• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.980-985
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• 2000

Influences of Japanese green tea powder (GTP) supplementation to commercial diet on laying performance and egg quality were studied by using 60 laying hens. The experimental diet with or without 0.6% GTP was given ad libitum to the birds during the period from 6 to 71 weeks of age. The birds started egg production from 21 wk of age regardless GTP feeding. Body weight, feed intake, egg weight tended to decrease with GTP supplementation, while egg production rate tended to increase. Haugh unit score was significantly increased with GTP, which accompanied with the increased albumen height. These were observed almost throughout the laying period over 50 wk. Gel proportion in thick albumen was decreased as storage time is prolonged, then higher values of the gel proportion were recorded in the eggs from GTP group. Thick albumen of the eggs from GTP-fed layers had more carbohydrate than that from control layers. All these indicate physical stability of thick albumen in the eggs from GTP group. Thiobarbituric acid content of egg yolk tended to remain lower in the eggs from GTP group during 5-10 days of storage at room temperature. Levels of egg yolk cholesterol and yolk lipid were significantly reduced by GTP feeding. There were no significant differences in eggshell weight, shell thickness and shell strength between the two groups. Thyroid gland and liver from hens slaughtered at 71 wk of age did not differ in weight irrespective of GTP feeding. The present results suggest that GTP could modify components of edible part of egg, leading to the characteristics favourable to consumers such as high durability of thick albumen and less cholesterol in yolk, without altering general performance of the layers throughout this year round experiment.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2001

In order to obtain the basic information for seedling production of the scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis, the egg development and larva growth were investigated at different conditions such as water temperature, salinity and phytoplankton. Eggs were demersal isolated eggs, which averaged 77.3${\pm}$2.7$\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter after spawning. The fertilized eggs developed to D-shaped larva of shell length 117.5${\pm}$3.8$\mu\textrm{m}$ after 60 hours at 15$^{\circ}C$. The range of water temperature and salinity during egg development were 10-20$^{\circ}C$ and 28-34 ppt, respectively. The time of egg development was shorter with higher water temperature. After 10 days of spawning, D-shaped larva reached 160 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in shell length, and after 25 days became full-grown larva 250 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in shell length, in which could be observed eye spots. The relative growth formula between shell length (SL) and shell height (SH) was SH = 1.0425SL-27.731 (r$^2$= 0.9749) during the entire larva period. In regard to water temperature, growth and survival rates of larvae were good at 16$^{\circ}C$. Lower growth and survival rates were observed at 12$^{\circ}C$ and 20$^{\circ}C$ than that at 16$^{\circ}C$. When larvae were fed mixed phytoplankters, such as isochrysis galbana, Pavlova lutheri and Chaetoceros calcitrans, their growth and survival rates were the highest among groups.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.323-326
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• 2011

While the presence of pinworm eggs in archaeological samples has been reported by many researchers in the New World, those have been detected very scarcely in the Old World, especially in East Asian countries. In fact, many parasite species were recovered from the archeological remains in Korea, eggs of Enterobius vermicularis had not been found. Recently, a female mummy buried in the 17th century was discovered in the Joseon tomb from Dangjin-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. After rehydration process for 12 days, investigations were carried on the luminal surface of the colon. From them, 3 eggs of E. vermicularis were recovered. They were elliptical, transparent with a thin egg shell, $50.3{\pm}5.2\;{\mu}m$ (length) and $28.2{\pm}3.9\;{\mu}m$ (width) in size. This is the first discovery of E. vermicularis eggs in East Asia.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2012

The ovarian cycle, the biological minimum size, and artificial spawning frequency by artificial spawning induction of the female hard clam, Meretrix petechialis, were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data. The ovarian cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage, late active stage, ripe stage, partially spawned stage, and spent/inactive stage. The spawning period was from June to September, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds over $20^{\circ}C$. The biological minimum size (shell length at 50% of first sexual maturity) in females were 40.39 mm in shell length (considered to be two years of age), and all clams over 50.1 mm in shell length sexually matured. In this study, the mean number of the spawned eggs by spawning induction increased with the increase of size (shell length) classes. In case of artificial spawning induction for the clams > 40.39 mm, the number of spawned eggs from the clams of a sized class was gradually decreased with the increase of the number of the spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawning). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning of this species was estimated to be 15-18 days (approximately 17 days).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2010

Annual gonad development of the rock shell, Thais clavigera distributed in Jeju Port was investigated over a 12 month period from March 1998 to February 1999. Monthly change in gonad development was examined using histology. Gametogenesis of T. clavigera in the study area initiated as early as in October and fully ripe eggs could be observed from May to July. Percent gonad area (PGA) also increased rapidly from May to July then dropped in August when the water temperature remained $22.6-24.5^{\circ}C$, suggesting that rock shell released their eggs during this period. All female rock shell collected during the course of study exhibited pseudo-penis in the head, indicating that a certain level of imposex had progressed in the study site. Relative penis size index (RPSI), an indicator of level of imposex phenomenon varied 59.5-173.4% and this value was relatively higher than the index reported from elsewhere. It was believed that such imposex phenomenon observed in T. clavigera was caused by endocrine disruption by chemical contaminants such as TBTs released from biocidal paints in the port environment.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.21 no.2 s.34
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• pp.81-93
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• 2005

Reproductive cycle with the gonadal phases, first sexual maturity, artificial spawning amount by the size and spawning interval of the hard clam, Meretrix lusoria were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data by artificial spawning induction. Meretrix lusoria is dioecious and oviparous. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (January to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to August), partially spawned stage (June to September), and spent/inactive stage (September to February). The spawning period was from June to September, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds over $20^{\circ}C$. Percentage of first sexual maturity of female and male clams ranging from 40.0 to 45.0 mm in shell length was over 50%, and all clams over 50.0 mm in shell length sexually matured. Female and male clams ranging from 40.0 to 45.0 mm in shell length are considered to be two years old. Therefore, we assume that the hard clams of both sexes begin reproduction from two years of age. The mean number of the spawned eggs increased with the increase of size (shell length) classes. In case of artificial spawning induction, the number of spawned eggs from the clams of a sized class was gradually decreased with the increase of the number of the spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawnings). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning was estimated to be 15-18 days (average 17 days).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1611-1616
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• 2012

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of sodium nitrate consumption on egg quality and quantity, and some blood parameters of native breeder hens of West Azerbaijan province. One hundred native hens were used from wk 25 to 32 of age. These birds were divided into two groups. One group was fed the control diet (CD) but the other fed the same diet supplemented with 4.2 g/kg sodium nitrate (ND). After 2 wks of adaptation, eggs were collected daily and egg mass and egg production were measured weekly for five weeks. To assess the egg quality parameters, two eggs from each replicate pen were collected for three consecutive days each week. At the end of experimental period (wk 32 of age), blood samples of 5 birds per replicate were collected from the wing vein into anticoagulant tubes. Dietary sodium nitrate didn't affect the egg production, shell stiffness, shell thickness and Haugh unit (p>0.05) but it decreased the both egg production and egg mass during the last three weeks (wks 30, 31 and 32) (p<0.05). Furthermore, a treatment effect was observed for yolk colour (p<0.05). Both the egg production and egg mass were increased over time (p<0.05). No significant treatment${\times}$time interaction was observed for egg weight, egg production and egg mass (p>0.05). No effect of time or treatment${\times}$time were observed for shell stiffness (p>0.05). Over time, shell thickness was decreased while Haugh unit increased (p<0.05). None of the blood TP and TG or the activity of ALT, AST and LDH enzymes were affected by dietary consumption of sodium nitrate at wk 32 of age (p>0.05). Sodium nitrite decreased both the TAC and TC at wk 32 of age (p<0.001). It was concluded that the lower body antioxidant capacity of nitrate fed birds resulted in the lower performance (egg weight, egg production and egg mass).

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2016

Gametogenesis of the comb pen shell, Atrina pectinata (Linnaeus, 1767) (Bivalvia: Pinnidae) on the southern coast of Ulleungdo Island, Korea was assessed monthly (November 2013 to October 2014) using histology. Gametogenesis commenced in January when the surface water temperature was $12.6^{\circ}C$ and pen shells evidenced an early development phase with small oogonia from January to April, although few females exhibited ripe eggs in their follicular epithelium. In April, the oocyte diameter increased rapidly, and fully mature eggs appeared in May. First spawning males and females were observed in June as the surface water temperature reached $19.3^{\circ}C$ and July ($23.2^{\circ}C$) respectively. The spawning activity continued until the end of September. Histology indicated that the spawning peak of the females in Ulleungdo Island was July to August. During October to January, most of the pen shells were in spent and resting stages. Our data suggested that A. pectinata is a summer spawner, and their annual gametogenesis is closely associated with the seasonal variation in the surface water temperature. The present study is the first provided fundamental information on the life history of A. pectinata in Ulleungdo Island, and this can be put to good use in the management of this pen shell in the study area.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-218
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary pitamin, pine bark extracts, as a organic livestock feed additives on the egg production and egg quality of laying hens. One hundred-fifty laying hens (Hyline brown) were randomly allocated to one of the following 3 treatment groups for 6 weeks: control, pitamin 0.1% and pitamin 0.2%. The egg production of hens fed the diet containing 0.1% pitamin was similar to that of the control; however, the egg production of the pitamin 0.2% group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<0.05). Additionally, the Haugh unit was higher in groups fed diets that contained 0.1% or 0.2% pitamin than in the control group (p<0.05), but no significant difference in egg shell thickness and egg shell breaking was observed between the pitamin 0.1% group and the control group. Furthermore, the concentration of cholesterol in eggs produced by the pitamin 0.1% group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<0.05). Moreover, the saturated fatty acid content of eggs from hens in the pitamin 0.2% group was lower than that of eggs produced by hens in the other groups, whereas the unsaturated fatty acid content of eggs produced by hens in the pitamin 0.2% group was higher than that of eggs produced by hens in the other groups (p<0.05). Finally, the values corresponding to the storage days, Haugh unit, yolk index and albumin index of eggs produced by hens that were provided with a diet that contained 0.1% or 0.2% pitamin were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that providing hens with a diet supplemented with 0.1% pitamin as a organic livestock feed additives may extend the shelf-life of eggs with maintaining the egg quality and egg production in laying hens.