• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2012

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of bacteriophage supplementation on egg performance, egg quality, excreta microflora, and moisture content in laying hens. A total of 288 Hy-line brown commercial laying hens (36-wk-old) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments in this 6-wk trial and dietary treatments included: i) CON, basal diet; ii) T1, CON+0.020% bacteriophage; iii) T2, CON+0.035% bacteriophage; iv) T3, CON+0.050% bacteriophage. There were 6 replicates for each treatment with 6 adjacent cages (2 hens/cage). Laying hens in T2 and T3 treatments had higher (p<0.05) egg production than those in CON and T1 treatments during wk 0 to 3. In addition, egg production in T1, T2, and T3 treatments was increased (p<0.05) compared with that in CON treatment during wk 4 to 6. At wk 4 and 5, birds in T2 group had higher (p<0.05) HU than those in CON. In addition, at wk 5 and 6, HU in birds fed T1 and T3 diets was greater (p<0.05) than those fed CON diet. E. coli and Salmonella spp. concentrations in excreta were decreased (p<0.05) by T1, T2, and T3 treatments. However, egg weight, egg shell color, yolk height, yolk color unit, egg shell strength, egg shell thickness, egg gravity, and excreta moisture content were not influenced by dietary treatments during the entire experimental period. In conclusion, bacteriophage supplementation has beneficial effects on egg production, egg albumen, and excreta microflora concentration in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1300-1308
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytogenic additive and antibiotic growth promoter in laying Japanese quails. One hundred and sixty five quails were divided into three groups of 5 replicates and 11 quails (8 females and 3 males) in each replicate. Treatment 1 was fed control diet, treatment 2 was fed control diet supplemented with 0.05% bacitracin methylene disalicylate as antibiotic growth promoter and treatment 3 was fed control diet supplemented with 0.1% phytogenic feed additive (PFA) for two periods of 3 weeks each from 37 to 42 weeks of age. Results showed that egg production, eggshell strength, eggshell weight, villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio were significantly (p${\leq}$0.05) increased and feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, albumen, Haugh unit, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, alanine transaminase, gamma glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, number of goblet cell, crypt depth and intestinal bacterial population of Coliforms, Salmonella and E. coli were significantly (p${\leq}$0.05) decreased in PFA fed group. It is concluded that addition of PFA containing phytomolecules and organic acids as main ingredients could significantly improve the production parameters and the general health of laying quails as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary ${\beta}$-mannanase supplementation and palm kernel meal (PKM) inclusion (5%) on laying performance, egg quality and nutrient utilizability of laying hens with 73 weeks of age. A total of 240 Lohmann brown laying hens with average 77.5% egg production were randomly allocated with 60 hens per treatment, 4 replicates per treatment and 15 hens per replicate. Experimental design was a completely randomized design with $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement, with the factors being (1) two levels of PKM (0 vs. 5%) and (2) with or without dietary ${\beta}$-mannanase (480 IU/kg of diet CTCzyme$^{(R)}$) supplementation. All hens were housed in cages ($35cmW{\times}35cmD{\times}40cmH$) with 2 hens per cage for six weeks feeding trial. Laying performance was recorded daily during feeding trial. Egg quality, nutrients utilizability and blood assays were done at the end of feeding trial. Egg production was improved (P<0.05) by both dietary PKM inclusion and ${\beta}$-mannanase combined supplementation. Either ${\beta}$-mannanase or PKM did not affect feed intakes and feed conversion ratio of all diets. Egg weight of hens fed diet containing 5% of PKM had heavier (P<0.05) eggs compared with hens fed without PKM. Albumen height was improved (P<0.05) by dietary mannanase supplementation. Crude fat utilization of 5% PKM diet was higher than that of no PKM diet regardless of ${\beta}$-mannanase supplementation. Both DM and total carbohydrate utilization were decreased (P<0.05) in hens fed 5% PKM diet. Serum IgG and yolk IgY contents of PKM groups were lower (P<0.05) than those of no PKM groups. This result showed that 5% PKM diet, independent of dietary ${\beta}$-mannanase supplementation, was able to improve egg production. In addition, dietary ${\beta}$-mannanase supplementation could be used for improving the albumen height of eggs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1458-1463
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• 2016

A 42-d study with 384 Hy-line brown laying hens was conducted to assess the effects of dietary octacosanol supplementation on laying performance, egg quality and blood metabolites of laying hens. Hens were randomly allocated into 4 dietary groups of 8 cages each, which were fed basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 9 (OCT9), 18 (OCT18), and 27 (OCT27) mg/kg diet of octacosanol isolated from rice bran, respectively. The experiment was conducted in an environmental controlled house and hens were fed twice daily for ad libitum intake. Laying performance was determined over the 42-d period, and egg quality as well as blood metabolites were estimated on d 21 and d 42. Diets in OCT18 and OCT27 increased (p<0.05) laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, egg albumen height, Haugh unit and eggshell strength on d 42, but decreased (p<0.05) feed conversion rate and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum as compared to those of Control. Feed intake, yolk color, yolk diameter, eggshell thickness and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were similar (p>0.05) among treatments. Results demonstrate that supplementing 18 to 27 mg/kg diet of rice bran octacosanol can improve laying rate and egg quality and reduce blood lipid of laying hens.

• 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 Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.485-492
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• 2018

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of feeding a diet supplemented with swine hair protein (SHP) on the nutrient digestibility of Korean native chickens and their egg production as well as on egg quality. In experiment 1, twenty roosters of the Hanhyup-3 strain were assigned to an individual cage to give 10 replicates per treatment (i.e., 0 and 10% of SHP), and the nutrient digestibility in response to the SHP supplementation was measured. In experiment 2, fifty-four layers of the Hy-Line strain were assigned to an individual cage to give 27 replicates per treatment (i.e., 0 and 10% of SHP), and egg production and egg quality were measured. In experiment 1, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was found in the digestibility of crude protein, crude fat, nitrogen-free extract (NFE), and crude fiber in response to the diet supplemented with SHP. In experiment 2, although no significant difference (p > 0.05) was found with the dietary treatments, the 10% SHP supplemented diet decreased (p < 0.05) the feed intake of laying hens. However, the SHP supplemented diet did not affect (p > 0.05) the laying rate, egg weight and feed conversion ratio of those fed the diet. Eggshell thickness and yolk color decreased (p < 0.05); however, eggshell strength, eggshell color, albumen height and Haugh units increased (p < 0.05) by feeding layers a diet supplemented with SHP. In conclusion, the results suggest that 10% SHP supplemented in a poultry diet could be a useful protein source.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.421-427
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• 2009

A mixture of three dietary medicinal herb extracts (MHE, mulberry leaf:Japanese honeysuckle:goldthread = 48.5: 48.5:3.0) was prepared as an additive of hen's feed. One hundred-eight, 28-wk-old Lohmann Brown hens were assigned randomly with three levels of MHE in the diet (0, 0.3, and 1%). Hens were fed for 6 wks and eggs were collected in the 6th week, and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 14 days to investigate the effect of MHE on the quality and oxidative stability of eggs. Internal quality of the egg including weight, shell color, albumen height, yolk color, shell weight, shell thickness, and Haugh units was not different among the dietary treatments. The oxidation stability of raw and cooked egg was determined by 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzonthianoline-6-sulfonic acid) ($ABTS^{+}$) radical reducing ability. Results indicated that TBARS value at day 0 and $ABTS^{+}$ radical reducing ability of eggs from hens fed MHE were higher than from the control group. However, DPPH radical scavenging activity showed no difference in both raw and cooked samples. Results of the present study indicate that dietary MHE may slightly enhance the oxidative stability of eggs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.603-608
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• 2010

This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation on pathogens, quality, and functional properties of shell eggs during storage. A 1st grade 1-d-old egg was subjected to electron beam irradiation at 0, 1, 2, and 3 kGy, after which the number of total aerobic bacteria, reduction of inoculated Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, egg quality, and functional properties were measured. Electron beam irradiation at 2 kGy reduced the number of E. coli and S. Typhimurium cells to a level below the detection limit (<$10^2$ CFU/g) after 7 and 14 d of storage. Egg freshness as measured by albumen height and the number of Haugh units was significantly reduced by 1-kGy irradiation. The viscosity of irradiated egg white was also significantly decreased by increased irradiation, whereas its foaming ability was increased. Electron beam irradiation also increased lipid oxidation in egg yolks. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation reduces the freshness of shell eggs while increasing the oxidation of egg yolk and improving important functional properties such as foaming capacity. Electron beam irradiation can also be applied to the egg breaking process since the irradiation reduces the viscosity of egg white, which can allow egg whites and yolks to be separated with greater efficiency.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.840-846
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary corticosterone on egg quality. For 2 weeks hens received either control or experimental diet containing corticosterone at 30 mg/kg diet. Feed intake and egg production were monitored daily, and body weight measured weekly. Egg weights and egg quality were measured daily. Corticosterone treatment resulted in a remarkable increase in feed intake and sharp decrease in egg production compared with control (p<0.05) whereas body weight remained unchanged. Decreased albumen height, but no changes in egg weight, led to decreased Haugh unit (p<0.05). Corticosterone caused elevated eggshell thickness (p<0.05) without altering weight and strength, suggesting possible changes in shell structure. Yolk color and redness were increased by corticosterone (p<0.05) but lightness and yellowness were either not changed or inconsistent over the time period of measurements. Increased concentrations in plasma were also found for corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, uric acid, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total protein, and amylase (p<0.05), suggesting that corticosterone increased protein breakdown, renal dysfunctions and pancreatitis. Together, the current results imply that dietary corticosterone affects egg quality such as yolk colors and shell thickness, in addition to its effects on feed intake and egg production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1610-1615
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• 2008

Natto is a Japanese traditional soybean product fermented by Bacillus natto. The effects of dried fermented soybean (natto) supplement on egg production and egg qualities of layer chickens was studied with regard to the effective use of various waste foods in Japan. Dried natto, prepared by heating at $60^{\circ}C$, was added to a basic diet at a level of up to 3%. Forty 166-wk-old layer chickens (Rhode Island Red) were randomly divided into 4 groups and five layer chickens were used in each group with two replicates. Layer chickens in group 1 were fed a basic diet as the control. The remaining 3 groups were fed the basic diet supplemented with dried natto at levels of 1, 2, and 3% (w/w), respectively. The result did not show improvements in egg production or feed conversion ratio of layer chickens even when 3% dried natto was added to the control diet. The egg qualities including egg weight, eggshell strength and thickness, yolk color, yolk weight, albumen height, and Haugh unit were also not improved. However, the feeding of dried natto changed the cholesterol content in the egg yolk. The supplementation of dried natto showed the tendency to decrease the yolk cholesterol after 12-wk of feeding compared to the control diet though it did not change plasma cholesterol levels in the blood. On the other hand, yolk cholesterol decreased significantly after 12-wk of feeding 3% dried natto (p<0.05).