• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.139-147
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• 1989

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels and protein feeding systems on the performance of laying hens. Total 960 White Leghorn pullets were alloted in 10 treatments consisted of 1 metabolizable energy levels (2,900 and 2,600 kcal/kg) and 5 protein feeding systems (17-17-15%, 17-15-13%, 15-15-15%15-15-13% and 15-13-13% in phase I, II and/or III, respectively) from 20 to 80 weeks or age. As metabolizable energy level increased from 2,600 to 2.900 kcal/kg of diet, e99 Productions in phase I and II were not different but decreased in phase III. Egg weight was not different, but daily feed intake and viability were decreased in phase I, II and III. Feed conversions in phase I and II were improved but in phase III it was not different. On the other hand, as dietary Protein level increased from 13 to 17%, egg production and egg weight were increased, and feed conversion was improved , but daily feed intake and viability were not affected by the dietary protein level. For the laying period of 60 weeks, metabolizable energy level of 2,600 kcal/kg of diet and 17, 15 and 13% dietary protein levels in phase I, II and III, respectively, were considered to be adequate to support the optimum productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of modification of a herbal recipe(Herb $Mix^{(R)}$) on the growth of pullet and laying performance of hens. The formula of Herb $Mix^{(R)}$, a mixture of Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica gigas, Discorea japonica, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Schisandra chinensis and Ligusticum jeholense, was modified in mixing ratio. A total of 1,120 pullets(Hy-Line Brown) of 14 wks old were assigned to seven treatments; control, Herb $Mix^{(R)}$(HM), R. glutinosa fortified HM, A. gigas fortified HM, D. japonica fortified HM, G. uralensis fortified HM, S. chinensis fortified HM, L. jeholense fortified HM and Flavomycin supplemented diet. Each treatment had 8 replicates of 20 birds each housed in 2 birds cages. Body weight at 10% egg production was significantly(P<0.05) influenced by treatments. Birds fed A. gigas fortified HM diet were heaviest followed by L. jeholense fortified HM, HM-original and D. japonica fortified HM, Flavomycin supplemented diet and R. glutinosa while those fed control diet were lightest. Also, age reaching 50% egg production and peak production was earliest in A. gigas fortified HM and latest in the control. Egg production, feed intake, feed conversion and egg weight were significantly influenced by treatments. Significant improvement in egg production and feed intake was shown in A. gigas fortified HM treatment. Feed conversion ratio was lowest in antibiotic(Flavomycin) treatment and egg weight was heaviest in L. jeholense fortified HM treatment. There were no significant differences among treatments in intestinal microflora but cfu of Cl. perfringnes and E. coli tended to be lower in HM treatments than the control. Among the leucocytes of blood, the HM treatments were lower than the control in counts of white blood cell and heterophils. It was concluded that modification of Herb $Mix^{(R)}$ fortifying with A. gigas, D. japonica and L. jeholense significantly influence growth and laying performance of birds.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine optimum dietary levels of dietary energy and protein for laying performance and egg quality in organic laying hens. In a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement, 360 Hy-Line pullets (21 wk of age) were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,800, 3,080, and 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 16 and 18% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Experimental birds were raised in floor and received 14h of light throughout 52 weeks of experimental period. The birds were observed for feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, Haugh unit, shell thickness, and shell color at 30, 50, and 70 wk of age. Egg production, egg weight, and egg mass were higher (P<0.05) in hens receiving diets with 2,800 kcal/kg of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 3,080 and 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of diets. Eggshell breaking strengths were not significantly different among the dietary ME and CP concentrations. Eggshell thickness was higher (P<0.05) in hens receiving diets with 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 2,800 and 3,080 kcal of ME/kg of diets at 50 and 70 week. With increasing in dietary energy levels, the concentrations of blood total cholesterol were also significantly increased. Overall, the laying hens fed organic diet of 2,800 kcal ME/kg and 16% CP showed superior egg production than those of other dietary regimens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-31
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• 1991

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary methionine and lysine levels on laying hen performance. The level of protein was fixed 15% during whole experiment period, but the levels of methionine and lysine were 0.30% and 0.58% (Low), 0.32% and 0.64% (Medium), 0.35% and 0 70% (High), respectively. Total 288 laying pullets of 22 weeks age were reared from January 28, 1989 to March 23, 1990 for 60weeks. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. The e99 Productions were highest in medium treatment in phase I (22~42weeks of age), phase II (42~62 weeks of age) and phase III (62~82weeks of age) and especially, there was significant difference among treatments during phase II (P＜0.05). 2. Egg weight was significantly increased as the levels of methionine and lysine were increased up to methionine and lysine were 0.32% and 0.64%, respectively(P＜0.01). 3. Daily egg mass was highest when the levels of methionine and lysine were 0.32% and 0.64%, respectively and there were significant differences among treatments during phase I and phase II (P＜0.01) 4. Daily feed intake was increased as the levels of methionine and lysine were increased, and there was significant difference among treatments during phase III (P＜0.05). 5. Feed efficiency was best in medium treatment in phase I and phase II (P＜0.01) 6, Viability was highest in medium treatment, but there was no significant difference among treatments. 7. Nutrient utilizability of experimental diets was not significantly different among treatments. 8. Eviscerated yield was highest and abdominal fat accumulation was lowest in medium treatment, but there was no significant difference among treatments. 9. Egg shell quality and chemical composition of egg content were not different among treatments. 10. The feed cost per kg egg mass was lowest in medium treatment and there were significant differences among treatments in phase I, phase II and whole egg laying period(P＜0.05)

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.67-84
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• 1991

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary protein levels on laying hen performance. The level of methionine and lysine were 0.32% and 0.64%, respectively and the levels of protein were 12%, 13%, 14% or 15%. Total 384 laying pullets of 22weeks age were reared from January 28, 1989 to March 23, 1990 for 60 weeks. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1 Egg productions was highest at 15% of protein in phase I, 14% in phase II, and 13% in phase III, and there was significantly different egg Production among treatments during phase I and phase II (P＜0.05). 2. Egg weight was heaviest in 14% of protein treatment in three phases and they showed significantly different egg weight among different levels of protein in phase I (P＜0.01), phase II and III (P＜0.05) , but there was not significantly different between 14% and 15% of protein. 3. Daily egg mass tends to increase followed by increasing of protein level and showed signifiant differences among treatments in phase I and phase II (P＜0.01). 4. The 14% of protein treatment showed the highest daily feed intake and it showed significant difference in phase I and phase II (P＜0.01) , but there was no significant difference between 14% and 15% of protein. 5. Feed efficiency was improved significantly followed by increasing of protein level in phase I (P＜0.01) and phase II (P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference among treatments in phase III. 6. Viability tends to increase as increasing of protein level, but there was no significant difference among treatments. 7. Utilizabilities of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract of experimental diets were not different among treatments, but the utilizability of carbohydrate tends to increase as increasing of protein level (P＜0.05). 8. Eviscerated yield and abdominal fat accumulation was not difference among treatments. 9. Egg shell quality and chemical composition of egg content were not different among treatments. 10. The feed cost per kg egg mass showed the cheapest in 13% of protein treatment in all phase, but there were no significant differences among treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1619-1637
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• 2000

A review was undertaken to obtain information on the range of beak-trimming methods available or under development. Beak-trimming of commercial layer replacement pullets is a common yet critical management tool that can affect the performance for the life of the flock. The most obvious advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in cannibalism although the extent of the reduction in cannibalism depends on the strain, season, and type of housing, flock health and other factors. Beak-trimming also improves feed conversion by reducing food wastage. A further advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in the chronic stress associated with dominance interactions in the flock. Beak-trimming of birds at 7-10 days is favoured by Industry but research over last 10 years has shown that beak-trimming at day-old causes the least stress on birds and efforts are needed to encourage Industry to adopt the practice of beak-trimming birds at day-old. Proper beak-trimming can result in greatly improved layer performance but improper beak-trimming can ruin an other wise good flock of hens. Re-trimming is practiced in most flocks, although there are some flocks that only need one trimming. Given the continuing welfare scrutiny of using a hot blade to cut the beak, attempts have been made to develop more welfare friendly methods of beak-trimming. Despite the developments in design of hot blade beak-trimmers the process has remained largely unchanged. That is, a red-hot blade cuts and cauterises the beak. The variables in the process are blade temperature, cauterisation time, operator ability, severity of trimming, age of trimming, strain of bird and beak length. This method of beak-trimming is still overwhelmingly favoured in Industry and there appears to be no other alternative procedures that are more effective. Sharp secateurs have been used trim the upper beak of both layers and turkeys. Bleeding from the upper mandible ceases shortly after the operation, and despite the regrowth of the beak a reduction of cannibalism has been reported. Very few differences have been noted between behaviour and production of the hot blade and cold blade cut chickens. This method has not been used on a large scale in Industry. There are anecdotal reports of cannibalism outbreaks in birds with regrown beaks. A robotic beak-trimming machine was developed in France, which permitted simultaneous, automated beak-trimming and vaccination of day-old chicks of up to 4,500 chickens per hour. Use of the machine was not successful because if the chicks were not loaded correctly they could drop off the line, receive excessive beak-trimming or very light trimming. Robotic beak-trimming was not effective if there was a variation in the weight or size of chickens. Capsaicin can cause degeneration of sensory nerves in mammals and decreases the rate of beak regrowth by its action on the sensory nerves. Capsaicin is a cheap, non-toxic substance that can be readily applied at the time of less severe beak-trimming. It suffers the disadvantage of causing an extreme burning sensation in operators who come in contact with the substance during its application to the bird. Methods of applying the substance to minimise the risk to operators of coming in contact with capsaicin need to be explored. A method was reported which cuts the beaks with a laser beam in day-old chickens. No details were provided on the type of laser used, or the severity of beak-trimming, but by 16 weeks the beaks of laser trimmed birds resembled the untrimmed beaks, but without the bill tip. Feather pecking and cannibalism during the laying period were highest among the laser trimmed hens. Currently laser machines are available that are transportable and research to investigate the effectiveness of beak-trimming using ablasive and coagulative lasers used in human medicine should be explored. Liquid nitrogen was used to declaw emu toes but was not effective. There was regrowth of the claws and the time and cost involved in the procedure limit the potential of using this process to beak-trim birds.