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Introduction: Peppermint contains substantial bioactive ingredients belonging to the phytoestrogens, and its effects on the production of late-laying hens deserve more attention. This study evaluated the effects of dietary peppermint extract (PE) supplementation on egg production and quality, yolk fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microbiota in late-phase laying hens. Method: PE powder was identified by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Two hundred and sixteen laying hens (60 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four treatments, each for 28 days: (i) basal diet (control group, CON); (ii) basal diet + 0.1% PE; (iii) basal diet + 0.2% PE; and (iv) basal diet + 0.4% PE. Egg, serum, and cecal samples were collected for analysis. Results: Dietary PE supplementation increased the laying rate, serum triglyceride, immunoglobulin G, and total antioxidant capacity, while 0.2 and 0.4% PE supplementation increased eggshell thickness, serum total protein level, and superoxide dismutase activity of laying hens compared with the CON group (P < 0.05). PE addition in diets increased the C14:0, C18:3n3, C18:3n6, C23:0, C24:0, and C24:ln9 contents in the yolk. In addition, the egg yolk saturated fatty acid content was higher (P < 0.05) in the 0.2 and 0.4% PE groups compared with the CON and 0.1% PE groups. The microbiota analysis revealed that the cecal phylum Proteobacteria was decreased (P < 0.05) in the PE-supplemented groups. A total of 0.4% PE supplementation increased the cecal richness of gram-positive bacteria and decreased the richness of gram-negative and potentially pathogenic bacteria compared with the 0.1% PE group (P < 0.05). Microbial function prediction analysis showed that the cecal microbiota of the PE group was mainly enriched by fatty acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism, amino sugar metabolism, nucleotide sugar metabolism, and other pathways. Regression analysis suggested that 0.28-0.36% PE supplementation was the optimal level for improving egg production and quality, antioxidant capacity, and yolk fatty acid in late-phase laying hens. Discussion: Dietary PE supplementation improved egg production and quality (including yolk fatty acid composition) by increasing serum IgG and antioxidant capacity and modulating the intestinal microbiota in late-phase laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Enriching eggs with omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is a well-accepted practice that benefits the egg industry and consumers. However, issues around cost, sustainability, and product acceptance have necessitated the search for alternatives to feeding hens fish oil for DHA enrichment. The effects of feeding 2 algal oils on egg production and DHA enrichment in eggs and selected tissues were investigated. The algal oils were: 1) OmegaPro (OPAO) standardized algal oil for DHA content and 2) Crude algal oil (CAO). A total of 400, 46-wk-old Lohmann LSL lite hens were housed in enriched cages (10 birds/cage) and allocated 5 diets (n = 8) for a 12-wk trial. The iso-caloric and -nitrogenous diets were a standard corn and soybean meal diet, standard plus 0.25 or 0.76% OPAO and standard plus 0.23 or 0.69% CAO; algal oils diets supplied similar DHA at each level. Egg production indices (hen day egg production, feed intake, FCR, egg weight, egg mass, and eggshell quality) were monitored for 10 wk. Diet samples were analyzed for fatty acids (FA) on wk 1, 6, and 12 and eggs on wk 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12. At the end of the trial, one hen/cage was weighed and dissected for liver, breast and thigh for FA and long bones for ash content analyses. Concentration of omega-6 to omega-3 FA ratio was 12.9, 6.64, 3.48, 6.96, and 3.59 for standard, 0.23 and 0.76% OPAO, 0.25 and 0.69% CAO, respectively. Algal oils increased (P ≤ 0.046) eggshell thickness linearly. The concentration of DHA in the eggs from the birds fed the standard, 0.23 and 0.76% OPAO, 0.25 and 0.69% CAO was 84, 195, 286, 183, and 297 mg/100g egg, respectively, and algal oils enriched eggs with DHA linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01). In conclusion, algal oils increased the concentration of DHA in eggs and had no adverse effects on egg production and eggshell quality.

ABSTRACT: Highly prolific modern hens are susceptible to metabolic disorders that could be modulated by functional feedstuffs such as enzymatically treated yeast (ETY). Therefore, we assessed the dose-response of ETY on hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg quality attributes, organ weight, bone ash, and plasma metabolites in laying hens. A total of 160 thirty-week-old Lohmann LSL lite hens were placed in 40 enriched cages (4 birds/cage) based on body weight (BW) and allocated to 5 diets in a completely randomized design for a 12-wk trial. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous corn and soybean meal based supplemented with 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2% ETY. Feed and water were provided ad libitum; HDEP and feed intake (FI) were monitored weekly, whereas egg components, eggshell breaking strength (ESBS), and thickness (EST) were monitored biweekly, and albumen IgA concentration was measured on wk 12. At the end of the trial, 2 birds/cage were bled for plasma and necropsied for liver, spleen, and bursa weight, ceca digesta for short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and tibia and femur for ash content. Supplemental ETY reduced HDEP quadratically (P = 0.03); the HDEP was 98, 98, 96, 95, and 94% for 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% ETY, respectively. However, ETY linearly and quadratically (P = 0.01) increased egg weight (EW) and egg mass (EM). Specifically, EM was 57.9, 60.9, 59.9, 58.9, and 59.2 g/b for 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% ETY, respectively. Egg albumen increased linearly (P = 0.01), and egg yolk decreased linearly (P = 0.03) in response to ETY. In response to ETY, the ESBS and plasma Ca increased linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.03). Plasma concentration of total protein and albumin increased quadratically (P ≤ 0.05) with ETY. Diets had no (P > 0.05) effects on FI, FCR, bone ash, SCFA, and IgA. In conclusion, 0.1% or higher ETY reduced egg production rate; however, linear improvement in EW and shell quality linked to larger albumen and higher plasma protein and Ca suggested modulation in protein and calcium metabolism.

The impact of feeding sources of n-3 fatty acids (FA) to ISA brown and Shaver white breeders and their female offspring during rearing on egg production, eggshell, tibia, and keel bone attributes was examined. Breeders were fed Control (CON) or CON + 1% dried microalgae (DMA: Aurantiochytrium limacinum) as the source of docosahexaenoic acid or CON + 2.6% of a coextruded mixture of full-fat flaxseed (FFF) and pulses as a source of α-linolenic acid. Day-old offspring were fed 1) breeder CON-pullet CON (CON-CON), 2) breeder CON-pullet DMA (CON-DMA), 3) breeder CON-pullet FFF (CON-FFF), 4) breeder DMA-pullet CON (DMA-CON), 5) breeder DMA-pullet DMA (DMA-DMA), 6) breeder FFF-pullet CON (FFF-CON), and 7) breeder FFF-pullet FFF (FFF-FFF). At 18 wk of age (WOA), pullets were fed a common layer diet to 42 WOA for egg production and bone quality assessments. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between strains and diets and the main effect of diets on egg production, egg mass, and eggshell quality. There was an interaction (P = 0.008) between strain and diet on egg weight (EW); however, the strain effect on EW (P

The present study evaluated production performance responses to Ile supplementation in laying hens fed low crude protein (LCP), amino acid (AA) balanced diets. A total of 179 Shaver white pullets were distributed into 30 battery cages (6 birds/cage, n = 6) and observed over the course of 27 wk in a 2-phase (20 to 27 and 28 to 46 wk of age) feeding program. Five isocaloric diets were formulated for standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys intake of 750 and 710 mg/D in phase 1 and 2, respectively, and included a positive control with standard levels of crude protein (CP) (CON; 18 and 16% CP for phases 1 and 2), and 4 LCP diets (16 and 14% CP for phase 1 and 2, respectively) with graded levels of Ile to satisfy SID Ile:Lys ratios of 70 (Ile70), 80 (Ile80), 90 (Ile90), and 100% (Ile100). Based on analyzed dietary AA, the calculated SID Ile:Lys of LCP diets were 75, 84, 88, 99% and 66, 72, 82, 95% for phase 1 and 2, respectively. Dietary treatments significantly (P < 0.05) affected feed intake, hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg weight (EW), feed conversion ratio, and egg quality (Haugh unit) and composition (yolk to albumen). Lowering dietary CP negatively affected HDEP with a 3.3 and 1.5% reduction in phase 1 and 2, respectively, and this was restored with the addition of Ile (P < 0.001) suggesting that Ile was limiting in the LCP basal diet. Average EW was reduced in Ile100 only; however, the Ile:Lys appeared to influence egg size uniformity, with Ile90 producing a greater proportion of large (56 g ≤ EW > 63 g) eggs, suggesting that Ile may be used to manipulate EW at the expense of HDEP. Overall, the results indicated that CP in laying hen diets can be reduced by 2% units if fortified with synthetic AA (Met, Lys, Thr, Trp) + Ile, with optimal responses observed between 82 and 88% SID Ile:Lys.

Effects of total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on egg production and quality, organ weight, and apparent retention (AR) of components were investigated in Shaver White hens from 28 to 43 wk of age. A total of 108 birds, (6 birds/cage) were assigned to three diets (6 replicates/diet). Diets were control corn–SBM diet and two additional diets made with the addition of either 10 or 15% BSFLM. Diets met or exceeded breeder specifications, contained TiO2 as an indigestible marker, and were prepared in pellet form. Birds had free access to feed and water throughout the experiment. Hen-day egg production (HDEP) was monitored daily. Feed intake (FI) and body weight (BW) were monitored in 4-wk intervals. All eggs laid on the sixth day of wks 31, 35, 39, and 43 were used for egg weight (EW), Haugh units (HU), yolk color (YC), shell breaking strength (SBS), and shell thickness (ST). Excreta samples were collected for 3 consecutive days on wk 33 for AR and two birds/cage were necropsied at the end. There were no (P > 0.05) diet effects on HDEP, FI, and HU. Inclusion of BSFLM linearly decreased (P < 0.05) egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) BW. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between diet and sampling time point on egg quality parameters. Inclusion of BSFLM increased SBF and YC linearly (P < 0.05) and ST quadratically (P = 0.028). Inclusion of BSFLM quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) reduced empty ceca weight and increased liver weight and had no effect (P > 0.05) on gizzard, small intestine, and pancreas weights. Feeding BSFLM linearly (P = 0.001) and quadratically (P = 0.007) increased apparent metabolizable energy (AME). Data showed that defatted BSFLM resulted in deeper orange yolks and improved eggshell quality; however, unfavorable FCR linked to lighter eggs as well as heavier birds and liver warrants further investigations.

ABSTRACT In the present study, seventy-two 30-week-old laying hens (Brown Hisex) were separated into two groups (control and treatment) and fed with a standard layer diet. In the treatment group the amount of effective microorganism (EM) added to the drinking water is equal to1000 ppm EM dose. Throughout the 8-week study period, 16 h thermoneutral (20-22 ºC) and 8 h hot (35-37 ºC) environmental temperature regime was applied daily. The results indicated that EM supplementation affected performance and some egg quality characteristics of layers exposed high environmental temperature. Feed intake and conversion ratio, yolk index, albumen index, yolk colour b, Haugh unit were decreased by supplemental EM. Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, total oxidant- antioxidant concentration were not affected by EM. It is concluded that EM supplementation in laying hens could have potential to improve feed intake and feed conversion ratio under high environmental temperature. However, supplemental EM with drinking water decreased some egg quality parameters.

This study examined the effects of the usage of solvent extracted safflower meal (SM) with soybean oil (SO) in laying hen diets. The experimental diets were prepared with 0 (control), 4, 8, and 12% SM, with the SO content being 0.3, 0.62, 1.9 and 3.17%, respectively. A total of 216 ATAK-S hybrid laying hens were tested at between 22 and 52 weeks of age. No differences in liveability, body weight gain, egg production, egg weight and mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and shape index were observed among the groups. SM at 4 and 12% increased eggshell breaking strength, SM at 8% increased eggshell thickness, and SM at 8 and 12% increased egg yolk colour, compared to the control. The addition of 8% SM decreased albumen height, and the addition of 4 and 8% SM decreased the Haugh unit, compared to the control and SM at 12%. SM supplementation at 12% increased vitamin E content of the egg yolk compared to other groups. As the SM and SO content of the diet increased, the amount of palmitic acid in the egg yolk decreased, while linoleic, linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids increased. We conclude that SM could be used to supplement the laying hen diets at a rate of up to 12%, together with SO, with no negative effects while simultaneously having a positive impact on egg quality.

The impact of feeding sources of n-3 fatty acids (FA) to ISA brown and Shaver white breeders and their female offspring during rearing on egg production, eggshell, tibia, and keel bone attributes was examined. Breeders were fed Control (CON) or CON + 1% dried microalgae (DMA: Aurantiochytrium limacinum) as the source of docosahexaenoic acid or CON + 2.6% of a coextruded mixture of full-fat flaxseed (FFF) and pulses as a source of α-linolenic acid. Day-old offspring were fed 1) breeder CON-pullet CON (CON-CON), 2) breeder CON-pullet DMA (CON-DMA), 3) breeder CON-pullet FFF (CON-FFF), 4) breeder DMA-pullet CON (DMA-CON), 5) breeder DMA-pullet DMA (DMA-DMA), 6) breeder FFF-pullet CON (FFF-CON), and 7) breeder FFF-pullet FFF (FFF-FFF). At 18 wk of age (WOA), pullets were fed a common layer diet to 42 WOA for egg production and bone quality assessments. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between strains and diets and the main effect of diets on egg production, egg mass, and eggshell quality. There was an interaction (P = 0.008) between strain and diet on egg weight (EW); however, the strain effect on EW (P < 0.001) was such that ISA brown had heavier eggs than Shaver white. Shaver white had higher (P < 0.001) eggshell %, eggshell, and tibia breaking strength (BS), as well as tibia ash concentration compared with ISA brown hens. In contrast, ISA brown hens exhibited heavier (P < 0.05) tibia and keel bones. Feeding breeders DMA and pullets both sources of n-3 FA increased tibia medullary ash concentration compared with other diets (P < 0.001). Shaver white hens showed greater decline in tibia BS (83.7 vs. 96.3%) and ash content (84.1 vs. 94.3%) than ISA brown hens from 18 to 42 WOA (P < 0.05). Strain and diets exhibited independent effects on eggshell, tibia, and keel attributes. Provision of α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid to breeders and offspring improved tibia medullary ash concentration at 42 WOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated production performance responses to Ile supplementation in laying hens fed low crude protein (LCP), amino acid (AA) balanced diets. A total of 179 Shaver white pullets were distributed into 30 battery cages (6 birds/cage, n = 6) and observed over the course of 27 wk in a 2-phase (20 to 27 and 28 to 46 wk of age) feeding program. Five isocaloric diets were formulated for standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys intake of 750 and 710 mg/D in phase 1 and 2, respectively, and included a positive control with standard levels of crude protein (CP) (CON; 18 and 16% CP for phases 1 and 2), and 4 LCP diets (16 and 14% CP for phase 1 and 2, respectively) with graded levels of Ile to satisfy SID Ile:Lys ratios of 70 (Ile70), 80 (Ile80), 90 (Ile90), and 100% (Ile100). Based on analyzed dietary AA, the calculated SID Ile:Lys of LCP diets were 75, 84, 88, 99% and 66, 72, 82, 95% for phase 1 and 2, respectively. Dietary treatments significantly (P < 0.05) affected feed intake, hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg weight (EW), feed conversion ratio, and egg quality (Haugh unit) and composition (yolk to albumen). Lowering dietary CP negatively affected HDEP with a 3.3 and 1.5% reduction in phase 1 and 2, respectively, and this was restored with the addition of Ile (P < 0.001) suggesting that Ile was limiting in the LCP basal diet. Average EW was reduced in Ile100 only; however, the Ile:Lys appeared to influence egg size uniformity, with Ile90 producing a greater proportion of large (56 g ≤ EW > 63 g) eggs, suggesting that Ile may be used to manipulate EW at the expense of HDEP. Overall, the results indicated that CP in laying hen diets can be reduced by 2% units if fortified with synthetic AA (Met, Lys, Thr, Trp) + Ile, with optimal responses observed between 82 and 88% SID Ile:Lys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on egg production and quality, organ weight, and apparent retention (AR) of components were investigated in Shaver White hens from 28 to 43 wk of age. A total of 108 birds, (6 birds/cage) were assigned to three diets (6 replicates/diet). Diets were control corn–SBM diet and two additional diets made with the addition of either 10 or 15% BSFLM. Diets met or exceeded breeder specifications, contained TiO2 as an indigestible marker, and were prepared in pellet form. Birds had free access to feed and water throughout the experiment. Hen-day egg production (HDEP) was monitored daily. Feed intake (FI) and body weight (BW) were monitored in 4-wk intervals. All eggs laid on the sixth day of wks 31, 35, 39, and 43 were used for egg weight (EW), Haugh units (HU), yolk color (YC), shell breaking strength (SBS), and shell thickness (ST). Excreta samples were collected for 3 consecutive days on wk 33 for AR and two birds/cage were necropsied at the end. There were no (P > 0.05) diet effects on HDEP, FI, and HU. Inclusion of BSFLM linearly decreased (P < 0.05) egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) BW. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between diet and sampling time point on egg quality parameters. Inclusion of BSFLM increased SBF and YC linearly (P < 0.05) and ST quadratically (P = 0.028). Inclusion of BSFLM quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) reduced empty ceca weight and increased liver weight and had no effect (P > 0.05) on gizzard, small intestine, and pancreas weights. Feeding BSFLM linearly (P = 0.001) and quadratically (P = 0.007) increased apparent metabolizable energy (AME). Data showed that defatted BSFLM resulted in deeper orange yolks and improved eggshell quality; however, unfavorable FCR linked to lighter eggs as well as heavier birds and liver warrants further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enriching eggs with omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is a well-accepted practice that benefits the egg industry and consumers. However, issues around cost, sustainability, and product acceptance have necessitated the search for alternatives to feeding hens fish oil for DHA enrichment. The effects of feeding 2 algal oils on egg production and DHA enrichment in eggs and selected tissues were investigated. The algal oils were: 1) OmegaPro (OPAO) standardized algal oil for DHA content and 2) Crude algal oil (CAO). A total of 400, 46-wk-old Lohmann LSL lite hens were housed in enriched cages (10 birds/cage) and allocated 5 diets (n = 8) for a 12-wk trial. The iso-caloric and -nitrogenous diets were a standard corn and soybean meal diet, standard plus 0.25 or 0.76% OPAO and standard plus 0.23 or 0.69% CAO; algal oils diets supplied similar DHA at each level. Egg production indices (hen day egg production, feed intake, FCR, egg weight, egg mass, and eggshell quality) were monitored for 10 wk. Diet samples were analyzed for fatty acids (FA) on wk 1, 6, and 12 and eggs on wk 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12. At the end of the trial, one hen/cage was weighed and dissected for liver, breast and thigh for FA and long bones for ash content analyses. Concentration of omega-6 to omega-3 FA ratio was 12.9, 6.64, 3.48, 6.96, and 3.59 for standard, 0.23 and 0.76% OPAO, 0.25 and 0.69% CAO, respectively. Algal oils increased (P ≤ 0.046) eggshell thickness linearly. The concentration of DHA in the eggs from the birds fed the standard, 0.23 and 0.76% OPAO, 0.25 and 0.69% CAO was 84, 195, 286, 183, and 297 mg/100g egg, respectively, and algal oils enriched eggs with DHA linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01). In conclusion, algal oils increased the concentration of DHA in eggs and had no adverse effects on egg production and eggshell quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the optimum level of dietary inclusion and the form of feeding sapu-sapu fish (SSF) as a single protein source for feed components of small holder Mojosari duck farming. A total of 180 twenty four wk-old laying ducks were fed with two forms (sun-dried and ground-fresh) and three levels of SSF (10, 20 and 30%) from 24 to 32 wk of age. Experimental diets were formulated containing 105.1; 141.5 and 177.9 g/kg crude protein and 3078; 3065 and 3052 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) /kg diet. Production performance and egg quality were measured. The form of SSF had a significant effect (P0.05) were found on all of the performance parameters measured due to feeding levels of SSF except feed intake and final body weight. The interaction of form and feeding level was significant (P

This study examined the effects of the usage of solvent extracted safflower meal (SM) with soybean oil (SO) in laying hen diets. The experimental diets were prepared with 0 (control), 4, 8, and 12% SM, with the SO content being 0.3, 0.62, 1.9 and 3.17%, respectively. A total of 216 ATAK-S hybrid laying hens were tested at between 22 and 52 weeks of age. No differences in liveability, body weight gain, egg production, egg weight and mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and shape index were observed among the groups. SM at 4 and 12% increased eggshell breaking strength, SM at 8% increased eggshell thickness, and SM at 8 and 12% increased egg yolk colour, compared to the control. The addition of 8% SM decreased albumen height, and the addition of 4 and 8% SM decreased the Haugh unit, compared to the control and SM at 12%. SM supplementation at 12% increased vitamin E content of the egg yolk compared to other groups. As the SM and SO content of the diet increased, the amount of palmitic acid in the egg yolk decreased, while linoleic, linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids increased. We conclude that SM could be used to supplement the laying hen diets at a rate of up to 12%, together with SO, with no negative effects while simultaneously having a positive impact on egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly prolific modern hens are susceptible to metabolic disorders that could be modulated by functional feedstuffs such as enzymatically treated yeast (ETY). Therefore, we assessed the dose-response of ETY on hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg quality attributes, organ weight, bone ash, and plasma metabolites in laying hens. A total of 160 thirty-week-old Lohmann LSL lite hens were placed in 40 enriched cages (4 birds/cage) based on body weight (BW) and allocated to 5 diets in a completely randomized design for a 12-wk trial. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous corn and soybean meal based supplemented with 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2% ETY. Feed and water were provided ad libitum; HDEP and feed intake (FI) were monitored weekly, whereas egg components, eggshell breaking strength (ESBS), and thickness (EST) were monitored biweekly, and albumen IgA concentration was measured on wk 12. At the end of the trial, 2 birds/cage were bled for plasma and necropsied for liver, spleen, and bursa weight, ceca digesta for short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and tibia and femur for ash content. Supplemental ETY reduced HDEP quadratically (P = 0.03); the HDEP was 98, 98, 96, 95, and 94% for 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% ETY, respectively. However, ETY linearly and quadratically (P = 0.01) increased egg weight (EW) and egg mass (EM). Specifically, EM was 57.9, 60.9, 59.9, 58.9, and 59.2 g/b for 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% ETY, respectively. Egg albumen increased linearly (P = 0.01), and egg yolk decreased linearly (P = 0.03) in response to ETY. In response to ETY, the ESBS and plasma Ca increased linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.03). Plasma concentration of total protein and albumin increased quadratically (P ≤ 0.05) with ETY. Diets had no (P > 0.05) effects on FI, FCR, bone ash, SCFA, and IgA. In conclusion, 0.1% or higher ETY reduced egg production rate; however, linear improvement in EW and shell quality linked to larger albumen and higher plasma protein and Ca suggested modulation in protein and calcium metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Peppermint contains substantial bioactive ingredients belonging to the phytoestrogens, and its effects on the production of late-laying hens deserve more attention. This study evaluated the effects of dietary peppermint extract (PE) supplementation on egg production and quality, yolk fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microbiota in late-phase laying hens., Method: PE powder was identified by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Two hundred and sixteen laying hens (60 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four treatments, each for 28 days: (i) basal diet (control group, CON); (ii) basal diet + 0.1% PE; (iii) basal diet + 0.2% PE; and (iv) basal diet + 0.4% PE. Egg, serum, and cecal samples were collected for analysis., Results: Dietary PE supplementation increased the laying rate, serum triglyceride, immunoglobulin G, and total antioxidant capacity, while 0.2 and 0.4% PE supplementation increased eggshell thickness, serum total protein level, and superoxide dismutase activity of laying hens compared with the CON group ( P < 0.05). PE addition in diets increased the C14:0, C18:3n3, C18:3n6, C23:0, C24:0, and C24:1n9 contents in the yolk. In addition, the egg yolk saturated fatty acid content was higher ( P < 0.05) in the 0.2 and 0.4% PE groups compared with the CON and 0.1% PE groups. The microbiota analysis revealed that the cecal phylum Proteobacteria was decreased ( P < 0.05) in the PE-supplemented groups. A total of 0.4% PE supplementation increased the cecal richness of gram-positive bacteria and decreased the richness of gram-negative and potentially pathogenic bacteria compared with the 0.1% PE group ( P < 0.05). Microbial function prediction analysis showed that the cecal microbiota of the PE group was mainly enriched by fatty acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism, amino sugar metabolism, nucleotide sugar metabolism, and other pathways. Regression analysis suggested that 0.28-0.36% PE supplementation was the optimal level for improving egg production and quality, antioxidant capacity, and yolk fatty acid in late-phase laying hens., Discussion: Dietary PE supplementation improved egg production and quality (including yolk fatty acid composition) by increasing serum IgG and antioxidant capacity and modulating the intestinal microbiota in late-phase laying hens., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Bai, Liu, Zhang, Wang, Shao, Xiong, Hu, Yu, Lan, Cui and Kong.)

In this study, the effects of boric acid and humate supplementation into hen diets on egg production and quality parameters and blood cholesterol levels were examined. For this aim, totally 160, 40 weeks of age, Hyline-White 98 layers were randomly divided into control and 3 treatment groups each containing 40 birds and 10 replicates (each with 4 birds). There was no boric acid or humate supplementation to control group diets (basal diet) where as treatment groups were supplemented with (basal diet plus) 90 ppm boric acid or 1 g/kg humate, or combination of these two feed additives, respectively. The experimental period lasted in 14 weeks. End of the trial there were no significant effects of dietary boric acid and humate inclusion on feed intake, egg weights and yields, egg quality parameters (shell thickness, breaking strength, and shape index) compared with control. But feed conversion ratio for hens which were supplemented with humate showed negative results while combination humate and boric acid were showed positive result compare with control (p < 0.05). It was also determined that there were no effects of treatments on blood cholesterol levels. As a result, since hens which were fed with basal diet plus boric acid and humate combination showed better feed conversion ratio, these feed additives combination can added diets without any adverse effect for laying hens.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the optimum level of dietary inclusion and the form of feeding sapu-sapu fish (SSF) as a single protein source for feed components of small holder Mojosari duck farming. A total of 180 twenty four wk-old laying ducks were fed with two forms (sun-dried and ground-fresh) and three levels of SSF (10, 20 and 30%) from 24 to 32 wk of age. Experimental diets were formulated containing 105.1; 141.5 and 177.9 g/kg crude protein and 3078; 3065 and 3052 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) /kg diet. Production performance and egg quality were measured. The form of SSF had a significant effect (P<0.0001) on feed intake, egg production, feed conversion, egg mass and egg number except final body weight. No significant effects (P>0.05) were found on all of the performance parameters measured due to feeding levels of SSF except feed intake and final body weight. The interaction of form and feeding level was significant (P<0.05) on egg and body weights. Low performance and egg quality were observed in the birds fed a diet containing the dried SSF. It can be suggested that local ducks required 20% SSF as a single protein source for maximum egg production (41.2%) and total egg number per wk (3.1 eggs/bird/wk) during 8 wk of rearing period. Egg quality can be improved by feeding the fresh SSF. However, due to be sufficiently better processing technique, the dried SSF would be potential to replace the common fish for laying ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 216 laying hens was kept at high ambient temperature (32±4°C, 60% relative humidity) from week 24 to 32 of age. Birds were divided in 8 treatments with 9 replicates of 3 hens each. The groups were fed the same basal diet and submitted to these dietary treatments: control, un-supplemented; green tea (GT), fed GT at 1 g/kg diet; brown marine algae (BMA), fed BMA at 1 g/kg diet; vitamin E (vit. E), fed vit. E at 300 mg/kg diet; GT+BMA, fed GT and BMA at 1 g/kg of each; GT+vit. E, fed GT and vit. E at 1 g and 300 mg/kg, respectively; BMA+vit. E, fed BMA and vit. E at 1 g and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Feeding BMA at 0.1% increased laying rate by 1.2% and improved feed conversion ratio by 5.2% compared to the control. Vitamin E significantly increased shell thickness by 6.6% and Haugh unit by 4.6% compared to the control. In addition, BMA+vit. E or GT+vit. E increased yolk colour by 9.1 and 10.7%, and Haugh unit of stored eggs by 10.9 and 11.1%. Cholesterol of fresh eggs and plasma were significantly decreased by 16.0 and 9.4% due to supplementation with BMA, and by 19.2 and 8.1% with vit. E addition. Plasma phosphorus increased by 19.1% after vit. E+BMA supplementation. In conclusion, use of BMA or vit. E or GT in laying hens diets which grow under heat stress is recommended as it improves production performance and egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of brown marine algae (BMA; Sargassum dentifebium) as alternative feed source for pullets was studied in three processed and at three concentrations in the pullets from 14-42 weeks. The processing forms were sundried brown marine algae (SBMA), sundried and boiled brown marine algae (BBMA) and sundried and autoclaved brown marine algae (ABMA). The concentrations of BMA were 2%, 4% and 6% that composed 10 treatments along with control. Each treatment was replicated 6 times using 30 pullets per treatment. Different criteria on pullets and eggs, including feed intake, body weight, feed conversion efficiency, laying rate and egg mass and quality were studied. Results indicated that BMA could be used up to 6% in the pullets diets from 14 to 42 weeks without adverse effects (P⩾0.05) on sexual maturity (139-142 days), laying rate (80.7-87.9%), egg mass (44.99-51.86 g/hen/day), feed conversion ratio (2.468-2.868 kg feed/kg egg) and Haugh unit (82.9-90.6) and shell percentage (8.61-9.87%). Furthermore, egg yolk color and calcium content in eggshell were improved (P⩽0.05) by 12.31% and 9.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred thirty-two White Leghorn L-33 layers were sampled to characterize productive performance indicators and egg quality parameters based on laying week and the inclusion of 20 % of protein sugarcane meal into their foodstuff diet. Variables measured were egg weight, shell surface, albumen density height, Haugh units, and yolk color. To this end, a completely randomized design with a 4x 2 factorial arrangement was used. Neither productive performance nor egg quality were affected by the 20 % inclusion of protein sugarcane meal in the laying diet. An interaction between inclusion levels of protein sugarcane meal and laying weeks for all variables was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to determine the adverse effects of high temperature and humidity not only on live performance and egg quality but also on immune function in commercial laying hens. One hundred eighty 31-wk-old laying hens at peak production were used in this study. Hens were housed in cages (15 cages of 4 birds/cage) in each of 3 environmental chambers and received 1 of 3 treatments. The 3 treatments were control (average temperature and relative humidity), cyclic (daily cyclic temperature and humidity), and heat stress (constant heat and humidity) for 5 wk. Different production and immune parameters were measured. Body weight and feed consumption were significantly reduced in hens in the heat stress group. Egg production, egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, and specific gravity were significantly inhibited among hens in the heat stress group. Likewise, total white blood cell (WBC) counts and antibody production were significantly inhibited in hens in the heat stress group. In addition, mortality was higher in the heat stress group compared to the cyclic and control groups. Even though T- and B-lymphocyte activities were not significantly affected by any of the treatments, lymphocytes from hens in the heat stress group had the least activity at 1 wk following treatment. These results indicate that heat stress not only adversely affects production performance but also inhibits immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding 0% (T1), 6% (T2), 12% (T3) and 18% (T4) of a mixture (83% dried citrus pulp (DCP) and 17% eggshell) into a sorghum-soybean meal-limestone based diet for laying quails, on production efficiency and quality of egg. Thirty-two quails were individually housed and randomly assigned (n = 8) to the four experimental diets, during the first 5 week of the laying cycle. Quail LW and feed intake were recorded weekly. Produced eggs were weighed (n = 457) and egg mass production recorded. Proportions of albumen, yolk and shell, egg yolk color, and shell thickness, were determined (n = 55/treatment). On week 5, total excreta of 24 laying quails (n = 6) were collected throughout 96 h, to determine metabolizable utilization of DM, energy, crude protein and ash. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS® software. Initial and final LW, feed intake and egg production were similar (P >0.05) among treatments. Egg mass was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than T4. Egg weight of quails fed T1 and T2 was higher than others (P < 0.05). The eggshell of quails fed T2 was thicker (248 vs 236 µm; P < 0.05) than T1. Eggshell proportion of quails fed the mixture was higher (P < 0.05) than in T1 (11.3 vs 10.5%). Yolk proportion of T1 was higher (P < 0.05). The b* parameter was lower (P < 0.05) for T1. Metabolizable utilization of dietary DM (72.1%) and energy (68.8%) of T1 was 13% higher (P < 0.05) than T4, however protein (avg 41.4%) and ash (avg 46.7%) utilization were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. In conclusion, adding up to 12% of the mixture (83% DCP and 17% eggshell) in quail diets, resulted in similar egg production parameters, and metabolizable utilization of dietary DM, crude protein, energy and ash, however improved thickness of eggshell, compared to the control diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of age on the genetic and environmental variation of egg production, egg weight and egg quality were investigated in two populations of laying hens. The first part of the study was based on data from a crossbred population in Sweden that allowed the estimation of sire and residual but not of dam variance components. Sire, dam and residual components of variance were estimated in the second part of the study that used data from eight generations of two unselected control and four high egg production-selected Canadian strains of chickens. - Although the data did not allow a clear-cut separation of the various genetic and environmental variance components, the results indicated that new genetic variation appeared parallel to an increase in the environmental variation with age of the birds. This was interpreted as a suggestion that the deteriorating process of aging impaired the organism's ability to cope with environmental conditions and this resulted in the observed increase in environmental variation. The simultaneous increase of the genetic variation was caused by the turning on of new genes in order to induce reactions counteracting the effects of aging. Alternatively, reduced accuracy of DNA transcription in older birds may cause impairment of the functional efficiency of metabolic systems thus increasing environmental variation parallell to an increase of genetic 'error variation'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of feeding sources of n-3 fatty acids (FA) to ISA brown and Shaver white breeders and their female offspring during rearing on egg production, eggshell, tibia, and keel bone attributes was examined. Breeders were fed Control (CON) or CON + 1% dried microalgae (DMA: Aurantiochytrium limacinum) as the source of docosahexaenoic acid or CON + 2.6% of a coextruded mixture of full-fat flaxseed (FFF) and pulses as a source of α-linolenic acid. Day-old offspring were fed 1) breeder CON-pullet CON (CON-CON), 2) breeder CON-pullet DMA (CON-DMA), 3) breeder CON-pullet FFF (CON-FFF), 4) breeder DMA-pullet CON (DMA-CON), 5) breeder DMA-pullet DMA (DMA-DMA), 6) breeder FFF-pullet CON (FFF-CON), and 7) breeder FFF-pullet FFF (FFF-FFF). At 18 wk of age (WOA), pullets were fed a common layer diet to 42 WOA for egg production and bone quality assessments. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between strains and diets and the main effect of diets on egg production, egg mass, and eggshell quality. There was an interaction (P = 0.008) between strain and diet on egg weight (EW); however, the strain effect on EW (P < 0.001) was such that ISA brown had heavier eggs than Shaver white. Shaver white had higher (P < 0.001) eggshell %, eggshell, and tibia breaking strength (BS), as well as tibia ash concentration compared with ISA brown hens. In contrast, ISA brown hens exhibited heavier (P < 0.05) tibia and keel bones. Feeding breeders DMA and pullets both sources of n-3 FA increased tibia medullary ash concentration compared with other diets (P < 0.001). Shaver white hens showed greater decline in tibia BS (83.7 vs. 96.3%) and ash content (84.1 vs. 94.3%) than ISA brown hens from 18 to 42 WOA (P < 0.05). Strain and diets exhibited independent effects on eggshell, tibia, and keel attributes. Provision of α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid to breeders and offspring improved tibia medullary ash concentration at 42 WOA., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding 0 (T0), 5 (T5), and 10% (T10) moringa leaf (Moringa oleifera) meal to a soybean meal-sorghum-based diet on egg production and quality from laying quails (Coturnix japonica). Eighteen 7-wk-old laying quails, with an initial live weight (LW) of 140 ± 5 g, were individually housed and randomly assigned to the 3 treatments (TRT; n = 6). Diets were isoproteic and isoenergetic. During the first 8 wk of the laying cycle, quail LW and feed intake were recorded weekly. Produced eggs (n = 530) were identified and weighed, and egg mass production was recorded. Egg shape index was calculated as their relative width by length ratio. Egg energy and protein concentrations were measured (n = 6). Shell thickness (μm); the proportions of albumen, yolk, and shell (gravimetrically); and egg yolk color (using reflectance chroma meter) were determined (n = 60/treatment). The experiment was a completely randomized design; statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software, and mean comparisons were performed using Tukey. Average quail LW was higher for T0 (160.9 g) than for diets with moringa (average 151.9 g; P < 0.05). There was no difference among TRT in feed intake (136.37 g/wk), egg quantity (3.68 eggs/wk), or egg mass (35.55 g/wk; P > 0.05). Nevertheless, egg weight was higher for T0 (9.87 vs. 9.14 g; P < 0.05). Feed efficiency of egg production (0.240 g egg/g feed) was similar among TRT (P = 0.102). No differences were observed (P > 0.05) in egg energy (6,692 cal/g) and protein (12.28%) concentration or in the efficiency of protein (0.042; n = 144) and energy (0.102; n = 144) deposition among TRT. Egg shell was thicker (313 vs. 278 μm; P < 0.05) in T0. Egg shape index (80.0 vs. average 77.5%) and the proportion of egg shell (16.6 vs. average 15.3%) were higher in T10 (P < 0.05). The proportion of yolk (34.5%) and albumen (49.8%) were similar among TRT (P > 0.05). Eggs from T5 and T10 had higher "A" and "B" color parameter values (P < 0.001). The "L" parameter was higher (P < 0.001) for T0. In conclusion, including moringa leaf meal up to 10% in quail diets at the beginning of the laying cycle had positive effects on the pigmentation of quail egg yolk, without affecting efficiency of egg protein and energy deposition and without reducing egg production parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]