Effect of a novel plant phytase on performance, egg quality, apparent ileal nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization of laying hens fed corn–soybean diets

Laying hens require substantial quantities of calcium (Ca) to maintain egg production. However, maintaining recommended dietary Ca through inclusion of limestone may impede nutrient digestibility, including that of other minerals. It was hypothesized that providing a separate source of dietary Ca in the form of limestone grit would preserve Ca intake of hens offered diets containing suboptimal Ca concentrations. Furthermore, the impact of dietary phytase at a “superdosing” inclusion rate on the voluntary consumption of limestone grit was evaluated. One hundred and forty-four laying hens (19 weeks of age) were assigned to one of six dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement comprising three dietary Ca concentrations (40, 30, and 20 g/kg) and ±dietary phytase (3500 FYT/kg diet) on an ad libitum basis for six weeks. Limestone grit (3.4 ± 1.0 mm) was provided to all hens ad libitum. Hens offered diets containing phytase consumed significantly less limestone grit p = 0.024). Egg weight, rate of lay, and egg mass were unaffected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). Egg shell weight % (p < 0.001), shell thickness (p < 0.001), and shell breaking strength (p < 0.01) decreased in line with dietary Ca levels. In summary, dietary superdosing with phytase reduced the consumption of a separate limestone source in individually housed, early lay ISA Brown hens. Egg shell quality variables but not egg production worsened in line with lower dietary Ca levels.

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Brassica napus and Brassica juncea extruded-expelled cake and solvent-extracted meal as feedstuffs for laying hens: Lay performance, egg quality, and nutrient digestibility

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps/pez501 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 (1) ◽

pp. 350-363

Author(s):

M.A. Oryschak ◽

M.N. Smit ◽

E. Beltranena

Keyword(s):

Brassica Napus ◽

Brassica Juncea ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Nutrient Digestibility

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The Effect of Dietary Essential Oil Mixture Supplementation on Performance, Egg Quality and Bone Characteristics in Laying Hens

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.1515/aoas-2016-0038 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 1115-1125 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Osman Olgun

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Bone Mineralization ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Biomechanical Properties ◽

Feed Additive ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Black Cumin

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seven different levels (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) of a phytogenic feed additive containing a mixture of essential oils from thyme, black cumin, fennel, anise and rosemary on performance, eggshell quality, bone biomechanical properties and bone mineralization in laying hens. This study consisted of a total of 112, 21-week-old Super Nick laying hens, which were randomly distributed into seven experimental groups. During the 12-week experimental period, each experimental group of four replicates of four birds each was fed with seven treatment diets. Egg weight and egg mass were positively linearly affected by essential oil mixture supplementation. Also, eggshell thickness was increased quadratically by essential oil mixture supplementation. The biomechanical properties and tibia mineral content were adversely affected by essential oil mixture supplementation at the level of 600 and 400 mg/ kg, respectively. These results demonstrated that dietary supplementation with a low or medium concentration of essential oils improved bone parameters, while at high levels were adversely affected in laying hens.

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