• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2018

This study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary addition of Germanium (Ge) on performance, egg quality, serum biochemical properties and yolk fatty acid composition in laying hens. At 74 weeks of age, a total of 360 Hy-line brown commercial layers were divided into four treatments with five replicates per treatment. Four dietary levels of Ge (0, 1, 2 and 4%) were added to the basal diets (ME: 2,750 kcal/kg, CP: 16%) and fed corresponding diet for a period of 12 weeks. The effects of these treatments on production performance and egg quality were measured three times at four week intervals, and at the end of the experiment, blood and egg yolk fatty acid were analyzed. The results showed that production performance parameters including egg production rate, feed intake, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were non-significant, but dietary addition of 2% Ge tended to increase egg production rate. Eggshell strength was found to be significantly higher in Ge supplemented groups than in the control group (P<0.05), and eggshell thickness was also trended to be improved in Ge treated groups. In serum, triglyceride content was significantly greater (P<0.05), and the highest total cholesterol was found in hens of the control group as compared with that of the Ge supplemented groups. The yolk fatty acid composition including polyunsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid and saturated fatty acid were not affected among the treatments but addition of 2 or 4% Ge in basal diet had significantly (P<0.05) increased monounsaturated fatty acid. Therefore, supplementation of Ge in laying hens diet has positive effects on egg quality and triglyceride in serum.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2008

This study was conducted to identify the correlation of bacterial phytase ($Transphos^{(R)}$) to the calcium level in feed. Of all 21-week-old 720 HyLine brown laying hens, 2 birds of similar weight were placed on each individual cage. The experiment was conducted by $3{\times}2{\times}3$ factorial design with including 3 different levels of phytase (0, 300, and 1,000 DPU/kg), 2 different levels of calcium (3.5% and 4.0%), and 3 different levels of no NPP addition 0% (0.095 NPP), 0.5% (0.185% NPP), and 1.0% (0.275% NPP). The feeding trial maintained the ME level of 2,800 kcal/kg and 16% for crude protein. The diet was fed ad libitum and 17 hours of lighting was provided throughout the experimental period. Egg production seemed to increase, in the 300 DPU of bacterial phytase added group and the cracked egg tended to reduce in Transphos added group. The egg productivity between treatment groups did not show significant difference by dietary calcium level, whereas non NPP added group (0.095% NPP) was found to be low compared to NPP added groups (P<0.05). The highest mean egg weight and the highest daily egg mass were detected in 300 DPU phytase added group. Although the mean egg weight was significantly higher in treatment groups fed with 3.5% calcium containing feeds (P<0.05), daily egg mass was no among treatment groups. The mean egg weight and daily egg mass were the lowest in non NPP added group (0.095% NPP) compared to other treatment groups (P<0.05). The feed intake showed similar pattern regardless of the bacterial phytase and calcium levels in the diet. However, the treatment groups fed diets containing NPP level of 0.275% and 0.165% showed significantly higher feed intake than the group fed with 0.095% NPP (P<0.05). Although the feed conversion was not affected by calcium and NPP levels in the diet, the most improved result was obtained from 300 DPU phytase added group (P<0.05). The eggshell breaking strength and thickness increased as dietary calcium level increase the level of calcium increases in diet. The treatment groups fed diet containing 0.275% and 0.165% NPP revealed to show improvement in eggshell breaking strength and yolk color index compared to the NPP non added (0.095% NPP) treatment group. The result of the present study suggests that the appropriate level of microbial phytase is 300 DPU and at this level, tricalciumphosphate supplementation in feed can be reduced to 40% of NRC recommendation. Higher calcium level in feed fail to show synergistic effect by adding microbial phytase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.880-888
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of inuloprebiotics (INPs), an alternative antibacterial growth promotor, from Jerusalem artichoke extract (Helianthus tuberosus L.) on egg production and quality in Hyline brown laying hens. The hens were divided randomly into four treatment groups and housed in individual cages for 10 weeks: a control group (0 ppm INP) (T1), 450 ppm (T2), 600 ppm (T3), and 750 ppm (T4). Egg production, egg weight, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness, and breaking strength were significantly higher in all of the INP-treated groups compared with the control (p<0.05). Egg cholesterol was highest in the T1 group and decreased with INP addition from 15.04 to 17.98% (p<0.05). Compared with the T1 group, triglycerides in the blood and in total cholesterol decreased significantly in groups T2, T3, and T4 by 21.71-24.07% and 27.17-30.36%, respectively (p<0.05). The growth of cecum Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus was stimulated in groups T2, T3, and T4 compared with T1, whereas the growth of Escherichia and Salmonella was clearly inhibited (p<0.05). The results suggest that the addition of 450 ppm INP to the diet of laying hens can improve egg production and egg quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.206-210
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• 2017

Objective: A study was conducted to test six threonine (Thr) levels (0.39%, 0.44%, 0.49%, 0.54%, 0.59%, and 0.64%) to estimate the optimal dietary Thr requirements for Longyan laying ducks from 17 to 45 wk of age. Methods: Nine hundred Longyan ducks aged 17 wk were assigned randomly to the six dietary treatments, where each treatment comprised six replicate pens with 25 ducks per pen. Results: Increasing the Thr level enhanced egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (linearly or quadratically; p<0.05). The Haugh unit score, yolk color, albumen height, and the weight, percentage, thickness, and breaking strength of the eggshell did not response to increases in the Thr levels, but the albumen weight and its proportion increased significantly (p<0.05), whereas the yolk weight and its proportion decreased significantly as the Thr levels increased. Conclusion: According to a regression model, the optimal Thr requirement for egg production, egg mass, and FCR in Longyan ducks is 0.57%, while 0.58% is the optimal level for egg weight from 17 to 45 wk of age.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2003

A feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary complex probiotics on performance. egg qualities and intestinal microflora in laying hens. Three hundred twenty ISA Brown laying hens, 34 weeks of age, were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments containing 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% complex probiotics for 12 weeks. There were four replicates per treament. Total egg production, soft and broken egg number tended to improve as dietary complex probiotics increased, but was not significantly different. Average egg weight was significantly higher in the 0.1% and 0.2% complex probiotics than the control(P<0.05). Daily egg mass also increased by adding complex probiotics compared to that of control, but was not statistically different. No significant difference was found in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Eggshell breaking strength and thicknes were not significantly different, whereas yolk color was significantly lower in the supplemental 0.2% probiotics than the comtrol at 12 weeks of age(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Haugh unit. Total number of cecum Lactobacillus and naerobes were significantly higher in the complex probiotics than control(p.0.05). However, the number of ileal Lactobacillus and naerobe were not significantly different. It was concluded that dietary complex probiotics could improve the egg weight and intestinal beneficial microbes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1006-1013
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• 2015

Heat-stress remains a costly issue for animal production, especially for poultry as they lack sweat glands, and alleviating heat-stress is necessary for ensuring animal production in hot environment. A high ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producer Lactobacillus strain was used to investigate the effect of dietary GABA-producer on laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed Hy-line brown hens. Hy-Line brown hens (n = 1,164) at 280 days of age were randomly divided into 4 groups based on the amount of freeze-dried GABA-producer added to the basal diet as follows: i) 0 mg/kg, ii) 25 mg/kg, iii) 50 mg/kg, and iv) 100 mg/kg. All hens were subjected to heat-stress treatment through maintaining the temperature and the relative humidity at $28.83{\pm}3.85^{\circ}C$ and 37% to 53.9%, respectively. During the experiment, laying rate, egg weight and feed intake of hens were recorded daily. At the 30th and 60th day after the start of the experiment, biochemical parameters, enzyme activity and immune activity in serum were measured. Egg production, average egg weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and percentage of speckled egg, soft shell egg and misshaped egg were significantly improved (p<0.05) by the increasing supplementation of the dietary GABA-producer. Shape index, eggshell thickness, strength and weight were increased linearly with increasing GABA-producer supplementation. The level of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein and albumin in serum of the hens fed GABA-producing strain supplemented diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the hens fed the basal diet, whereas cholesterol level was decreased. Compared with the basal diet, GABA-producer strain supplementation increased serum level of glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.009) and superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, GABA-producer played an important role in alleviating heat-stress, the isolated GABA-producer strain might be a potential natural and safe probiotic to use to improve laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of the Flammulina veluipes media by-product(FMB) in laying hens(Hy-Line Brown). A total of three hundreds sixty were fed corn-soy based experimental diets containing 0(control), 5.0(T1), and $10\%(T2)$ FMB for 12 weeks. There were no significant differences among the treatments in egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion and viability during the experimental period. Feed intake was significantly(P<0.05) lowered in control(120.5g) than 72(123.9g). There were no significant differences among the treatments eggshell breaking strength, thickness and haugh unit, whereas the yolk color of T1 and T2 were significantly love. than control(p<0.05). In conclusion, the FMB can be used as resource of feed in laying hen feed at $5.0\%$ level without effect on performance and egg qualify. However, dietary pigments must be added when the FMB was used as a feed ingredients more than $10\%$ in diets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary germanium biotite supplementation on egg quality and fecal noxious gas content in laying hens. One hundred and forty-four 40-wk-old, ISA Brown layers were used in this experiment. Dietary treatments were 1) CON(control diet), 2) GB0.5(control diet + 0.5% germanium biotite), 3) GB1.0 (control diet + 1.0% germanium biotite) and 4) GB1.5(control diet + 1.5% germanium biotite). Hen-day egg Production and egg shell breaking strength were not influenced by germanium biotite supplementation. However, egg weight decrease as the level of germanium biotite supplementation increased in the diets increased(Cubic effect, p<0.02). Eggshell thickness, yolk color and yolk index were not influenced by garmanium biotite supplementation. Serum triglyceride concentration as dietary germanium biotite increased (linear effect P<0.02; quadratic effect, p<0.05). Dietary supplementation of germanium biotite reduced fecal NH$_3$-N concentration (P<0.01), propionic acid(P<0.01), butyric acid( P<0.05) and acetic aicd(P<0.01) concentrations in the feces. In conclusion, the results of this experiment indicated that dietary germanium biotite supplementation did not affect egg shell quality, but reduced fecal NH$_3$-N concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1318-1323
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• 2008

Corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a completely new feed ingredient in the Korean feed market. There is an ever increasing need for the Korean feed industry to import and make the best of it as a high protein and high energy feed ingredient. A layer feeding trial was conducted for 10 weeks to investigate the effects of addition of light-colored DDGS to layer diets on laying performance, egg qualities and yolk fatty acid composition. Also, the economics of using DDGS in the Korean situation was analyzed. Nine hundred Hy-line Brown layers, 24 weeks of age, were employed in a feeding trial consisting of four dietary treatments (0, 10, 15, and 20% DDGS), and five replicates per treatment. All experimental diets were prepared as iso-protein (17%) and iso-calorie (TMEn 2,780 kcal/kg). The use of DDGS up to 20% in layer diets did not exert any influence on feed intake, laying rate, total egg mass, mean egg weight and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05). The color and breaking strength of eggshell, as well as the albumin height and Haugh unit were not affected by the addition of DDGS up to 20% in the diet. The yolk color was significantly increased by DDGS supplementation (p<0.05). As the DDGS level increased, the oleic acid content decreased, and the linoleic acid increased (p<0.05) in egg yolk. The degree of saturation of yolk fatty acids was not affected by DDGS supplementation. The inclusion of light-colored DDGS up to 20% in layer diets resulted in a decrease of feed cost per kg without any undesirable effect on laying performance. In conclusion, the light-colored DDGS (L* 56.65) could be used up to 20% in layer diets without any harmful effect on laying performance, and possibly provide economic benefits to the Korean poultry industry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.444-449
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• 2006

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of cheese byproduct on performance, egg quality and fatty acid profile of egg yolk lipids from laying hens. One hundred five 30-wk-old White leghorn laying hens were randomly distributed into five groups of twenty one hens each and maintained in individual laying cages for 4 weeks. The hens were assigned to five treatments that consisted of corn-soybean meal based diets containing 0, 1, 3, 5 or 10% of cheese byproduct. Feed intake and rate of egg production of hens were not significantly different across the treatments during the whole experiment (p>0.05). Similarly, egg yolk cholesterol level, egg weight, Haugh's unit, eggshell thickness, color, and strength were not significantly different across the treatments (p>0.05). The amount of C16:0 in egg yolk was not significantly different across the treatments, but that of C18:0 decreased with increased cheese byproduct (p<0.01). Monounsaturated fatty acid (C16:1 and C18:1) content in egg yolk was similar across the treatments. Total CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA content increased linearly with increased cheese byproduct (p<0.001), while trans-10, cis-12 CLA amount was not significantly different across the treatments (p>0.05). Total saturated fatty acid (SFA) in the egg yolk was decreased as the level of cheese byproduct including CLA increased (p<0.01). However, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) such as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6 PUFA, and total PUFAs in the egg yolk were not significantly different across the treatments (p>0.05). Therefore, the present results showed that cheese byproduct beneficially improved the fatty acid composition of concern to human health in the egg yolk without adverse effects on egg quality.