Laying performance and cost-benefits of feeding brown laying hens with raw or processed tropical sickle pod (Senna obtusifolia) seed meal based-diets

Abstract. A feeding trial was conducted for 16 weeks to evaluate the effects and cost-benefits of feeding raw or processed Senna obtusifolia (S. obtusifolia) seed meal based-diets on the laying performance of ISA brown laying hens. Six experimental diets were compounded to contain 0% S. obtusifolia seed meal (T1) and 20% each of the raw, boiled, soaked, sprouted and fermented S. obtusifolia seed meals designated as T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. One hundred and eighty (180) ISA brown laying hens aged 36 weeks were housed in battery cages (5 birds/0.95m2) and assigned to the six (6) dietary treatments in groups of thirty (30) birds in a completely randomized design. Each replicate cage contains 10 laying hens. Data were collected on feed intake, hen-day egg production (HDEP), hen-house egg production (HHEP), egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio per egg mass, feed cost per kilogram, feed cost per egg mass and mortality. The results indicated that the group of laying hens fed raw S. obtusifolia seed meal based diet recorded the lowest HDEP (52.42%), egg weight (53.08g) and egg mass (2782.45g). Among the hens fed the processed S. obtusifolia seed meal based diets, the laying hens fed the fermented S. obtusifolia seed meal based diet indicated significantly (p<0.05) better HDEP (64.05%), egg weight (58.45g) and egg mass (3743.72g). On economic grounds, the use of raw S. obtusifolia is not cost effective because feed cost per kilogram egg was relatively high (N317.47 or $0.82) in the group of laying hens fed raw S. obtusifolia seed meal based diet. However, the processed S. obtusifolia seed meal based diets showed some economic advantage. In conclusion, 20% of fermented S. obtusifolia seed meal can be incorporated in the diets of laying hens with little or no depreciation in laying performance and economic-benefits.

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Effects of dietary L-carnitine on the performance and egg quality of laying hens from 65–73 weeks of age

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn19970178 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 615-623 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Mahmoud H. Rabie ◽

MiháLy SziláGyi ◽

Tibor Gippert

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Shape Index ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Unit Surface Area ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Shell Weight ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Laying Performance

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation (50–500 mg/kg diet) of a practical layer diet, based on maize, soyabean and wheat, on the performance of laying hens and some indices of egg quality were studied for 8 weeks, using 65-week-old hens kept in cages. Albumen quality (albumen height and Haugh (1937) unit score) was improved, while yolk index and yolk colour score were not affected by dietary L-carnitine. The percentage of egg-white increased and that of egg yolk decreased in response to dietary supplementation of L-carnitine. Dietary L-carnitine did not influence laying performance (egg production rate, mean egg weight, daily feed intake, daily egg mass and feed conversion) or external egg quality measured by egg weight, egg-shape index or by eggshell quality, either measured directly as shell breaking strength or indirectly as shell weight, shell thickness or shell weight per unit surface area. Based on the results of the present study, L-carnitine had a beneficial effect on albumen quality and could modify the components of the edible part of the egg, during the late laying period.

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Fish by-product meal in diets for commercial laying hens

Acta Scientiarum Animal Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascianimsci.v39i3.34102 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 273

Author(s):

André Ferreira Silva ◽

Frank George Guimarães Cruz ◽

João Paulo Ferreira Rufino ◽

Waldo Mateus Plácido Miller ◽

Nathália Siqueira Flor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Production Cost ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Polynomial Regression ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Feed Cost ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Completely Randomized Design

This study aimed to evaluate the increasing levels (0, 1, 2, 3 e 4%) of fish by-product meal in diets for laying hens on performance, egg quality and economic analysis. A total of 160 Dekalb White hens with 52-wk old were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates of eight birds each. The experiment lasted 84 days divided into four periods of 21 days. Estimates of fish by-product meal levels were determined by polynomial regression. Differences (p < 0.05) were detected for all variables of performance, in egg weight, yolk and albumen percentage, yolk and albumen height, feed cost and production cost, in which the inclusion of fish by-product meal in the diets showed better results. It can be concluded that fish by-product meal can be used in diets for hens as alternative feed, with better results in egg production, feed conversion, egg weight, yolk-albumen ratio and a reduction in feed cost and production cost.

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Influence of peeling and inorganic calcium concentration on the utilisation of giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza) corm meal by laying hens

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an18625 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 1553 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. S. Diarra ◽

I. Wamekeni ◽

A. Vunagilee ◽

H. Lavaka ◽

T. Finau

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Shape Index ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Shell Quality ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Calcium Source ◽

Main Effects

The effects of peeling and limestone flour level on the utilisation of Alocasia macrorrhiza corm meal (ACM) by laying hens were investigated. Maize-based diets with two concentrations of limestone flour (40 and 60 g/kg) and diets containing 200 g peeled and unpeeled ACM meal/kg with the same levels of limestone flour were fed to five replicate pens containing 10 20-week-old Shaver brown pullets (1635 ± 148 g), each for 105 days. Results showed no interaction or main effects of ACM or limestone concentration on feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion efficiency, egg shape index, surface area and Haugh unit (P > 0.05). Feeding whole ACM with 40 g limestone/kg diet reduced hen-day production and shell thickness (P < 0.05) but this was overcome by increasing limestone concentration to 60 g/kg diet. Peeled ACM with both concentrations of limestone flour maintained laying performance and egg quality. We concluded that feeding 200 g whole ACM depresses egg production and shell quality in laying hens, but increasing dietary limestone concentration overcomes this adverse effect. The concentration of limestone flour in the diet has no effect on laying performance. Higher inclusion levels of ACM, calcium source and level that will maintain laying performance and reduce feed cost need to be investigated.

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Effects of phytase B on laying performance, eggshell quality and on phosphorus and calcium balance in laying hens fed phosphorus-deficient maize-soybean meal diets

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/1290-cjas ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 9) ◽

pp. 406-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

K. Żyła ◽

M. Mika ◽

S. Świątkiewicz ◽

J. Koreleski ◽

J. Piironen

Keyword(s):

Soybean Meal ◽

Calcium Level ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Breaking Strength ◽

Control Diet ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Calcium Balance ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Eggshell Quality ◽

Laying Performance

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of phytase B (product of the Aspergillus niger phyB gene expressed in Trichoderma reesei) on feed intake, laying performance, eggshell quality, and on phosphorus and calcium balance in laying hens. Seventy-two, 40 weeks old Hy Line Brown hens were fed for 14 weeks the following four phosphorus-deficient (0.12% nonphytate phosphorus, NPP), maize-soybean meal-based diets: (1) calcium-deficient (2.8% Ca) control diet; (2) diet 1 + phytase B at the activity of 2.5 acid phosphatase units (AcPU/kg); (3) control diet (3.8% Ca); (4) diet 3 + phytase B at the activity of 2.5 AcPU/ kg. Each dietary treatment was fed to 18 cages of hens, 1 hen/cage kept in individual cages. Hens fed the NPP- and Ca-deficient diets consumed more feed (P < 0.01) and excreted less calcium (P < 0.01) than those receiving P-deficient diets with the standard calcium level. There were no effects of calcium level on feed utilization, egg mass, egg weight, and eggshell breaking strength. Egg production, although numerically higher in hens fed low Ca diets with no enzyme added, failed to be significantly different due to the low number of hens investigated and therefore the measurement should be considered as preliminary and supplementary. Phytase B increased mean egg weight by about 7% in layers fed the NPP- and Ca-deficient diet (Ca × phytase B interaction, P < 0.05), increased shell breaking strength, particularly at the standard calcium level, significantly enhanced amounts of calcium retained by layers and amounts of  phosphorus retained by hens fed the Ca-deficient diets. Additionally, phytase B improved Ca retention at both dietary Ca levels and phosphorus retention in hens fed the Ca-deficient diets. Results of the study indicate that the efficacy of phytase B in NPP-deficient diets is strongly influenced by the dietary calcium level and the enzyme may modulate egg weight, eggshell quality, phosphorus and calcium retention in laying hens fed low-NPP, maize-soybean meal-based diets.

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Laying performance and eggshell quality in laying hens fed diets supplemented with prebiotics and organic acids

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/207/2009-cjas ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (No. 7) ◽

pp. 294-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

S. Świątkiewicz ◽

J. Koreleski ◽

A. Arczewska

Keyword(s):

Organic Acids ◽

Egg Production ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Eggshell Quality ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Calcium And Phosphorus

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of organic acids and the prebiotic fructans on egg production and eggshell quality when added to the layer diet with different levels of calcium and phosphorus. The experiment was carried out on 168 Bovans Brown hens, allocated to 14 groups of 12 replications. Each hen (replication) was kept in an individual cage 40 cm × 40 cm in size. A 2 × 7 factorial arrangement, with two dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus (normal – 3.70% Ca, 0.65% P, and reduced – 3.25% Ca, 0.60% P) and with diets supplemented by selected additives (none, 0.75% inulin, 0.75% oligofructose, 0.50% volatile fatty acids (VFA), 0.25% medium chain fatty acid (MCFA), 0.30% VFA + 0.20% MCFA, 0.75% inulin + 0.50% VFA) was used. The experiment was carried out over 34 weeks, from the age of 26 to 70 weeks. There were no statistically confirmed effects of the factors studied in this experiment on egg performance, i.e. laying rate, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion. Reducing the dietary levels of Ca and P significantly decreased eggshell percent, thickness, density and breaking strength. The additives used had a considerable effect on eggshell quality at 46, 58 and 70 weeks of age, and these positive effects were most pronounced in the case of inulin and MCFA. There was no significant interaction between Ca and P dietary levels and the additives used. It was thus concluded that selected feed additives which lower the pH of the diet and intestinal content can beneficially influence eggshell quality in older high-producing laying hens.  

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Performance of Laying Hens Fed Sorghum Based Diets Supplemented with Enzymes

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v43i1.2763 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 224-232

Author(s):

O. M. Agunbiade ◽

P. A. Onimisi ◽

J. J. Omage

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Quality Characteristics ◽

Egg Laying ◽

The Other ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Feed Cost ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Dietary Treatments

Sorghum is the primary alternative feedstuff for corn in some developed countries in the production of poultry. Thus, four hundred and fifty 32 weeks old Lohmann Brown laying hens were used in a study to evaluate the effect of replacing maize with sorghum with or without enzymes supplementation, on egg laying performance and egg quality characteristics of laying hens. Birds were distributed randomly into six dietary treatments with three replicates per treatment, each replicate had 25 birds with uniform initial group weights. The treatments included maize without enzymes (T1); sorghum without enzymes (T2); as controls respectively, while T3, T4, T5, and T6 contained sorghum based diets with phytase, protease, G2G, and a combination of protease and G2G respectively. Laying performance, cost of production, and egg quality characteristics were determined for the period of the trial, 33-56 weeks of age of the birds. All data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, using the completely randomized design (CRD) and significant differences among treatment means were compared using the Tukey test. Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed among dietary treatments but with no defined trend observed for egg production traits. Daily feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in maize control diet compared to the other treatments. Diets supplemented with phytase (T3), protease (14), and combination of protease and roxazyme G2G (T6) had significantly (p<0.05) better feed conversion ratio with T3 having the lowest value of 4.01 compared to the other treatments. For feed cost/dozen egg (N), Kg feed/dozen eggs, income above feed cost at N30 per egg, and income above control treatment; phytase (T3), protease (T4), roxazyme 626 (T5), and protease + roxacyme G2G (T6) diets in this study showed better performance than the control. Sorghum diet without enzyme had significantly (p<0.05) least performance for egg number. Hen housed egg production (HHP) and hen day egg production (HDP) compared to the other treatments while sorghum diet with phytase had the highest value (60.12g/day) for average egg weight compared to the other treatments. Egg quality characteristics showed the best performance for dietary treatments supplemented with phytase (T3) in all the other parameters considered, apart from the albumen height, yolk diameter, and yolk index. It was concluded therefore, that sorghum with phytase and protease supplementations can be used in layers' diets as a substitute for maize for optimum egg production.

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Production performance and egg quality of White Rock laying hens fed diets containing whole linseed

Bangladesh Journal of Livestock Research ◽

10.3329/bjlr.v20i1-2.47019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1-2) ◽

pp. 48-53

Author(s):

H Khatun ◽

MN Islam ◽

MA Rashid ◽

MY Ali ◽

MSK Sarker

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Control Diet ◽

Production Performance ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Quality Aspects ◽

Significant Difference

This study was conducted to know the production performance of laying hen by using different graded level of linseed. At 56 weeks of age, a total of 160 laying hens were raised up to 63 weeks of age. All hens were fed a basal corn soyabean meal diet. The experiment was allowed 4 dietary treatments (T0, no addition of whole linseed in the basal diet; T1, addition of 5% whole linseed; T2, addition of 10% whole linseed and T3, addition of 15% whole linseed) with 5 replications and per replication contains eight hens. Egg production, feed intake, egg weight of each treatment was recorded. Egg samples were collected and analyzed for egg quality. The results showed that egg production and egg mass (kg) exhibited for all dietary treatment groups were unaffected (P>0.05) by feeding linseed to the laying hens. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was found significant difference within the four dietary group (P<0.05). Egg quality aspects such as yolk weight, egg weight, HU and yolk index were not differed significantly (P>0.05) among treatments. A trend for lower yolk weight was observed in birds fed 10% linseed, where as the highest yolk weight percentage was recorded in control diet. There was no statistical difference among the different diets for yolk index. The results of the present trial suggested that feeding linseed to the laying hens has no detrimental effects on egg production and egg quality. Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 20(1-2): 48-53, Jan-Dec 2013

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Effect of Date Palm Pollen Supplementation on the Egg Production, Ovarian Follicles Development, Hematological Variables and Hormonal Profile of Laying Hens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010069 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 69

Author(s):

Mohamed Saleh ◽

Dariusz Kokoszyński ◽

Mohamed Abd-Allah Mousa ◽

Ahmed Abdel-Kareem Abuoghaba

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Ovarian Follicle ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Ovarian Follicles ◽

Control Group ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Hormonal Profile ◽

Ovarian Follicle Development

This experiment studied the effect of DPP supplementation in the laying hens’ diet on the ovarian follicle development, hematological variables and hormonal profile of laying hens. Eighty-four, 78-week-old, Lohman LSL hybrids layers were equally divided into four groups (4 groups × 7 replicates × 3 hens); hens in the 1st group were fed a basal diet (control), while those in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups, were fed on the same diet and supplemented with 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 g DPP/kg diet. The results showed that the egg weight, egg mass and laying rate of laying hens treated with DPP levels were significantly increased compared to those of the hens in the control group. Egg weight, egg surface area, albumen quality and percentage of the yolk in treated hens significantly increased compared with controls. The increased DPP levels in laying hens‘ diet significantly (p < 0.05) increased WBC, Hb and TAC, while heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L ratio) significantly decreased. Additionally, the concentrations of FSH and LH and the weights of ovary and oviduct in the treated hens significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with the control. In conclusion, the DPP supplementation in the hen diet significantly improved egg production, EW, H/L ratio, ovarian follicles, FSH and LH hormones concentrations.

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High Temperature With Low Humidity or Vice Versa Does Not Affect Performance and Physiology of Laying Hens

10.20944/preprints202011.0251.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Da-Hye Kim ◽

Yoo-Kyung Lee ◽

Sang-Ho Kim ◽

Kyung-Woo Lee

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Scientific Basis ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Thermal Treatments ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Laying Performance

The present study investigated the effect of different ambient temperature and relative humidity (RH) but equal temperature-humidity index (THI) on laying performance, egg quality, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio), corticosterone (CORT) concentration in blood, yolk and albumen, and plasma biochemical parameters in laying hens. One hundred and twenty commercial hens (Hy-Line Brown) aged 60 weeks were allocated into 2 environmental chambers. Laying hens were subjected to either one of two thermal treatments, i.e., 26ºC and 70% RH (LH75) and 30ºC and 30% RH (HL75) for 28 days. Both thermal treatments had equal THI being 75. Neither LH75 nor HL75 affected (P > 0.05) laying performance including egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Plasma biochemical parameters such as total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus was not altered (P > 0.05) by thermal treatments. As to the stress indicators, both environment regimes failed (P > 0.05) to affect blood H/L ratio and CORT levels in plasma, yolk and albumen although albumen CORT levels were elevated (P < 0.05) in LH75 vs. HL75 at days 3, 7, and 28. In conclusion, our study suggests that laying hens performed and responded equally when they were exposed to equal THI environment conditioned from either 26ºC and 70% RH or 30ºC and 30% RH. The results of this study will be served as a scientific basis for management decisions and handling under thermally challenging conditions.

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Banana leaf in the diet of laying hens in cage free system

Acta Scientiarum Animal Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascianimsci.v41i1.46908 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 46908

Author(s):

Nayara Emanuelle Matos e Silva ◽

Heder José D'Ávila Lima ◽

Jean Kaique Valentim ◽

Fernandes Jesuino Mukissaí Tossué ◽

Tatiana Marques Bittencourt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Control Diet ◽

Experimental Unit ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Free System ◽

Mass Feed ◽

Banana Leaf

The aim of this research was evaluate the productive performance, egg quality and the endoparasites presence on Carijo laying hens in Cage Free system, fed with two experimental diets, one of them supplemented with fresh banana leaf in natura. Were used 196 laying hens with twenty-four weeks of age, distributed in a completely randomized design with 14 boxes, two experimental diets and seven replicates, by treatment with fourteen birds per experimental unit. The variables analyzed were: feed intake; egg production; egg mass: feed conversion per egg mass; feed conversion per dozen eggs; egg weight; albumen weight; yolk weight; shell weight; yolk percentage; albumen percentage shell percentage; yolk pigmentation and the presence of endoparasites. No influence (p > 0.05) were found, for performance and egg production, in Carijo laying hens fed supplemented with banana leaf in natura. For the treatment with inclusion of banana leaf, yolk pigmentation were superior (p < 0.05) when compared to control diet, producing eggs with more yolks orange color. In respect to endoparasite analysis, there was significant effect (p < 0.05) in the percentage of infections present in excretas. Among the treatments evaluated, the one with banana leaf supplementation reduced in 26.54% the endoparasites presence. The inclusion of banana leaf in the diet of Carijo laying hens does not affect performance and eggs quality and decreases the amount of endoparasites of the genus Strogyloides spp.

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