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• Dietary Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite improved hens' egg production, antioxidantand immune functions. • Dietary montmorillonite improved shell thickness, albumen height, and Haugh unit. • The combination of Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite may have synergistic effects on improving hens' egg quality, antioxidant and immune status. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis (0 vs. 5 × 108 cfu/kg) and montmorillonite (0 vs. 0.5 g/kg) supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, oxidation status, and immune response in laying hens. A total of three hundred sixty 29-wk-old laying hens were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 6 replicates per treatment and 15 hens per replicate for 10 wk. Dietary treatments were: 1) basal diet; 2) the basal diet + 5 × 108 cfu Bacillus subtilis /kg; 3) the basal diet + 0.5 g/kg of montmorillonite; and 4) the basal diet + 5 × 108 cfu Bacillus subtilis /kg + 0.5 g/kg of montmorillonite. The Bacillus subtilis supplementation increased (P < 0.049) egg production by 1.12%, egg mass by 1.53%, the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and plasma immunoglobulin G concentration. Dietary montmorillonite increased (P < 0.041) egg production by 1.23%, egg mass by 2.23%, shell thickness by 3.29%, albumen height by 7.57%, Haugh unit by 3.98%, plasma glutathione peroxidase activity and interleukin-2 concentration, and liver and spleen total antioxidant capacity, and reduced (P = 0.005) feed conversion ratio by 1.92%. In addition, there was an interaction effect (P < 0.038) between Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite supplementation on the yolk index, yolk color, plasma total antioxidant capacity and interleukin-4 concentration, or the activity of catalase in spleen. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with both Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite improved egg production, antioxidant capability, and immune function in laying hens. Dietary montmorillonite improved shell thickness, albumen height, and Haugh unit. The combination of Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite may have synergistic effects on improving egg quality, antioxidant status, and immune response in laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Adding 0–2500 mg choline/kg increased yolk phosphatidylcholine (yolk-PC) while decreased yolk phosphatidylethanolamine (yolk-PE). • Adding 1500 mg choline/kg yielded the greatest yolk-PC and the lowest yolk-PE. • With 1500 mg choline/kg, extra folic acid and vitamin B12 had no effects on yolk-PC/PE. • Adding choline had no effect on production performance or egg quality. Abstract This study was designed to investigate the effect of choline, folic acid, and vitamin B 12 supplementation on yolk phosphatidylcholine (yolk-PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (yolk-PE) concentration in laying hens, and to examine the subsequent production performance, and egg quality. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, a total of 840 forty-four-week-old laying hens were randomly allocated to 5 treatments of 6 replicates each. The replicate contained 4 adjacent cages (7 hens/cage or 28 hens/replicate). Treatments were feeding of basal diet supplemented with 0, 1000, 1500, 2000, or 2500 mg choline/kg by adding choline chloride for 6 wk. The results of Exp.1 indicated that supplementation with 0–2500 mg choline/kg had no effect on production performance or egg quality, but choline supplementation improved eggshell strength quadratically (P = 0.04) with the greatest eggshell strength was observed at 1000 mg choline/kg. Yolk-PC concentration increased linearly (P < 0.001) and quadratically (P < 0.001) whereas Yolk-PE concentration decreased linearly (P = 0.004) and quadratically (P = 0.01). The greatest content of yolk-PC concentration and the lowest content of yolk-PE concentration were detected when diet supplemented with 1500 mg choline/kg. However, there was no difference in yolk-PE concentration between supplementation with 1500 and 2000 mg choline/kg. Thereafter, Exp. 2 was conducted, and a total of 288 seventy-two-week-old laying hens were randomly allocated to 9 treatments of 4 replicates each. The replicate contained 2 adjacent cages (4 hens/cage or 8 hens/replicate). The basal diet containing additional 1500 mg choline/kg was supplemented with 0, 4, or 8 mg folic acid and 0, 0.02, or 0.04 mg vitamin B 12 /kg in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments and fed to laying hens for 8 wk. The results indicated that supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B 12, or both had no effect on yolk-PC or yolk-PE concentration, as well as production performance and egg quality. In conclusion, the greatest yolk-PC concentration in laying hens could be achieved by supplementing with 1500 mg choline/kg which is more than the recommendation guideline without causing any adverse impacts on production performance and egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of low glucosinolates rapeseed meal (RSM) on laying performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and AME in laying hens. A total of 900 thirty-week-old laying hens were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments with 10 replicates per treatment and 5 cages (3 hens) per replicate. The isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 58.8, 117.6, 176.4, 235.2, and 294.0 g RSM/kg were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis. The study lasted for 12 wk. Results showed that the egg production and egg mass linearly decreased with the increased content of RSM ( P  < 0.01), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased linearly during wk 1 to 12 ( P  = 0.003). The increasing RSM content had a quadratic effect on average egg weight ( P  < 0.01) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, P  < 0.01) during wk 1 to 12. The increasing RSM content had a quadratic effect on apparent metabolic energy (AME), N, and amino acid digestibility at wk 12 ( P  < 0.04), except Tyr and Ser. Dry matter, Tyr, and Ser digestibility linearly decreased as the RSM concentration increased at wk 12 ( P  < 0.01). The egg albumen height decreased linearly at wk 4 and 12 ( P  < 0.01 and P  = 0.02, respectively), and Haugh units decreased in a linear manner at wk 4 and 12 ( P  = 0.03 and 0.02). The egg yolk color increased linearly with increased content of RSM at wk 4 and 12 ( P  < 0.01). The serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) linearly increased as the RSM content increasing ( P  < 0.01). Using a one-slope broken-line analysis, the breakpoint (BP) for egg weight of daily RSM intake during wk 1 to 12 occurred at 13.6 g/hen. The daily RSM intake BP of egg production at wk 1 to 12 occurred at 6.5 g/hen. Supplementation of low glucosinolate RSM in hens’ diet should be lower than 117.6 g/kg in terms of egg production performance, egg quality, blood hormone content, nutrient digestibility, and AME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with calcium montmorillonite (Ca-MMT) on layers’ oxidation status, immune response, serum biochemistry, performance, and egg quality. A total of four hundred-eighty 75-wk-old laying hens were randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 8 replicates per treatment and 12 hens in each replicate. The hens were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, or 1.2 g Ca-MMT/kg for 70 d. The Ca-MMT supplementation linearly or quadratically ( P  < 0.05) increased yolk index, serum total superoxide dismutase activity, and interleukin-2 and immunoglobulin G concentrations at d 35, and shell thickness, and serum and liver glutathione peroxidase activity at d 70. With increasing supplementation of Ca-MMT in the basal diet, serum activity of alkaline phosphatase decreased both linearly and quadratically ( P  < 0.05) at d 35, and alanine aminotransfer as activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration decreased linearly or quadratically ( P  < 0.05) at d 70. The evidence indicates that increasing Ca-MMT concentration improved yolk index and shell thickness, and partially enhanced hens’ antioxidant capability and immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of diets supplemented with different Zn sources on performance, egg quality, bone parameters, Zn status, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content in laying hens. A total of 192 laying hens at 52 wk of age, with the initial average body weight of 1.53 ± 0.02 kg, were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 4 replicate cages and 12 laying hens per cage. Dietary treatments included the corn-soybean meal based diet (without Zn supplementation), and basal diet supplemented with 80 mg Zn/kg diet from Zn oxide-nanoparticles (ZnO-NP), Zn oxide, and Zn-Met. The results showed that dietary Zn supplementation had no effect on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live body weight, and egg loss. However, the greatest egg production and egg weight observed in ZnO-NP and Zn-Met treatments respectively (P < 0.05). Laying hens fed diets supplemented with ZnO-NP and Zn-Met had a greater egg mass compared to other treatments (P <0.05). Overall, Zn supplementation increased egg shell weight and Haugh unit ( P <0.05). Dietary ZnO-NP supplementation increased egg shell thickness and egg shell strength, as compared to control ( P < 0.05). The bone breaking strength and ash weight was greater in ZnO-NP and Zn-Met treatments, respectively ( P < 0.05). The Zn deposition in tibia, liver, pancreas, and egg was greater in laying hens fed ZnO-NP and Zn-Met ( P < 0.01). Plasma Zn status was not influenced by treatments. In treatments supplemented with ZnO-NP and Zn-Met, the SOD in the liver and pancreas were greater than the other treatments ( P < 0.01). The MDA content in egg was reduced in treatments supplemented with Zn ( P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study has shown that supplementation of a diet with ZnO-NP be a suitable source of zinc for laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of chromium–methionine (CrMet) and vitamin C on performance, egg quality measurements, and plasma antioxidant capacity in laying hens subjected to high stocking density. A total of 360 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens, 26 wk of age, were used in a 2×2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of 2 cage densities [5 or 7 hens/cage (40×45 cm 2 )], 2 supplemental vitamin C levels (0 and 500 mg/kg as l -ascorbic acid), and 3 supplemental Cr levels (0, 500, and 1000 μg/kg as CrMet) with 5 replicate cages per treatment. The hens were kept in wire-floor cages in an environmentally-controlled room. After a 2-wk adaptation, the 70-d study was initiated and it was divided into two 35-d periods (28–33 and 33–38 wk of age). Results showed that although subjecting hens to high stocking density had no effect on egg production percentage during 28–33 wk of age, it decreased ( P =0.031) during the 33–38 wk of age, resulting in a marked reduction ( P =0.038) in egg mass. Dietary Cr supplementation (500 and 1000 μg/kg) increased ( P <0.01) egg production and egg mass during both 35-d periods, and improved ( P =0.005) feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the first 35-d period. There was a stocking density×vitamin C interaction ( P =0.018) for FCR values during the first 35-d period, so that supplemental vitamin C improved FCR to a greater extent in high stocking density-challenged hens. Dietary CrMet supplementation (500 and 1000 μg/kg) increased ( P =0.001) feed intake during the second 35-d period. Shell thickness was greater ( P =0.015) in hens under high stocking density challenge during the second 35-d period. Subjecting hens to high stocking density decreased ( P =0.007) plasma vitamin C concentration, while plasma vitamin C level was increased ( P <0.05) as the result of dietary supplementation of vitamin C. Dietary supplementation of CrMet (500 and 1000 μg/kg) increased plasma vitamin C level only in high stocking density-challenged hens, resulting in a stocking density×Cr interaction ( P =0.039). Although high stocking density increased ( P <0.05) plasma and yolk concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), supplemental vitamin C decreased ( P <0.05) plasma and yolk MDA contents. Similarly, dietary inclusion of CrMet (500 and 1000 μg/kg) decreased ( P =0.046) plasma MDA level. The present findings indicate that dietary CrMet supplementation could increase antioxidant capacity in stressed hens, which improve production performance of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of extruded amaranth grains (AMG) in laying hen diets on performance, egg traits, egg yolk fatty acids composition, as well as selected blood characteristics. A total of 60 Lohmann Brown laying hens, 24wk of age, were randomly distributed into 3 dietary treatments and fed for 10wk. The AMG was used at the levels of 0%, 5%, and 10% in the diets of the control and 2 treatment groups, respectively. Each dietary treatment was divided into 4 replicates, comprising of 5 hens each. Hens were housed in a 3-tier battery system. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Blood samples and eggs were collected after 5wk and at the end of the experiment. Amaranth grain supplementation increased body weight (1.64, 1.66, and 1.72kg for diets containing 0%, 5%, and 10% AMG, respectively; linear, P<0.01). Although hens responded to AMG supplementation linear and quadratically (P<0.01), the greatest egg production and the lowest feed conversion ratio were observed with 5% AMG. No differences in the mean egg weight, eggshell weight, yolk and albumen weight, thick albumen height, Haugh units and breaking strength of eggshells were observed in hens fed AMG-supplemented diets. Also, sensory analysis of eggs did not reveal any differences among hens fed different diets. Fatty acids content of egg yolk was similar in all treatments, although in hens fed 5% AMG, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6), especially linoleic acid, level was slightly greater and the n-6/n-3 acid ratio was decreased. The concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and glucose level were reduced linearly after 5wk (P=0.01–0.03) by increasing AMG supplementation. The quadratic effect on alanine aminotransferase at wk 5 (P=0.02) and 10 (P<0.01) was also observed. The results showed that dietary inclusion of AMG at the level of 5% increased hen performance and did not negatively influence the hens' health conditions and also quality and sensory traits of eggs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An experiment was conducted with 480 Super Nick white-laying hens to evaluate the effects of different inclusion levels of corn distiller''s dried grains with solubles (CDDGS) with or without enzyme cocktail supplementation on performance, egg quality, selected manure parameters, and feed cost. The experimental diets consisted of 5 levels of CDDGS: 0 (basal diet), 5, 10, 15 or 20% and two levels of enzyme cocktail (Allzyme® SSF): 0 or 0.02%. Diets containing 0.02% enzyme cocktail were formulated to recoup the enzyme matrix value. Each dietary treatment was assigned to 4 replicate groups of 12 hens (with 3 cages and 4 hens per cage). The experiment lasted 8 weeks. Performance parameters and egg quality were determined every other week, whereas selected manure parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. Feeding up to 15% medium-quality CDDGS with or without enzyme cocktail supplementation had no negative effects on performance parameters (percentage laying rate, egg weight, feed intake and feed conversion) or exterior (eggshell thickness and shell breaking strength) and interior (Haugh units and egg yolk color) egg quality parameters in this study. There was no interaction between the inclusion levels of CDDGS and the supplementation of enzyme cocktail on performance, egg quality or manure parameters. As the level of CDDGS included in the diet increased, the level of dicalcium phosphate gradually decreased, which resulted in a reduction in dietary costs. A significant decrease was observed (P<0.001) in manure total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels following enzyme cocktail supplementation in comparison to diets without enzyme cocktail. These results indicate that 15% CDDGS can be added to diets of laying hens without compromising performance parameters, and exterior and interior egg quality as long as the nutrient profile of CDDGS is known and the diet is formulated on a digestible amino acid basis. Feed cost can be reduced by supplementing the diets with CDDGS. In addition, using an enzyme cocktail affecting anti-nutritional factors in CDDGS may improve the nutritive value of laying hen diets with CDDGS and lessen the amount of total N and P released in the manure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Farming method affected egg quality traits, but not odour and flavour attributes. • Barn and cage eggs had the heaviest yolk with the highest colour intensity. • Organic eggs showed distinctive physicochemical quality traits. • Barn and cage eggs quality traits changed with sampling period. The present study evaluated the physicochemical and sensory traits of marketed table eggs, deriving from different farming methods (cage, barn, and organic) and sampled in different marketing periods (June, July, September, October). A total of n=540 eggs (n=45 eggs/farming method/sampling period) of "medium" weight-grading were purchased and subjected to physical measurements (shell, yolk, and albumen physical traits), chemical evaluations (proximate composition, cholesterol content and fatty acid profile of the edible portion) and to a descriptive sensory analysis. Results highlighted that eggs physical traits often differed among the considered farming methods: organic eggs had the lowest albumen pH (P < 0.001) and the highest albumen proportion (P = 0.004), whereas barn and cage eggs had the highest yolk proportion (P = 0.026). Barn eggs had the heaviest shell proportion (P = 0.011), which did not however imply a higher resistance to penetration and compression tests. As expected, egg colour differed according to the farming method with cage eggs displaying the highest overall yolk colour intensity (a*, b* and yolk colour FAN; P < 0.001), followed by barn and organic eggs. The egg marketing period demonstrated to be a relevant factor in determining egg physical attributes too. Surprisingly, organic eggs showed constant albumen, yolk and shell physical characteristics, and yolk colour traits, whereas barn and cage eggs displayed a certain variability in these terms. Cage eggs showed the highest protein (P = 0.001) and barn eggs the highest lipid (P = 0.003) contents, whereas cholesterol content was only affected by the marketing period in all three farming methods. Organic eggs were the richest in moisture (P = 0.003), in polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) of both n-6 (P = 0.011) and n-3 series (P < 0.001), whereas cage ones had the highest saturated (P = 0.030) and monounsaturated (P = 0.018) FA. Among the considered sensory traits, farming method only affected the yolk colour intensity, which was the lowest in organic eggs and, for cage and barn eggs, it decreased along the marketing period. Results of the present research indicated that the overall quality of marketed table eggs effectively differs according to the farming method and to the marketing period time which is a relevant information, yet poorly investigated, from the consumer's point of view. Organic eggs were the most distinguishable, especially in terms of yolk colour and nutritional composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Orthosiphon stamineus extract (OE) or rosmarinic acid (RA) improves growth performance of laying hens. • Supplementation of OE or RA activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 mediated pathway. • Dietary supplementation of OE or RA can relieve heat stress of laying hens. Heat stress is a great concern in the layer industry because it decreases egg production and egg quality. Orthosiphon stamineus extract (OE) has the potential to relieve heat stress, and rosmarinic acid (RA) is the main effective constituent of OE. However, the effects and mechanisms of OE and RA on heat stress in commercial laying hens remain unclear. In the current study, four hundred eighty 56 wk old hens were divided into 2 hen houses, one maintained at the low temperature and other maintained at a high temperature. Hens in each house were assigned to 3 dietary treatments (basal, basal + 0.4% OE, and basal + 0.02% RA) with 20 cages per treatment and 4 hens per cage. Performance traits were recorded, and 1 egg in 4 cages were collected randomly each day (35 eggs per treatment/wk) for egg quality assay. The excreta were collected by mixed every 5 adjacent cage at the end (28 d) of the experiment for apparent digestibility analysis, and then 1 hen from each 2 cages were sacrificed for blood and intestinal samples. The OE and RA supplementation increased the egg production rate (P < 0.05) and improved the eggshell strength and haugh unit (P < 0.05). The analysis of digestibility of basic nutrients showed OE or RA supplementation improved protein (OE: P = 0.074; RA: P = 0.037), fat, and Ca digestion (P < 0.05) in laying hens. To explore the mechanisms associated with the improvements of performance traits and egg quality, serum biochemical indices and related gene expression and intestinal villi integrity were measured. Supplementing the diet of the laying hens with OE or RA increased superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) activities in both the serum and jejunum, decreased the malondialdehyde contents (P < 0.05), and also decreased the caspase-3 activity (P < 0.05) in jejunum of laying hens. Intestine sections showed RA supplementation improved the jejunum villus height (P = 0.007). The OE or RA supplements up-regulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and occludin gene expressions, and down-regulated caspase-3 gene expression in hens (P < 0.05). In conclusion, The OE and RA supplements may increase nutrient digestibility, stimulate the antioxidant defense mechanism system through the Nrf2 -mediated pathway, decrease intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, and protect the intestinal barrier. This study indicated that dietary supplementation with OE or RA is beneficial for laying hens under heat-stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]