• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.8
• /
• pp.1164-1170
• /
• 2008

In this study, the effects of propolis and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) supplementation in diets were investigated on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion rate (FCR) and digestibility and on egg production and qualities (weight, mortality, shell thickness) in laying hens exposed to heat stress. A total of 150 Hyline White Leghorn, aged 42 weeks, hens was divided into five groups of 30 hens. Chicks were randomly divided into 1 positive control, 1 control and 3 treatment groups. The chicks were kept in cages in temperature-controlled rooms at $22^{\circ}C$ for 24 h/d (positive control, Thermoneutral, TN group) or $34^{\circ}C$ for 9 h/d from 08.00-17.00 h followed by $22^{\circ}C$ for 15 h (control, heat stress, HS group) and fed a basal diet or basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (250 mg/kg of L- ascorbic acid/kg of diet) or two levels of propolis (2 and 5 g of ethanol extracted propolis/kg of diet). Increased FI (p<0.05) and improvement in FCR (p<0.05), hen day egg (p<0.05) and egg weight (p<0.05) were found in Vitamin C and propolis-supplemented laying hens reared under heat stress conditions. Mortality rate was higher in the control group than TN, vitamin C and propolis groups (p<0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract improved with increasing of both dietary vitamin C and propolis (p<0.05). Vitamin C or propolis supplementation did not affect either the percentage shape index, yolk index or haugh unit and albumen index (p>0.05). However, the egg shell thickness and egg shell weight appeared to be increased in Vitamin C and propolis groups in comparison to HS group birds (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of laying hens with anti-oxidants (vitamin C and propolis) can attenuate heat stress-induced oxidative damage. These positive effects were evidenced by increased growth performance and digestibility, improvement of egg shell thickness and egg weight in comparison to non-supplemented birds. Moreover, supplementation with propolis (5 g/kg diet) was the most efficient treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.417-423
• /
• 2017

Objective: This experiment investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the serum components, laying hen productivity, lipid composition of egg yolk, egg flavor and egg quality. Methods: Healthy 28-week-old Hy-Line white laying hens (n = 480) were divided randomly into 4 groups, 6 replicates/group, 20 birds/replicate. The 30-day experimental diets included 0% (control), 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.6% CLA. Some serum indices of the birds, and egg production, quality, fatty acid composition, egg quality were measured. Results: The dietary supplementation with 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.6% CLA did not significantly affect the laying rate and feed intake, as well as calcium ion and phosphorus ion concentration in serum (p>0.05). However, the CLA had significantly increased the strength of eggshell, decreased the odor, flavor, and taste of egg yolk, deepened the color of egg yolk, increased saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and reduced the monounsaturated fatty acids (p<0.05). On the other hand, the dietary supplementation with 1.6% CLA had significant effects on feed/gain, and improved serum hormones. Dietary supplementation with 0.4% and 0.8% CLA can significantly enhance the activity of alkaline phosphates. Conclusion: CLA has no effect on production performance, but does enhance the lipid content of the egg yolk and the strength of the eggshell.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1408-1417
• /
• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larvae oil (HILO) could serve as an alternative fat source to soybean oil (SBO) in laying hen diets. Methods: We randomly assigned 25-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens (n = 144) to receive (n = 6 hens/group; eight replicates) a control or an experimental diet in which SBO was replaced with 50% (50HILO) or 100% HILO (100HILO). Results: Dietary HILO did not negatively affect body weight or productive performance during the study. The eggs also had similar quality parameters, proximate composition, and cholesterol levels. However, the yolk color index was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the 100HILO than in the other groups. Dietary HILO significantly altered the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in abdominal fat and eggs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were significantly increased and decreased in the 50HILO and 100HILO groups, respectively, compared with those in the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Specifically, the medium-chain FAs lauric and myristic acids were remarkably increased in the abdominal fat of laying hens fed HILO (p<0.0001), whereas only myristic acid increased in eggs (p<0.0001). Undesirable heavy metal (aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium) concentrations were below permissible limits in eggs. Conclusion: We considered that HILO could be an alternative dietary fat to SBO for laying hens with maintained productive performance and good egg quality.

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

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.77-95
• /
• 1992

This study was conducted to provide a guideline for laying hens breeding through comparing performance test results and domestic and foreign breeding processing for the purpose of succeeding in laying hen industry. The annual average egg numbers were 120 at 1930, 135 at 1940 and 175 at 1950 which was 146% increase during a decade. Heterosis was firstly introduced at 1924 and was applied to produce commercial stock since 1950. The theory of selection for quantitative traits was established by Lerner in 1951. In Europe and America, the annual average egg numbers in performance test were 175, 213, 219 and 277 in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1985, respectively, and in Korea, those were 196, 226 and 265 in 1960, 1970 and 1980, respectively Laying hen breeding through simultaneous selection of numerous traits may provoke elevation of viability, improvement of feed efficiency, alongation of laying period and increase of disease resistance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.203-212
• /
• 2023

This study conducted a diallel-crossbreeding test using four Korean native chicken parent stock lines (YC, YD, CK, and CF) to develop a native commercial layer with high egg-laying performance. A total of 312 chickens in six combinations were examined for various traits, including livability, body weight, age at first egg-laying, hen-day, and hen-housed egg production, egg weight, and egg quality, from hatching to 60 weeks of age. The results showed that the average survival rate was 77.1±18.8% with the YDYC combination having the highest survival rate along with excellent specific combining ability. The YDYC combination exhibited significantly higher body weight compared to the other combinations (P<0.01). The average age at first egg-laying was 121.3±2.5 days, with no significant difference between the combinations. The average hen-day egg production was 74.0±6.4%, and the hen-housed egg production was 181.4±33.8 eggs with the YDCF and YCCK combinations demonstrating the highest laying performance, while the YDYC and CKCF combinations had the lowest (P<0.05). Laying performance was more influenced by specific combining ability than general combining ability. The eggs from the YDYC combination were significantly lighter and had the darkest shell color (P<0.01), whereas the YDCF combination exhibited the thickest eggshells. There was no difference in internal egg quality among combinations, except the YDCF combination had the darkest yolk color. Overall, we concluded that the YCCK combination, characterized by high laying performance and livability, and the YDCF combination with high laying performance and good egg quality are the most desirable combinations for Korean native commercial layers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.89-96
• /
• 2016

This study aimed to determine the effect of different dietary level of rice bran extract (RBO) on the laying performance, egg quality, blood parameter, cholesterol, and fatty acids in yolk of Hy-Line Laying hens. In all, 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (29 weeks old) were randomly allocated to one of 4 dietary treatments, with 4 replicates per treatment. A commercial basal diet was used and three additional diets were prepared by supplementing 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g/kg of RBO to the basal diet. The experimental diets were fed on an ad libitum basis to the bird during 8 weeks. Hen-day egg production increased (quadratic, p<0.05) with inclusion level of RBO, but feed intake, egg weight, and egg mass were not influenced by inclusion of level of RBO in diet. However, the supplementation of RBO did not have an effect on eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, egg yolk color, and HU during the feeding trial. There were no significant differences in the level of leukocyte. However, heterophil and lymphocytes decreased (quadratic, p<0.01) with inclusion level of RBO. H:L ratio tended to decrease (linear p=0.08) with inclusion level of RBO. As expected, increasing inclusion level of RBO in diets decreased (linear, p<0.01) the concentrations of total cholesterol in plasma. AST, ALT, glucose, and albumin were not affected by inclusion of RBO in diets. Egg yolk cholesterol increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) with inclusion level of RBO in diet. The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation of RBO improves laying performance and decreased total cholesterol and egg yolk cholesterol levels in laying hens. Therefore, dietary RBO is considered a valuable functional ingredient to improve the performance of birds.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.1566-1574
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study investigated the effects of dietary methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and selenium (Se) on the laying performance, egg quality, gut health indicators, egg yolk Se content, and antioxidant markers in laying hens. Methods: One hundred ninety-two 73-wk-old laying hens were randomly divided into four groups with eight replicates of six hens each. Four diets were prepared in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with or without MSM and Se. The trial lasted for 12 wk. Results: There were no interaction effects or main effects (p>0.05) on laying performance and egg quality. However, feed intake increased in Se-fed hens (p = 0.051) and decreased in MSM-fed hens (p = 0.067) compared with that of hens in the control group. Dietary MSM increased (p<0.05) the ileal villus height and villus height:crypt ratio in hens compared with those receiving the non-supplemented control diet. Dietary MSM and Se did not affect the percentage of short-chain fatty acids in the ileal contents. Dietary Se enriched the Se content in egg yolk compared with that of the non-supplemented control diet (p<0.05). Dietary Se increased (p<0.05) glutathione peroxidase levels in the liver and serum samples compared to the control diet. The total antioxidant capacity in the liver increased (p<0.05) in laying hens that were fed MSM-supplemented diets than in hens fed the control diet. Dietary MSM significantly increased the relative superoxide dismutase levels in serum samples (p<0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation with either MSM or Se independently improved the antioxidant capacity of laying hens. Furthermore, dietary Se produced Se-enriched eggs, but this effect was neither additive nor synergistic with dietary MSM.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.275-279
• /
• 2005

This study investigated the effect of dried food-waste diets (FW) fermented by Aspergillus oryzae (AEW), on egg Production and egg qualify in laying hens. One hundred sixty eight laying hens, 50 week old, ISA-Brown wtrain were randomly distributed into 7 treatments with 3 relpicates of 8 birds per replicate and fed with standards laying hen diet replaced with FW and AFW at die=rent level Basal Diet, 25, 10, $75\%$, respectively. There was a significant decrease in feed intake for FW $50\%$ diet and egg Production was statistically lower in all W diet treatments(p<0.05). Water consumption was increased as the replacement increased. Egg weight, egg shell thickness and strength were similar among treatments. However, egg yolk color and Haugh unit showed distinct differences when W were added to their diets(p<0.05). No difference was observed in egg yolk cholesterol. It seems that FW diet could decrease the egg Production, but would be able to improve egg Quality. From this results, AO seemed applicable to laying hen diet as supplements.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.199-208
• /
• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary silicate minerals on ammonia emission from the excreta and performance in laying hens. A total of one thousand and twenty 49 week-old Lohmann brown layers were divided into three treatment groups consisting two replicates of 170 birds each. The experimental diets were containing three kinds of silicate minerals (Sand, Na-bentonite and SY feldspar) added at the level of 2% by top-dressing. Ammonia emission from the excreta was significantly decreased (p<0.05) by the supplementation of Na-bentonite or SY feldspar. N concentration of the excreta was significantly higher (p<0.05) for the hens fed Na-bentonite or SY feldspar compared to those fed sand. However, no significant differences were observed in feed intake and laying performance with over 80% laying rate observed for all the treatments. Egg shell strength was diminished when SY feldspar was added to the diet. As a whole, the results obtained from the experiment indicated that supplementation of Na-bentonite or SY feldspar added at 2% to the laying hen diet should not affect laying performance but help to reduce ammonia from the excreta at the same time.