• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.776-782
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• 1999

Two Bangladeshi varieties of yellow corn-'Barnali' and 'Khaibhutta' were chemically analysed and used in the diet of laying chicken to determine their replacement value for wheat. Both the new varieties of yellow corn were found to be good sources of energy and the CP contents were comparable to wheat. Forty two, 29-week old randomly selected Starcross Brown commercial pullets were assigned to 7 dietary treatments with 6 replicates, each being an experimental unit. Diets were formulated replacing wheat quantitatively by two varieties of yellow corn either 0, 50, 75 or 100 per cent from a wheat based control diet. The production performance of laying hens fed diets formulated with Barnali or Khaibhutta at different dietary levels during an experimental period of 16 weeks was satisfactory and comparable to wheat based diet. Except egg yolk colour, the other internal arid external egg quality characteristics at 8th and 16th weeks of the experiment did not differ significantly. The egg yolk colour improved significantly (p<0.01) by feeding both the new varieties of corn and the degree of pigmentation of yolk increased as the dietary levels of corn increased at the expense of wheat. Considering laying performance, the new varieties of yellow corn, Barnali or Khaibhutta can be used in layer diet as replacement of wheat. Such a replacement would better that wheat-based diet in terms of egg yolk pigmentation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1802-1810
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing herbal active ingredients (YGF251) which can promote the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the diet on production performance, egg quality, blood hematology, and excreta gas emission in laying hens. Methods: A total of 288 ISA Brown (41-week-old) laying hens with an initial body weight of 1.83±0.68 kg were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a randomized block design based on body weight. Each treatment had 12 replicate cages having 6 adjacent cages per replicate (hens are kept in cages alone). The experimental period was 35 days. Dietary treatments were based on the corn-soybean meal-wheat-based basal diet and supplemented with 0.00%, 0.05%, 0.10%, or 0.15% YGF251. Results: There was a linear increased egg weight in weeks 1 to 5 (p<0.05), egg mass in week 1 (p<0.05) and weeks 1 to 5 (p<0.05), egg strength on day 7 (p<0.05), 21 (p<0.01), and 35 (p<0.01), eggshell thickness on day 21 (p<0.05) and 35 (p<0.01), haugh unit on day 21 (p<0.01) and 35 (p<0.05), serum IGF-1 concentration on day 21 (p<0.05) and 35 (p<0.01), and serum total protein concentration on day 35 (p<0.05) were observed with the supplementing YGF251 increased in the diet, while feed conversion ratio in weeks 1 to 5 (p<0.05) and excreta ammonia emission (p<0.01) decreased linearly with the dose of YGF251 increased. Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of YGF251 positively affected the production performance and egg quality of laying hens through increasing serum IGF-1 concentration in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, YGF251 supplementation improved barn environment by reducing excreta noxious gas emission.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the effects of feeding diets with different levels of energy and nutrient density on the egg quality of laying hens during the pre-peak and peak periods. A total of 192 (Hy-line brown) laying hens were used in a 15-week trial. The hens were randomly allotted to one of four treatments, each with four replicates (12 hens per replication). We assessed the effects of four level of dietary energy (2,710, 2,850, 2,870 and 2,890 kcal/kg) and three levels of nutrient density (Methionine + Cysteine: 0.56%, 0.85%, 0.80% and Crude Protein: 14.5%, 19%, 18%). Differences in the energy and nutrient density contents of diets showed no significant effect (P>0.05) on the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, or egg production of hens during the pre-peak and peak periods. However, hens subjected to 2,890 kcal/kg during the pre-peak period were found to lay eggs with significantly thicker shells, and yolk color was found to be significant enhanced in hens fed this diet during the pre-and peak periods. In contrast, we detected no significant effects of dietary energy or nutrient density on the Haugh unit or eggshell strength. In summary, increasing the energy level of diets from 2,710 to 2,890 kcal/kg was found to have positive effects on the shell thickness and yolk color of eggs produced by laying hens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.740-751
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• 2022

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mixture of encapsulated essential oils (EOs) addition on nutrient digestion, serum biochemical parameters, peripheral blood alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), and acid phosphatase (ACP-ase) positive lymphocyte ratios and intestinal morphology in laying hens. Methods: A total of 320 laying hens of 48-wk-old were randomly allotted into 4 treatment groups with 10 replicates of 8 birds in each replicate. The birds were fed a basal diet (control) or the diet added with mixture of EOs (which consist of eugenol, nerolidol, piperine, thymol, linalool, and geraniol) at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for period of 84 days. Results: The addition of EOs at 100 or 200 mg/kg increased the dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestion as compared to control. The addition of all doses of EOs did not affect serum gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and P but increased serum asparate aminotransferase (AST) concentration. The addition of 200 mg/kg EOs increased serum creatinine, while 100 mg/kg decreased Ca concentration. The addition of 100 and 200 mg/kg EOs generally improved ANAE and ACP-ase positive peripheral blood lymphocyte ratios and intestinal morphology. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, the addition of 100 or 200 mg/kg encapsulated EOs generally increased apparent nutrient digestion and serum AST concentration, improved ANAE and ACP-ase positive peripheral blood lymphocytes and intestinal morphology in laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.1033-1040
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• 2022

The current experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of diallel crossbreeding on the body weight and laying performance of Korean native chicken from hatch to week 40. A total of 1,000 one-day-old chicks were allotted to 10 cages per crossbreeding treatment with 10 birds per cage on a random basis and then raised until 16 weeks and subsequently moved to layer battery cages and raised until 40 weeks. Ten crossbred treatments (YC, YD, YF, YK, CD, CF, CK, DF, DK, FK) that were obtained from the diallel crossbred of five pure lines were used in the current experiment. The body weight and mortality were measured biweekly from hatching to week 20 and every four weeks from week 20 to week 40. The number of eggs was measured daily. YC and YD crossbreeds showed a higher body weight (p < 0.05) and FK crossbreed showed a lower body weight (p < 0.05) during the whole xperimental period. The week 20 weight range was 1,501 to 1,729 g and the week 40 weight range was from 1,829 to 2,179 g. Earlier onset of egg-laying was noted in the YC and YD groups whereas late onset was observed for the DF and DK groups. YK reached its peak earliest at week 25 with 89.15% while the DK crossbreed attained its peak at week 36 with 89.69%. The YC and YD crossbreeds showed the improved body and egg-laying performance. Conclusively, there are variations in the body weight and laying performance of Korean native chickens with diallel crossing.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.318-326
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• 1990

This experiment was conducted to determine the economic housing density levels on caged laying hens The experiment was carried out with 600 ISA Babcock strain of white coder and 450 ISA Brown strain of brown color for production period(21－72 weeks) from May 11. 1987 to June 27. 1988. The levels of housing density was employed 5 or 6 by hen's color from 272 to 920$\textrm{cm}^2$/per hen. The results obtained were summarzed as follows ： 1. Although there were not statistically significant among the housing density levels, The body weight gain for pullet period(14－20 weeks) were in case of white pullet the lowest at the group of high crowding density (272$\textrm{cm}^2$/per pullet) and in case of Brown pullet was the lowest at the group of high crowding density(306$\textrm{cm}^2$/per pullet). 2. Viabillity of pullet from 14 to 20 weeks were more 97% and there urere not statistically significant among the housing density. 3. Viabillity of laying hens was increased as increasing housing density through the etire product period(21－72 weeks) but 453$\textrm{cm}^2$/per hen group(in case of brown hen) showed a significant difference (P＜.05). 4. Rate of egg production through the etire production period(21－72 weeks) were significantly increased by increasing housing density (P＜.05 or .01). 5. Average egg weight through the entire production period(21－72 weeks) was not significantly different among housing density levels at all laying kent 6. In case of white strain, egg mass per hen among treatment during the age of 63－72 weeks were decreased by increasing housing density, meanwhile, in case of brown strain were increased by decreasing housing density during the whole period and there were significant different among the all treatment 7. There were no significant different in feed intake among the all treatment through the entire production period(21－72 weeks) at the white strain laying hens but in case of brown strains, Feed intake were increased by increasing housing density and feeding spece/per hen, and there were significant different among the all treatment 8. Feed requirements per egg at white strain was the highest when the 272$\textrm{cm}^2$/per hen levels and at the brown strains was the highest when the 306$\textrm{cm}^2$/per hen levels, however, among the other treatment were no significant.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.254-265
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• 2002

Soybean meal (SBM) is a major protein source in poultry feeds and one of the best quality ingredients because of the relatively high protein content, good amino acid profile and bioavailability. But soybean meal quality is largely dependent on the processing technology and origins. In this experiment, effects of three different soybean meals were evaluated in layer (experiment 1) and broiler (experiment 2). Soybean meal sources used in the experiments were the US-originated dehulled soybean meal (USDHSBM), India-originated non-dehulled soybean meal (India SBM) and Brazil-originated non-dehulled soybean meal (Brazil SBM). Experiment 1 was conducted during growing and laying periods and evaluated the interactive effects of soybean meal sources according to feeding periods on growth performance and egg quality. Experiment 2 was conducted during growing period (day 1-35) and finishing period (day 35-42). The growth performance was measured for the same periods and any possible interaction between soybean meal origins and crude protein levels was also studied. In experiment 1, chicks fed India SBM utilized feed more efficiently (p<0.05) than those fed Brazil SBM from day 29 to day 42. The body weights of layers during the laying period had no relation to egg production. But egg weights were significantly heavier in all the USDHSBM fed groups than other groups (p<0.001) and depended on feed protein source during growing period (p<0.001). The average egg weight of the USDHSBM fed group scored the highest value (65.4 g), followed by the Brazil SBM fed group (62.1 g) and India SBM fed group (62.1 g). There was an effect of interaction between origins of soybean meal fed group in growing and laying period on eggshell color (p<0.01). Eggshell was significantly stronger in the USDHSBM fed (for growing period) groups than other groups (p<0.05) on $31^{st}$ week. Haugh's unit (HU), albumin index and yolk index of the USDHSBM fed group in growing stage were significantly superior (p<0.001) to other groups. In experiment 2, for the 7-week, chicks on the India SBM group gained less (p<0.001) weight than other groups. While daily gain of India SBM chicks was not affected by dietary crude protein level, those of the USDHSBM and Brazil SBM chicks were linearly increased as dietary crude protein level increased from 18% to 20%. The gain per feed ratio of the USDHSBM group was the highest (0.585), followed by the Brazil SBM group (0.568) and India SBM group (0.550) (p<0.01). Therefore, in this experiment, the use of USDHSBM with excellent protein quality and amino acid digestibility could be of advantage to the economic production of layer and broiler.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2001

This study conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Korean medical herb residue on egg quality and serum cholesterol of laying hens under heat stress. One hundred forty four, 41 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were used in a 28 d growth assay with a 7d adjustment period. Dietary treatments Included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) KMHR1.0 (basal diet+1.0% korean medical herb residue), 2) KMHR2.0 (basal diet+2.0% Korean medical herb residue). For overall Period, laying hens fed KMHR1.0 diet were higher hen-day egg production than laying hens fed Control and KMHR2.0 diets with significant difference (quadratic effect, p<0.01). Egg weight, egg shell breaking strength and egg shell thickness were not influenced by Korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). As adding level of Korean medical herb residue increased in the diets, yolk color tended to increase, however, the differences failed to reach significance (P>0.05). Also, egg yolk index was not influenced by korean medical herb residue supplementation (P>0.05). Total-, HDL- LDL+VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum tended to increase as the concentration of Korean medical herb residue in the diets was increased without significant difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 1.0% Korean medical herb residue to a corn SBM meal diet for laying hens increased hen-day egg production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.558-563
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to estimate energy requirements for maintenance in laying hens by using indirect calorimetry and energy balance. A total of 576 28-wk-old Nongda-3 laying hens with dwarf gene were randomly allocated into four ME intake levels (86.57, 124.45, 166.63 and 197.20 kcal/kg body weight $(BW)^{0.75}$ per d) with four replicates each. After a 4 d adaptation period, 36 hens from one replicate were maintained in one of the two respiration chambers to measure the heat production (HP) for 3 d during the feeding period and subsequent 3 d fast. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was partitioned between heat increment (HI), HP associated with activity, fasting HP (FHP) and retained energy (RE). The equilibrium FHP may provide an estimate of NE requirements for maintenance (NEm). Results showed that HP, HI and RE in the fed state increased with ME intake level (p<0.05). Based on the regression of HP on ME intake, the estimated ME requirements for maintenance (MEm) was 113.09 kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per d when ME intake equals HP. The FHP was decreased day by day with the lowest value on the third day of starvation. Except for lowest ME intake level, the FHP increased with ME intake level on the first day of starvation (p<0.05). The FHP at the two higher ME intake levels were greater than that at the two lower ME intake levels (p<0.05) but no difference was found between the two lower ME intake levels. Linear regression of HP from the fed state to zero ME intake yielded a value of 71.02 kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per d, which is higher than the extrapolated FHP at zero ME intake (60.78, 65.23 and 62.14 kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per d for the first, second and third day of fasting, respectively). Fasting time, lighting schedules, calculation methods and duration of adaptation of hens to changes in ME intake level should be properly established when using indirect calorimetry technique to estimate dietary NE content, MEm and NEm for laying hens.

• 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