest among crossbreds (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of A and B crossbreds was lower than that of C and D crossbreds. Hen-house egg production of C crossbred was the highest among crossbreds until 26 weeks old (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among crossbreds from at the age of 26 weeks (P>0.05). Hen-day egg production decreased after at the age of 38 weeks. Weekly egg production of A and B crossbreds was higher compared to C and D crossbreds at the age of 68~72 weeks (P<0.05). These results suggested the basic data on the record of laying period of 2-crossbreed Korean Native Chickens for producing laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2005

This studies were conducted to investigated the feeding effects of extruded broiler manure(BMERF) mixture and swine manure(SFERF) mixture on laying performance and egg qualify of laying hens. As a experimental feed, broiler manure, corn and tapioca were mixed in 50, 30 and $20\%$ to use for treated extrusion feed(BMERF, Exp. 1) and food waste(FW), swine manure and com were also mixed in 40, 40 and $20\%$ to use it(SFERF, Exp. 2) and implemented during 12 weeks, four replication and 30 chick of each treatment. The nutritional ingredients(protein, energy and calcium contents) of food waste, broiler manure and swine manure had been significantly improved(p<0.05) when handling extrusion. In the Exp. 1, the feed intake was much higher BMERF $40\%$ and BMERF $20\%$ than control and BMERF $10\%(p<0.05)$, the egg production of control, BMERF $10\%$ and BMERF $20\%$ were not significantly difference(p>0.05), but BMERF $40\%$ was significantly lower(p<0.05). The feed efficiency of control and BMERF $10\%$ were not significantly difference(p>0.05), but BMERF $20\%$ and BMERF $40\%$ were significantly lower(p<0.05). York color, White height and Haugh unit did not affected by BMERF additive. In the Exp. 2, the feed intake of control, FW $20\%$, SFERF $10\%$ and SFERF $20\%$ were not significantly difference(p<0.05), but FW $40\%$ and SFERF $40\%$ were significantly higher(p<0.05). The egg production of SFERF $10\%$ and SFERF $20\%$ were not significantly difference(p>0.05) with control, but FW $20\%$, FW $40\%$ and SFERF $40\%$ were significantly lower(p<0.05). The feed efficiency was similar tendency to the egg production, however, the egg weight, york color, white height and haugh unit were not significantly difference among each treatments(p>0.05).

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2014

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of copper-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) and herbal mixture (HBM) on growth performance, blood parameter, and immune response in laying hens. A total 800 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (60 weeks old) were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments : (1) Control : control diet, (2) Cu-SP : control diet + 100 mg/kg Cu-soy proteinate, (3) HBM : control diet + 0.15% herbal mixture, and (4) Cu-SP + HBM : control diet + 100 mg/kg Cu-soy proteinate + 0.15% herbal mixture. Each treatment was replicated 5 times with forty birds units were arranged according to randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted 5 weeks under 16L : 8D lighting regimen. The diet and water were available ad libitum. Result indicated that during feeding trial of the experiment, hen-day egg production was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Cu-SP and HBM treated groups than control. However, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, broken and shell less egg production were not significantly influenced by treatments. Eggshell strength was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Cu-SP than control. Eggshell thickness, eggshell color, egg yolk color, Haugh unit were not significantly influenced by treatments. The level of WBC and stress index (heterophil : lymphocyte) were higher in supplemented groups than the control. The concentration of plasma IgG was higher in supplemented groups than the control. The result of this experiment showed that dietary copper-soy proteinate or herbal mixture tended to improve egg production and affect positively on immune response of laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2019

In this study, viability, growth performance and egg production performance were investigated to determine the productive characteristics of 12 Korean domestic chicken varieties which have been collected and conserved for over 25 years in National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea. The 1,134 hens were tested and their production traits including survival rate, body weight, age at first egg laying, hen-day and hen-housed egg production, egg weight, and egg quality were measured. Survival rate was the highest in Korean Rhode-D and Korean Native Chicken (KNC) White and the lowest in Korean Cornish Brown (92.2% and 54.3%, respectively). Body weights from 4 to 50 wks were consistently high in the order of Korean Cornish, Korean Rhode, KNC, Korean Ogye, and Korean Leghorn breeds. There was no significant difference in weight between varieties within a breed. Age at first egg laying was the shortest in Korean Leghorn, while it was the longest in Korean Cornish. The hen-day egg production from $1^{st}$ egg to 57 wks was the highest in Korean Leghorn-K, and the lowest in Korean Cornish Brown. Egg weight was the heaviest in Korean Leghorn-F and the lightest in KNC White. The Haugh unit was the highest in Korean Rhode-C and the lowest in Korean Ogye. Taken together, these results suggest that it is desirable that the Korean Cornish variety is improved as the Korean meat breed because of its excellent growth ability, the Korean Leghorn variety is improved as the Korean layer breed because of its good laying performance, and the Korean Rhode and KNC varieties are improved as strong viable breeds because of their good survival rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1179-1189
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• 2006

This experiment was designed to examine the effects of supplemental vitamin D on laying performance, metabolic profile and egg quality of hens fed diets containing different fat sources and levels. Lohman strains (n = 480) were assigned to one of 10 diets: basal diet (BD), BD plus 2.5 and 5.0% sunflower oil (SO) or tallow (T) at vitamin D provided $1{\times}$ and $3{\times}$ of the current recommendation. The experiment lasted from week 30 to 44 of age. Each diet was tested in 12 replicate cages of 4 hens. Production, metabolism, and egg quality data were subjected to three-way ANOVA. Both fats decreased feed intake (FI) as compared to BD. Increasing SO and T levels linearly decreased and quadratically increased FI, respectively. The dietary factors did not affect egg production (EP) and egg weight. Vitamin D supplementation increased and decreased EP when diets contained SO and T, respectively. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) for hens fed SO was lower than for hens fed T. However, increasing T level improved FCE, whereas increasing SO level worsened FCR. Vitamin D supplementation increased serum vitamin D and glucose concentrations. Vitamin D supplementation also caused a decrease and an increase in serum vitamin D concentration when diets contained SO and T, respectively. Serum glucose concentration for hens fed SO was lower than hens fed T. Increasing fat level linearly increased serum triglyceride and VLDL concentrations, regardless of the fat type. Increasing SO level linearly decreased serum cholesterol concentration. Vitamin D supplementation did not alter lipid metabolites. The dietary factors did not affect serum total protein, Ca, and P concentrations. As compared with BD, feeding SO decreased dry tibia and ash weights more than feeding T. Vitamin D supplementation tended to increase dry tibia weight and decrease tibia ash weight. Eggshell strength and thickness, yolk and albumen indexes, and Haugh unit were not responsive to the dietary factors. Eggshell strength quadratically increased with increasing T level. Yolk color for hens fed SO was lower than for hens fed T. The dietary factors did not affect most of yolk fatty acids. Increasing SO level quadratically decreased yolk $C_{18:2}$ concentration. Vitamin D supplementation increased and decreased yolk $C_{18:2}$ concentration when diets contained SO and T, respectively. In conclusion, increasing fat level improved laying performance without altering metabolic profile and egg quality. Vitamin D supplementation had minor alteration effects on laying performance, metabolic profile, and egg quality in response to fat feeding.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding diets supplemented with ${\beta}-glucan$ products on the performance, small intestinal microflora and immune response in laying hens. The ${\beta}-glucan$ products used in the experiment were $BetaPolo^{(R)}$ ; soluble ${\beta}-glucan$ of microbial cell wall origin, $HiGlu^{(R)}$ ; microbial cell wall origin, $OGlu^{(R)}$ ; oat origin, $BGlu^{(R)}$ ; barley origin. A total of 720 Hy-Line Brown laying hens of 40wks old were divided into 5 dietary treatments : T1 ; Control( C), T2 ; $BetaPolo^{(R)}$, T3 ; $HiGlu^{(R)}$, T4 ; $OGlu^{(R)}$, T5 ; $BGlu^{(R)}$. Each treatment was replicated 4 times with 36 birds/replicate housed in 2 bird cages, and arranged according to completely randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted 40ds under 16 h lighting regimens. There were significant differences among treatments in hen-house egg production feed intake and feed conversion. HiGlu treatment was significantly higher than OGlu treatments in hen-house egg production. ${\beta}-glucan$ supplemented treatments were lower than the control in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. All ${\beta}-glucan$ supplemented treatments were significantly higher than the control in eggshell strength. Eggshell color and Haugh unit tended to be lower in the supplemented group than the control. IgY concentration was not significantly affected by treatments. At $5^{th}$ week of experiment, however, IgY concentration tended to increase in the supplemented groups. Among the leucocytes parameters, WBC, heterophil, lymphocytes, monocyte and eosinophil concentration were lower in the supplemented groups than those of the control. Among erythrocytes, HCT(hematocrit) and MCV(mean corpuscular volume) were significantly affected by treatment. MCV of supplemented groups were higher than that of the control. Immunoglobulin concentrations in the birds were not significantly different among treatments. However, IgA concentration tended to be low in the supplemented groups than the control. The cfu of small intestinal microflora were not significantly different among treatments, but that of Cl. perfringens tended to be lower than the control. The result of this experiment indicateted that feeding ${\beta}-glucan$ to laying hens improve feed conversion ratio and eggshell strength. Also intestinal microflora and immune responses are modified.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.705-711
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of golden needle mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) stem waste (FVW), on organic eggs production, calcium utilization, antibody response, serum immunoglobulin, and serum cytokine concentration at early phase of production in laying hens. Methods: A total 210, 19 weeks old aged ISA Brown layers were randomly assigned into 5 equal treatment groups, with 7 replications of 6 hens each. Dietary treatment included a standard basal diet as control; antibiotic (0.05% flavomycin); 2% FVW; 4% FVW; and 6% FVW. The experimental duration was 10 weeks. Results: There was no significant differences (p>0.05) on hen day egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among experimental groups. Unmarketable eggs were significantly lower (p<0.05) both in 4% FVW and 6% FVW fed groups than control group. The calcium retention and calcium in egg shell deposition were significantly higher (p<0.05) in FVW inclusion groups than control and antibiotic groups. Antibody titers against Newcastle diseases were significantly higher (p<0.05) in 6% FVW fed group (except combined with 4% FVW at day 147) and infectious bronchitis were significantly higher (p<0.05) in FVW fed groups (except 2% FVW and 4% FVW at day 161) than control and antibiotic groups. Serum immunoglobulin sIgA was significantly higher (p<0.05) in all levels of FVW and IgG was significantly higher (p<0.05) in 4% FVW than control and antibiotic groups. Serum cytokine concentration interleukin-2 (IL-2) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in 6% FVW; IL-6 and tumor necrotic $factor-{\alpha}$ were significantly higher (p<0.05) both in 4% FVW and 6% FVW than control and antibiotic groups; IL-4 was significantly higher (p<0.05) in antibiotic, 2% FVW and 4% FVW fed groups than control. Conclusion: F. velutipes mushroom waste can be used as a novel substitute for antibiotic for organic egg production and sound health status in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1298-1309
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• 1999

The nutritional value of protein varies between feedstuffs. It is possible to feed animals using crystalline amino acids as a sole nitrogen source, but in practice only some limiting amino acids are added to the diet. In order to use feedstuffs efficiently, it is important to determine exact amino acid requirements. Reported values differ widely because the requirements are affected by various factors. In this report, therefore, the factors affecting amino acid requirements are reviewed as follows: 1) availability of dietary amino acids, conversion factors of nitrogen to protein, interaction of amino acids, and strain, sex and age of animals; 2) amino acid requirements for maximum performance and maintenance, usefulness of non-essential amino acids; 3) plasma amino acid concentration as a parameter to determine amino acid requirements; and 4) nitrogen excretion to reduce environmental pollution. These factors should be considered, it is to improve the dietary efficiency, which is to reduce excess nitrogen excretion for environmental pollution.