• 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.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.291-298
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• 2023

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the influence of providing laying hens with extra feed on egg production and egg quality parameters. A total of 480 laying hens (38-weeks old), were divided into five treatment groups (eight replicate cages/treatment and 12 layer/replicate) according to their starting body weight (1.98 ± 0.05 kg) in this four-week feeding trial. Five different feed allowances of the same diet (105, 110, 115, 120, and 125 g·day^-1·bird^-1) were assigned to layers. Daily inspections of remaining feed (around 0.1g) and layer mortality (0%) showed no harmful impact of supplying extra feed to layers. Providing 120 and 125 g of feed per day to layers resulted in the highest final body weight, large-egg ratio, and improved yolk color among all treatment groups. Layers receiving 125 g of feed daily had the highest egg weight, but the highest egg production ratio was observed in layers receiving 110 g of feed/day. The additional supply of feed did not have a negative impact on the productive performance or egg quality of the layers. The provision of 125 g feed per day led to an improvement of large-egg ratio, egg weight, and yolk color, but likely led to obesity of the layers, which manifested as an increase in body weight and a decline in the egg production ratio. We concluded that 110 grams of feed was the proper quantity after taking into consideration the significance of the health of the laying hen to the overall production performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.365-379
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• 2022

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of storage length, turning frequency and egg position on internal quality traits of chukar eggs obtained from 56-week-old chukar partridges under the same nutrition and management conditions. A total of 720 eggs were collected and assigned to 36 subgroups according to storage length (7, 14, 21, and 28 d), turning frequency (0, 1, and 24 per day) and egg position (pointed end up, blunt end up and horizontal). As a result of the study, almost all the internal quality traits of chukar eggs were negatively affected by lengthening of storage period especially 21 days and longer (p < 0.001). Internal egg quality traits weren't statistically affected by turning frequency except yolk index (p < 0.01). An improvement was observed in Haugh unit, albumen index and heigh of eggs stored with pointed end up (p < 0.001). Some significant interactions occurred among all internal egg quality traits which were mostly dependent on the eggs stored horizontally, extended storage time more than 21 days and egg turning during storage. The results and interactions showed that internal quality traits would be preserved well for the eggs stored less than 21 days with the position of pointed end up independent of turning. If the storage period was to exceed 21 days, the eggs should be positioned horizontally and turning should be applied to preserve the quality of chukar eggs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.323-337
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate whether adding different levels of raw or differently processed chickpea into different diets of laying quails affected live weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg weight and internal and external egg quality. Chickpea was used as raw, autoclaved or microwave-processed, and it was involved in the diets on two different levels (20% and 40%). The sample was divided into 7 groups including the control, 20% and 40% raw, 20% and 40% autoclaved, and 20% and 40% microwave-processed groups. 336 ten-week-old female laying quails were used in the study, and the experiment continued for 19 weeks. In the study, the differences among the groups were insignificant in terms of live weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg weight and egg quality characteristics such as shell thickness, shell weight, yolk weight, yolk color and albumin index. The differences were significant in terms of the shape index, Haugh unit (p<0.05) and yolk index (p<0.01). Consequently, it was observed that different thermal processes on chickpeas did not usually have a significant effect on the yield performance of the quails, and the results that were obtained were similar to the other groups. However, it was determined that some egg quality characteristics were affected by the autoclaving and microwaving processes. Between the thermal processes, it may be stated that autoclaving provided better results.

• 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.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2022

This study aims to investigate egg quality changes and free amino acid composition. Factors that can affect egg quality about farming conditions were investigated through biochemical analysis of egg by red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara. As a result, the buoyant, fertilization embryonic survival and hatching rate were better when reared in sea cage than in tank. And the content of free amino acid in fertilized eggs reared in sea cage was higher then in tank. In conclusion, fertilized eggs with good egg quality can be produced when farming sea cage, and contained more free amino acid.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2016

Egg quality is a very important factor for both consumers and producers. Factors affecting egg quality include strain and age of hens; egg storage temperature, time, and humidity; laying season; and feeding. This study aimed to determine the effect of hen age and egg storage time on egg quality. A total of 700 eggs obtained from Hyline Brown commercial layers were used for this experiment, and they were separated into two hen age groups (30 vs. 60 weeks) with eight treatments and four storage times (day 0, 10, 20, and 30). The egg weight; shell color, thickness, and density; albumen height; Haugh unit (HU); yolk color; and the yolk and albumen pH and viscosity were measured for the egg quality assessment. The results showed that the age of the hen and egg storage time significantly affected almost all parameters of the internal and external egg quality. The shell thickness, albumen height, HU, yolk color, pH of yolk and albumen, and yolk viscosity significantly decreased with increasing hen age. The egg shell color was significantly lighter in eggs from 60-week-old hens than in those from 30 weeks-old hens. The egg weight; shell weight, thickness, and density; albumen height, HU; and albumen viscosity significantly decreased, but the yolk color and pH of the yolk and albumen increased with increasing egg storage time. The interaction effects between the storage time and hen age were significant in shell thickness, albumen height, yolk color, and yolk and albumen pH and viscosity. The eggs obtained from 60-week-old hens showed significantly lower shell thickness, albumen height, and HU values, which are considered typical egg quality measurements, than values of eggs from 30-week-old hens. Therefore, increasing hen age and egg storage time caused the deterioration of egg quality. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that hen age is the major factor affecting the quality of fresh eggs, whereas the storage time is the determinant factor affecting the quality of stored eggs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.261-266
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• 2012

Fermented Chlorella vulgaris CBT$^{(R)}$ was evaluated for its effects on egg production, egg quality, liver lipids and intestinal microflora in laying hens. One hundred and eight Hy-line Brown layers (n = 108), 80 wk of age, were fed a basal diet supplemented with CBT$^{(R)}$ at the level of 0, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg, respectively for 42 d. Egg production was measured daily and egg quality was measured every two weeks. Five eggs from each replicate were collected randomly to determine egg quality. Egg production increased linearly with increasing levels of CBT$^{(R)}$ supplementation (p<0.05), although there was no significant effect of treatment on feed intake. Egg yolk color (p<0.001) and Haugh unit (p<0.01) improved linearly with increasing dietary CBT$^{(R)}$. Hepatic triacylglycerol level was linearly decreased with increasing dietary CBT$^{(R)}$ (p<0.05). The supplemental CBT$^{(R)}$ resulted in linear (p<0.001) and quadratic (p<0.01) response in population of cecal lactic acid bacteria. In conclusion, fermented Chlorella vulgaris supplemented to laying hen diets improved egg production, egg yolk color, Haugh unit and positively affected the contents of hepatic triacylglycerol and the profiles of cecal microflora.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2005

Egg has been considered as one of the most important food sources in both nutritionally and economically. However, because the hazards of egg flow chains' complexity from producers to consumers and the insufficiency of cold chain systems in Korea are still remained, preventive measures for egg safety should be established. This experiment was carried out to investigate the changes of egg qualify during storage in order to find out the proper storage condition and eggshell treatment. Eggs were stored at cold condition $(5^{\circ}C,\;relative\;humidity;\;RH:\;65\pm3\%)$ and room Condition $(1st: Sep\; 6\~Nov\; 15,\;2001,\; 10\~30^{\circ}C,\;RH\;41\~86\%,\;2nd;\; Dec\;13,\;2001\~Feb\;21,\;2002,\;4\~23^{\circ}C,\;RH\;36\~89\%)$ after eggshell treatment (unwashed, washed and coated egg) during'10 weeks and examined weight loss and interior quality periodically. Weight loss was in decreasing order room washed > room unwashed > cold washed > cold unwashed > room coated > cold coated egg. And, Haugh unit was decreasing order room washed > room unwashed > room coated > cold washed > cold unwashed > cold coated egg. Our findings show that both coated eggs and refrigeration reduces the rate of decline in Haugh units and egg weight. And, washed eggs had lower average Haugh units and a higher weight loss than any of the eggshell treatment in both storage conditions. Conclusively, for washing eggshell, 150 ppm of sodium hypochlorite, regular exchange and temperature control of water should be consistent and also eggs should be dried immediately after washing. Also, national guidelines for temperature and moisture of storage places, transportation and expiration data should be established to keep quality and weight loss of eggs. Storage temperature that is a critical factor in the quality and safety of eggs should be kept under 12'c and labelling of expiration date should be obligatory.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2015

The current experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding Salicornia extract to the drinking water on the performance, egg quality, and blood profile of laying hens. A total of 216 Hy-Line Brown laying hens at 40 weeks of age were used in a 10-week experiment. The birds were allotted into three experimental treatments with three replications per treatment and 24 birds per replication. The treatments were CON (basal diet), T1 (1 cc of Salicornia extract per liter of drinking water), and T2 (5 cc of Salicornia extract per liter of drinking water). The collected data were analyzed using the SAS package program. The results indicated that addition of Salicornia extract to the drinking water of laying hens did not cause any negative effects on the performance, egg quality, or blood profile. Compared to the control treatment, the treatments with Salicornia extract remarkably increased egg production (P<0.05) in the last week of the study, improved egg shell thickness and significantly reduced the egg breaking rate (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that the addition of Salicornia extract improved egg shell quality; thus, Salicornia extract can decrease the egg breaking rate and increase production on commercial farms.