• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.811-823
• /
• 2021

Objective: Eggshell color is an important indicator of egg quality for consumers, especially for brown eggs. Various factors related to laying hens and their environment affect brown eggshell coloration. However, there have been no studies investigating hepatic functions of laying hens with variable intensity of brown eggshell color. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify potential factors affecting brown eggshell coloration in aged laying hens at the hepatic transcriptomic level. Methods: Five hundred 92-wk-old Hy-line Brown laying hens were screened to select laying hens with different intensity of brown eggshell color based on eggshell color fans. Based on eggshell color scores, hens with dark brown eggshells (DBE; eggshell color fan score = 14.8) and hens with light brown eggshells (LBE; eggshell color fan score = 9.7) were finally selected for the liver sampling. We performed RNA-seq analysis using the liver samples through the paired-end sequencing libraries. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) profiling was carried out to identify their biological meaning by bioinformatics. Results: A total of 290 DEGs were identified with 196 being up-regulated and 94 being down-regulated in DBE groups as compared to LBE groups. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that these DEGs belong to several biological pathways including herpes simplex infection (toll-like receptor 3 [TLR3], cyclin-dependent kinase 1, etc.) and influenza A (TLR3, radical S-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2, myxovirus [influenza virus] resistance 1, etc.). Genes related to stress response (ceremide kinase like) and nutrient metabolism (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy-kinase 1, methylmalonic aciduria [cobalamin deficiency] cblB type, glycine receptor alpha 2, solute carrier family 7 member 11, etc.) were also identified to be differentially expressed. Conclusion: The current results provide new insights regarding hepatic molecular functions related to different intensity of brown eggshell color in aged laying hens. These insights will contribute to future studies aiming to optimize brown eggshell coloration in aged laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.842-848
• /
• 2019

Objective: Heat stress poses an increasing threat for poultry production. Some amino acids have been found to play critical roles in affording thermotolerance. Recently, it was found that in ovo administration of L-leucine (L-Leu) altered amino acid metabolism and afforded thermotolerance in heat-exposed broiler chicks. Methods: In this study, two doses (35 and $70{\mu}mol/egg$) of L-Leu were administered in ovo on embryonic day 7 to determine their effect on rectal temperature (RT), body weight (BW) and thyroid hormones at hatching. Changes in RT, BW, and thermotolerance in post-hatched chicks were also analyzed. Results: It was found that in ovo administration of L-Leu dose-dependently reduced RT and plasma thyroxine ($T_4$) level just after hatching. In post-hatched neonatal broiler chicks, however, the higher dose of L-Leu administered in ovo significantly increased RT without affecting BW gain. In chicks that had been exposed to heat stress, the RT was significantly lowered by in ovo administration of L-Leu (high dose) in comparison with the control chicks under the same high ambient temperature (HT: $35^{\circ}C{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 120 min). Conclusion: In ovo administration of L-Leu in a high dose contributed to an increased daily body temperature and afforded thermotolerance under HT in neonatal broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.347-354
• /
• 2010

The current work was carried out to investigate the effect of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC) on performance and carcass ratio. Seven hundred twenty 1-d-old chicks were divided into groups by strain (A, B, C and D) and sex (male and female). Strains were A) (KNC egg-meat type C strains $\times$ KNC meat type S strains) $\times$ KNC meat type H strains, B) (KNC egg-meat type C strains $\times$ KNC meat type H strains) $\times$ KNC meat type S strains, C) (KNC native R strains $\times$ KNC meat type S strains) $\times$ KNC meat type H strains and D) (KNC native L strains $\times$ KNC meat type H strains $\times$ Ross broiler. Experimental diets consisted of 3 phases such as starter(0~5 weeks; CP 20.0%, ME 3,050 kcal/kg), earlier (5~8 weeks; CP 18.0%, ME 3,100 kcal/kg) and finisher (8~12 weeks; CP 16.0%, ME 3,150 kcal/kg). Body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) was measured every week and carcass ratio(CR) was calculated at 5 and 10 week after starting experiment. There was no difference in BW among strains until 5 weeks (P>0.05), however D strain resulted in a higher BW after 5 weeks (P<0.05). Body weight gain (BWG) and FI in D strain were also significant higher compared to the other strains for all periods. However, D strains showed the lowest (P<0.05) fee conversion ratio (FCR). The other strains except D showed a similar BW, BWG, FI and FCR among strains. In addition, there were no differences in carcass weight (CW) and carcass ratio (CR) among strains at 5 weeks, however D strain showed higher CW and CR at 10 weeks. These results suggested the basic data that needed to develope the new strains.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.415-421
• /
• 2010

This work was carried out to investigate chemical composition and meat quality of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC). Ninety 1-d male chicks were used in this work and were divided into 4 groups as A: (KNC egg-meat type C strains $\times$ KNC meat type S strains) (female) $\times$ KNC meat type H strains (male), B: (KNC egg-meat type C strains $\times$ KNC meat type H strains) (female) $\times$ KNC meat type S strains (male), C: (KNC native R strains $\times$ KNC meat type S strains) (female) $\times$ KNC meat type H strains (male), D: (KNC native L strains $\times$ KNC meat type H strains) (female) $\times$ Ross broiler (male) strains. They were fed the broiler diets for 12 weeks at the flat house and twenty seven chickens were slaughtered at week 5 and 10. Chicken thigh and breast were weighed and physicochemical compositions and sensory characteristics were investigated. Physical compositions of meats have no difference among strains at 5 week, and B strains differed from other strains at 10 week (P<0.05). The pH, moisture, and collagen content of meat from B strains were lower than other strains at 5 week. Ash and collagen of A strains were the lowest at 10 week (P<0.05), but others have no difference among strains. In sensory test, juiciness of D strains was the highest at 5 week, and tenderness of B strains was the lowest at 10 week (P<0.05). In conclusion, the crossbreeding of KNC did not affect physical traits but affected chemical composition of the chicken meat slaughtered at 5 week.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2009

This experiment was conducted using 350 Lohmann Brown layers (67 weeks of age) to evaluate the dietary effect of organic or inorganic Se and Cu on their contents in chicken eggs. The layers were divided into seven groups and fed a commercial diet or one of the six experimental diets containing different levels of Se and Cu (T1, 0.3ppm organic Se; T2, 1.0ppm organic Se; T3, 1.0ppm inorganic Se; T4, 125ppm organic Cu; T5, 250ppm organic Cu; and T6, 250ppm inorganic Cu) for 5 weeks. No significant differences were observed in egg production and its qualities among groups. The contents of blood cholesterol in the birds fed various levels of Se and Cu were not significantly different as compared to control. Se contents in eggs were linearly increased as dietary Se levels increased for both sources, but Se contents from the groups fed organic Se were slightly higher than those fed inorganic Se. Sensory characteristics of eggs were not influenced by dietary treatments. In conclusion, Se contents in eggs were linearly increased as dietary levels of organic or inorganic Se increased, but eggs in layers fed the diet containing organic Se did not show higher Se contents than those in birds fed dietary inorganic Se.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.151-159
• /
• 1991

As a part of investigation on causes of drop in egg production in domestic chicken breeding farm, bacteriological contamination on air, feed, drinking water and artificial insemination instruments of randomly selected three farms was surveyed. Total bacterial population in the air was very high in all of the chicken houses tested and was not significantly different among these farms . However, total bacterial counts in the air of the problem house having egg drop problem and colibacillosis was higher than normal house within the problem farm. Bacterial population in the assorted feed was low before or after administration on the normal farm while it was much more increased after administration than before administration on the problem farm. Bacterial population of the drinking water in the source of water supply was very low and has no differences among farms tested. Also, bacterial population in the normal farm was not significantly different between source of water supply and after administration. However, population of total bacteria and coliform bacteria after administration was increased. Bacterial population was much higher in the artificial insemination instrument of problem farm than normal farm. However, this bacterial population in the problem farm was decreased to those of normal farm after these instruments were sanitized.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2009

This work was conducted to investigate the effects of phytase on N and P excretion of laying hens excreta. Three hundred sixty ISA Brown layers were selected to investigate excreta excretion for 65 weeks and to investigate the effect of phytase on total excretion and N and P excretion of layers from 55 weeks. The experimental diets were fed the starter (0~5 wk), grower (5~12 wk), developer (12~16 wk), prelay diets (16 wk~first egg), layer diets for starting period (first egg~32 wk), middle (32~45 wk), finishing diets (45~55 wk, 55 wk~). Thirty ISA Brown layers were selected to investigate the effect of phytase supplementation on total N and P excretion of layers at 55 weeks and assigned randomly to 3 treatments groups (10 birds/treatment) and phytase was added to basal diets at 300 and 600 FTU/kg. Average body weight, feed intake, water intake, and excreta excretion were 1,622, 105.7, 187.2 and 124.7 g/bird/day, respectively. Excreta of birds fed phytase were DM (33.2, 31.2, 30.5 g/day), N (0.46, 0.42, 0.40 g/day) and P (0.51, 0.49, 0.48 g/day) and reduced as dietary phytase increased, Finally, dietary phyase can reduce the N and P excretion, but the amount of excreta was not different depending from the phytase addition in layers. This work investigated the N and P excretion of laying hens excreta and were considered that dietary phytase can reduce the N and P excretion for short period.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2007

The Function of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is to control calcium levels by altering PTH (parathyroid hormone) secretion and renal calcium resorption. The influence of calcium on the basal and stimulated release of several hormones from chicken pituitary glands has been determined in vitro. The objective of this study was to identify SNP in chicken CaSR gene and to investigate the effect of the SNP on economic traits. The sequencing analysis method was used to identify nucleotide polymorphisms within chicken CaSR gene. This study identified SNP at position 1949 bp(Genebank accession No : XM_416491) in the exon 1. The SNP changed the amino acid to alanine(GCC) from serine(TCC). This SNP showed three genotypes, AA, AS and SS by digestion with the restriction enzyme NcoⅠ using the PCR-RFLP method. The A963S showed significant effect only on the first lay day (P<0.05) in Leghorn population. Leghorn with the genotype AA had significantly faster the first lay day(137.6) than the genotype AS(143.0, P<0.05). Also, the A963S showed significant effect only on the first lay day(P<0.05) and mean of egg weight(P<0.05) in KNC population. KNC with the genotypes AA ans AS had significantly faster the first lay day (151.0 and 152.6, respectively) than the genotype SS(159.4, P<0.05). And the genotypes SS had significantly heavier the mean of egg weight(50.4 kg, P<0.05) than the genotype AA ans AS (47.5 and 47.8 kg, respectively). According to result of this study, an a allele of the A963S was found to have a significant effect on the first lay day. It will be possible to use this SNP marker on selecting chicken to improve the first lay day.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2008

A total of 17 polymorphic microsatellite markers on chromosome 1 were used for allelic association tests with phenotypic traits in Korean native chicken. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the frequencies of individual alleles between the high and the low trait groups. The frequency of allele 123 of MCW0160 showed a significant difference between the high and the low groups in the trait of egg weight (EW). Three markers, namely ADL0234, UMA1.125 and ADL0101, were found to show significant differences in allelic distribution for the trait of the first lay day (FLD). UMA1.117, ADL0020, UMA 1.019, LMA1 and ADL0238 were found to show significant differences in allelic distribution for the trait of body weight (BW). ADL0101 and ADL0238 were found to show significant differences in allelic distribution for the trait of number of egg production(EP). In this study, we identified the QTL for economic traits at around 94 (MCW0160), 151 (ADL0234), 170 (UMA1.125), 225 (UMA1.117), 285 (ADL0020), 387 (UMA1.019), 418 (LMA1), 500 (ADL0101) and 520 (ADL0238) cM on chromosome 1 in Korean native chicken. The results provided a useful guideline for identification of positional candidate gene and marker-assisted selection for economic traits in Korean native chicken.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2011

The current work was carried out to investigate the effect of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC) on fatty acid, amino acid and nucleotide-related compounds contents of chicken meat. A total of 360 male chicks (1d of age) was used in this work and were divided 4 groups as A) (KNC egg-meat type C strains ${\times}$ KNC meat type S strains) ${\times}$ Ross broiler, B) (KNC egg-meat type C strains ${\times}$ KNC meat type H strains) ${\times}$ KNC meat type S strains, C) (KNC native R strains ${\times}$ KNC meat type S strains) ${\times}$ KNC meat type H strains and D(White Semibroiler Chickens) strains for 5 weeks at the flat house. Palmitic acid and vaccenic acid were highest in C strain meat, and myristic acid and linolenic acid were lowest in A strain meat (p<0.05). Saturated fatty acid was lowest in C strain meats (p<0.05). Valine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine of essential acid were low in A strain meat. Cystine, aspartic acid, glycine, alanine and proline were also low in A strain meat. Hypoxanthin (Hx) was high compared other strains at 5 weeks and low at 10 weeks. IMP was high compared other strains at 5 and 10 weeks. AMP has not significant difference among strains at 5 weeks but B strain was high other strains at 10 weeks. These results showed that C stain was excellent on the fact of nutrients compared to other strains. Consequently, the result of this work gave the basic data that needed to develope the new strains.