• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.499-503
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• 1994

One thousand and eighty eggs of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were set into the incubator maintaining 36 treatment groups (3 egg weight groups ${\times}3$ seasons ${\times}4$ preincubation holding periods) to evaluate their hatchability performances. Holding periods had significant (p<0.05) effect on hatchability and the seasons showed significant (p<0.05) effect on chick weight. All the parameters (except fertility) were significantly (p<0.01) influenced by the egg weight. None of the parameters maintained regular trend with egg weight and pre-incubation holding periods. Significant interactions were not observed on any of the parameters (except fertility) studied. The egg weight maintained significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with fertility and positive correlation with chick weight. Eggs of medium weight (9.10 to 10.00 cm) could be hatched satisfactorily between 4 and 7 days of pre-incubation holding periods in any season of the year.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 1999

Beijing White Chickens laying larger eggs and smaller eggs were respectively used as parental individuals for mating to produce the F1 progeny and then the F1 progeny individuals mated to produce 125 individuals of the F2 progeny. Three bands associated with the egg weight performance were identified from DNA fingerprints of the 125 individuals generated with a bovine minisatellite probe BM6.5B. The simple linear correlation analysis showed that the coefficients of correlation between frequencies of the three bands (DB1, DB2 and DB3) and egg weights were -0.6, -0.6 and 0.9, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1998

The effects of dietary levels and feeding period of Korean hot pepper (Capsicum annum) seed on the performance and egg quality were investigated. Rhode Island Red layers of 84 wk of age were fed the experimental diets containing O.O(Control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% of HPS, respectively, in individual cages during 10 wk of the feeding period. The dietary hot pepper seed significantly(P<0.05) improved hen-day egg production and daily egg rnass, but reduced egg weight(P<0.05). During the 10 wk of the feeding period, the egg production and daily egg mass improved after 6 or 7 wk of feeding 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0% hot pepper seed diets. When the layers were fed the 3.0% HPS diet, it only took 1 wk to improve the egg production and daily egg mass. In addition, the birds fed 3.0% hot pepper seed diet showed relatively constant egg weight while those of the Control increased gradually as the feeding period passed. The dietary hot pepper seed significantly improved the eggshell thickness, and redness and whole color of egg yolk. The results indicate that dietary hot pepper seed( $\geq$2.0%) may improve the egg production and egg shell thickness, and increase the redness of egg yolk in layers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2016

This study aimed of effects of replacing maize with rice or brown rice on laying performance, egg quality, and apparent fecal digestibility of nutrient in Hy-Line Brown laying hens. A total of 200, 25-week old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to one of 5 treatments, each of which was replicated 4 times. Four experimental diets that were formulated two different grains (brown rice or rice) with two inclusion levels of (15 and 30%) as a replacement of maize. The experimental period was 8 weeks. During the experiment, hens were provided with feed and water ad libitum and were exposed to a 16:8=L:D lighting schedule. There were no differences in feed intake, egg weight, and egg mass during the 8 weeks of the feeding trial among groups. However, hen-day egg production was greater (P<0.05) for Brown rice treatment groups than that for basal and rice treatment groups. In addition, the supplementation of brown rice or rice did not have an effect on eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, and HU during of the feeding trial (Table 4). However, egg yolk color was less (P<0.05) for basal treatment groups than that for among treatment group. ATTD of dry matter (DM) and crude fat were greater (P<0.05) for brown rice 15 treatment than for rice 30 treatment. Crude protein (CP) was greater (P<0.05) for brown rice 15 treatment than for basal treatment. In conclusion, brown rice or rice grains is a good alternative energy feedstuff and can be used in laying hens, totally replacing maize, without any negative effect on the laying performance, egg quality, and nutrient digestibility.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2008

Animal welfare advocates, claim that the induced molting by fasting be avoided. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of molting induced by various feeding methods on productivity and egg quality in laying hens. We used 400 flocks of 60-week-old leghorn laying hens in four treatments(five replicates of 20 hens each): fasting method (C), feeding single corn grain diet (T1), feeding single wheat bran diet (T2) and feeding single alfalfa meal diet (T3). As the result of the experiment, egg production and daily egg mass significantly decreased only in T1 compared with the control during the $1{\sim}4th$ week after the secondary egg laying (P<0.05). Although the amount of feed intake was significantly less in T1 group during the $1{\sim}4th$ week compared to the control, no significant difference was detected during the total period (P>0.05). In addition, no significant difference of feed conversion was observed between treatment groups. In terms of egg quality, the egg shell thickness was significantly improved in T1 group than the control group by feeding only corn at the 10th and 14th week after the secondary egg laying (P<0.05), but the significant decrease was observed at the corn (T1) and wheat bran (T2) fed treatment groups than the control group at the 26th week of the experiment (P<0.05). The eggshell strength and haugh unit did not show any difference by the molting methods. Egg yolk color was significantly decreased in T1 and T2 group than the control group at the 6th week (P<0.05). However, T1 and T2 group resulted to show significantly high egg yolk color at the 18th week of the experiment (P<0.05). As the result of the experiment, no large difference was observed in the productivity by the feeding molting method and by the fasting induced molting method. In addition, the single diet fed feeding induced molting method by using alfalfa revealed to show more satisfactory trend than the corn or wheat bran single diet fed feeding induced molting methods even if no statistically significant difference was found in terms of egg productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.189-197
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• 2022

This study was conducted to compare the egg productivity, egg quality, and blood characteristics of laying hens with different laying rates, and the frequency and cumulative duration of the sitting behavior observed before laying was investigated. Twelve 45-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to two treatment groups with three replicates. Treatment groups were classified as layers laying over 80%(high egg performance layers; HEP) and layers laying below 50%(poor egg performance layers; PEP). The experiment lasted 4 weeks. HEP showed higher hen-house egg production ratio and egg mass and lower feed conversion ratio(FCR) (P<0.05) compared with PEP, although egg weight was higher in PEP (P<0.05). In terms of egg quality, PEP showed differences in eggshell quality (eggshell color, eggshell thickness, and eggshell weight) (P<0.05). Additionally, HEP showed high triglycerides(TG), and PEP showed high alanine transaminase(ALT) level (P<0.05) in serum collected in the morning. In the afternoon, the HEP showed higher lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) levels (P<0.05). No differences in the Ca: P ratio were observed between layers with different laying rates. One hour before egg laying, HEP exhibited sitting behavior 4 times on average, each lasting 25 minutes. In conclusion, egg production and quality differ between HEP and PEP, and HEP showed frequent sitting behavior before egg laying. However, additional research is necessary to explore approaches other than specific behavioral observation to distinguish poor layers in the flock for application in farms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.524-530
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• 2012

Laying hens were fed commercial diets added with supplemented fat (SFAT) at 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8% in order to study the long term dietary effects - on - their productive performance from 22 to 75 wk of age. Five hundred and seventy six Single Comb White Leghorn hens were assigned to one of the four dietary treatments. The experimental phase consisted of three periods of 18 wk each. The final body weight and gain of hens fed on diets with SFAT at 1.2% and 1.8% were lower (p<0.05) than those hens given no SFAT. The SFAT at the 1.2% and 1.8% levels improved egg production rate, egg weight and mass, as well as FCR. Mortality and feed consumption were not affected by dietary SFAT. Administration of a diet with SFAT significantly decreased the cracked-broken egg ratio (p<0.01). The beneficial effects of SFAT on egg production performance were particularly more pronounced at intermediate and later ages. Hence, SFAT by period interactions were significant for all traits studied except feed intake. Hens fed SFAT deposited significantly higher abdominal fat than those on the no-SFAT diet. As a result, SFAT at 1.2% and 1.8% inclusion levels provided benefits in terms of efficient table egg production.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.84-86
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of yeast Rhodotourula glutinis(Glutincus) on the performance and egg quality of layers. A total of 360 ISA Brown layers of 72 weeks old were assigned to one of the following 6 diets ：control, 25 ppm ${\beta}$-carotene. 0.5％, 1％, 2％ and 4％ Glutinicus supplemented diet. Each treatment was replicated three times with 20 birds housed in 2 birds cage units. Glutinicus supplemented at the level of 0.5％ significantly(p＜0.05) improved egg production and FCR. Soft and broken egge production rate decreased as the level of Glutinicus supplementation increased. Eggshell was highest in Glutinicus 4％ supplementation. Egg yolk color increased linearly as the level of Glutinicus supplementation increased up to 2％ of the diet. It was concluded that Glutinicus supplementation at the level of 0.5％ can be recommended for the improvement of egg production while 2.0％ can be recommended for egg yolk pigmentation.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 1995

To evaluate the nutritional values of Spirulina platensis as the protein supplement for laying heo diet, two experimental diets (Control, Spirulina platensis 2%) were prepared. Total 120, 40-wk old ISA Brown layer hens were randomly employed with 15 hens per replicate and 4 replicates per treatment. Hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, intake /egg weight, egg shell thickness, yolk color score and yolk cholesterol content were examined during 6 weeks of experimental period. Hen-day egg production and feed conversion ratio (intake /egg weight) were significantly (P<0.01) improved by the 2% Spirulina plalensis supplementation. However, there were no differences in egg weight and feed intake between hens fed two experimental diets. Egg from hens fed Spirulina platensis 2% diet have more yellowish yolk color than the control egg although there was no difference in egg shell thickness. Yolk cholesterol content was significantly (P

• 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.