• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 1987

A total of 1,440 White Leghorn pullets hatched in summer and winter, aged 20 to 72 weeks were fed 9 rations differing in dietary protein (13, 15 and 17%) and energy (2,500, 2,700 and 2,900 kcal/kg) levels for a period of 52 weeks in order to evaluate the optimum dietary energy and protein levels for laying hens. As metabolizable energy level increased from 2,500 to 2,900 kcal/kg of feed egg production, daily feed and protein intake and egg shell quality decreased, but reverse was true for the daily energy intake, energy requirement and feed cost per kg egg, body weight gain, nutrients utilizability and abdominal fat accumulation, Egg weight, viability and egg yolk Pigmentation were not affected by the dietary energy level. On the other hand, as dietary protein level increased from 13 to 17%, egg production, egg weight, daily protein intake, protein requirement per kg egg and body weight gain icreased, but daily feed and energy intake, feed and energy requirement per kg egg, egg yolk pigmentation and dry matter utilizability decreased, and no significant difference in the feed cost per kg egg, viability and egg shell quality was observed among dietary protein levels. However: the hens fed 15% and 17% Protein diets did not show significant differences in egg production, egg weight and body weight gain. For the entire laying period of 52 weeks, metabolizable energy level of 2,500 kcal/kg of feed and 15% dietary protein level were considered to be adequate to support the optimum productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary safflower seed (SFS) powder and chitosan on hatching egg production and eggshell qualify in aged egg-type breeder hens. A total of four hundred 54-week-old Hy-Line Brown breeder hens were divided into five the groups and fed experimental diets either with addition of 0.25 and 0.50% SFS powder or 0.10 and 0.20% chitosan or devoid of all for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in feed intake and laying performances among the groups. The rate of sellable egg in the groups fed diets containing SFS powder or chitosan was significantly increased compared to that of control (P<0.05), irrespective of dose-dependent manner. The addition of SFS powder or chitosan significantly improved the eggshell strength (P<0.01). Eggshell thickness was also significantly increased in the groups 134 diets containing chitosan as compared with that of control (P<0.01). Fertility and hatchability of egg set were significantly improved by dietary chitosan that those of control (P<0.05). ike contents of tibial Ca and P were significantly increased in the groups fed diets containing 0.5% SFS powder, 0.1 and 0.2% chitosan as compared with those of control. The levels of blood estrogen, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone were not affected by the dietary treatments. The overall results indicated that the proper use of some feed additives such as safflower seed powder and chitosan might provide means of improving eggshell quality and reproductive performances in aged egg-type breeder hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to examine the dietary effects of local granular ark shell(GAS) replacing limestone on egg shell quality in aged hens. A total of 200 Hy-Line Brown layers of 54-weeks-old were allotted into four treatments with five replications each. They were fed control(limestone only) 1% GAS, 2% GAS and 3% GAS diets for 6 weeks. GAS was substituted for coarse-type limestone at 0, 1, 2 or 3% of diet on weight basis. Particle sizes of limestone and GAS were within the ranges of 2~4 mm in diameters. In vitro HCl solubility of GAS was significantly lower(6.27 vs. 7.90%) compared to that of limestone(p < 0.05). The dietary treatment did not affect feed intake and egg production rate of the birds. Egg shell strength and thickness tended to be improved for birds fed the diets containing higher levels of GAS. The average egg shell strength and thickness of 2 or 3% GAS groups were significantly greater than those of the control (P < 0.05). The Tibial ash content of birds from 3% GAS group increased significantly as compared to that of the control. Tibial breaking strength, however, was not affected by the dietary treatment. Serum Ca and P contents of the birds were also not different among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, locally prepared GAS can be used as a calcium source in aged layer diet.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (wild yeast mutant), Saccharomyces cerevisiae hFeHLC (ferritin containgig yeast) and chelated Fe diets on the Productivity and egg qualify of laying hens. A total of 245 'Brown Tetra' layers 35 weeks aged was randomly alloted to seven dietary treatments : 1) control diet no iron added, 2) diet supplemented $0.1\%$ wild yeast mutant (YM03), 3) diet supplemented $1.0\%$ wild yeast mutant (YM03), 4) diet supplemented $0.1\%$ ferritin with yeast (YF04), 5) diet supplemented $1.0\%$ ferritin with yeast (YF04), 6) diet supplemented $0.01\%$ chelated Fe and 7) diet supplemented $0.1\%$ chelated Fe. The egg Production rate was significantly increased in layers 134 Fe supplemented diets (p<0.05). Egg weight was significantly reduced in layers fed $0.1\%$ chelated Fe diet (P<0.05). Fe content of egg yolk was significantly increased in $1.0\%$ YF04 and $0.1\%$ chelated Fe treatments (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in shape index, albumin index and yolk index of eggs of layers fed diets Fe supplementation (P>0.05). The haugh unit of eggs was significantly increased in layers fed YM03, YF04 and chelated Fe supplemented diets (p<0.05). TBA value of egg was significantly increased in different iron Fe treatments except of $0.1\%$ YM03 (P<0.05). The yolk cole. of eggs was significantly increased in $1.0\%$ YF04 diet (P<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1296-1302
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• 2009

Ninety six beak-trimmed 72 week-old Lohmann Brown hens were randomly divided into four equal groups. Each group comprised 4 replicates. Isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets contained low calcium (3.5%); optimum calcium (4.2%); low Ca (3.5% Ca)+1% Clinoptilolite (CLP); low Ca (3.5% Ca)+2% CLP. Data were collected biweekly and the experiment lasted 6 weeks. Egg production, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, tibia Ca, P, ash and eggshell thickness were not affected by addition of CLP to the diets (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in egg shell strength and ash when data were analyzed individually in measurement periods ($74^{th}$, $76^{th}$ and $78^{th}$ weeks). However, according to pooled data ($74^{th}$-$78^{th}$ weeks), eggshell strength was increased (p<0.05) only by 2% CLP supplementation versus low Ca (3.5%) diet, and shell ash was significantly increased by 2% CLP supplementation compared with the other diets. The damaged egg ratio on 1% and 2% CLP diets was significantly decreased between 76-78 weeks'data when compared with the low Ca diet. However; damaged egg ratio on the 2% CLP diet was significantly decreased when pooled data (74-78) were compared with no CLP diets. The differences in marketable egg ratio paralleled damaged egg ratio. The plasma calcium level at the end of experiment was increased on the 2% CLP diet when compared with the low Ca (3.5%) diet (p<0.05). Furthermore, at the end of the experiment a marked decrease of manure moisture was observed on both CLP diets (p<0.01). In conclusion, Clinoptilolite (2%) supplementation to layer diets tends to improve eggshell quality and manure dry matter (1% and 2% CLP) after six weeks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1638-1642
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to elucidate the effect of graded levels of vitamin $D_3$ in White Leghorn (WL) layer breeders on egg production, shell quality, hatchability of eggs and juvenile performance of offspring during their late laying period (72-88 wk). White Leghorn breeder females were randomly divided into 5 groups of 50 each and were housed in individual California cages in an open-side housing system. Considering birds in five cages as a replicate, 10 such replicates were randomly allotted to each treatment. A basal diet was formulated containing all the nutrients as recommended for WL layers except vitamin $D_3$, which served as control. Another, four diets were formulated by supplementing graded levels of feed grade crystalline cholecalciferol to the basal diet that contained 300, 600, 1,200 and 2,400 ICU of vitamin $D_3$ per kg. Each diet was offered ad libitum to one of the above five treatment groups. The egg production, egg weight, daily feed consumption and the feed intake per dozen eggs or kg egg mass of the birds fed diet without any supplemental vitamin $D_3$ was comparable with those of supplemental groups. Similarly, the level of vitamin in the diet did not have any effect on any of the above parameters. However, the specific gravity of eggs laid by the birds fed the diet without supplemental vitamin $D_3$ was comparable with either 600 or 2,400 ICU supplemental groups but significantly higher when compared to the 300 and 1,200 ICU groups. The egg -shell breaking strength was significantly lowered in the 600 ICU supplemental groups as compared to the strength of other dietary groups. The Haugh unit, egg shell weight, shell thickness, tibia breaking strength, bone ash and calcium content were not influenced by vitamin $D_3$ concentration in the diet. Serum Ca concentration was influenced by vitamin $D_3$ level in the diet. The serum Ca concentration of birds fed either control or the vitamin supplemented diet up to 1200 ICU/kg diet was comparable. However, increasing the concentration of vitamin $D_3$ to 2,400 ICU/kg diet significantly enhanced the concentration of Ca in the serum, which was significantly higher compared to other dietary groups. The serum concentration of P and protein, however, was not influenced by level of vitamin $D_3$ in the diet. Neither fertility nor hatchability was influenced by vitamin $D_3$ concentration in the diet. Feeding a vitamin $D_3$ deficient diet or supplementation of vitamin to hens did not have any influence on their progeny chicks. It can be concluded that dietary supplementation of vitamin $D_3$ may not be essential for optimum production, shell quality, hatchability, and juvenile performance of WL breeders during 72 to 88 weeks of age.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.847-856
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary xanthophylls supplementation on pigmentation and antioxidant properties in the egg yolk. ISA Brown laying hens aged 50 weeks were fed five kinds of xanthophyll combination such as control(neither natural nor artificial xanthophylls in feed), T1(Commercial diet containing natural xanthopylls in grain + Lutein 10ppm + Capsantin 10ppm), T2(T1 + Capsanthin 65ppm), T3(T1 + Canthaxanthin 65ppm), T4(T1 + Capsanthin 10ppm + Canthaxanthin 65ppm), and T5(T1 + Capsanthin 65ppm + Canthaxanthin 10ppm). The pH values of all egg yolks were not significantly different during storage or feeding periods. CIE L$^{*}$(lightness) values of T2 ~ T5 egg yolks were lower than those of control and T1. Conversely, the CIE a$^{*}$(redness) value of T2 ~ T5 egg yolks showed significantly higher(P<0.05). Egg yolk from chicks fed xanthophylls increased CIE b$^{*}$ values. The CIE b$^{*}$(yellowness) values of T2 ~ T5 egg yolks were higher than control and T1 during storage at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours respectively. In the antioxidation experiment, dietary xanthophylls supplementation affected lipid antioxidation of egg yolk during storage. The TBARS(O.D.) of egg yolks from chicks fed xanthophylls were lower than that of control during incubation at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours. In conclusion, dietary xanthophylls supplementation influence to color difference and retardation of lipid oxidation in egg yolk.