scholarly journals A simple way to reduce heat stress in laying hens as judged by egg laying, body weight gain and biochemical parameters

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Şahin ◽  
O. Küçük

This study was designed to test the effects of feed withdrawal and darkening on the performance, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and some blood serum metabolite and mineral concentrations of laying hens reared at high ambient temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 °C. Ninety, 16-week-old hens (Ross Brown) were divided into 3 groups, 30 hens each. The first group was used as control. Hens in the second group (feed withdrawal) were subjected to feed removal from 14:00 to 18:00, and hens in the third group (darkening) were subjected to light restriction from 14:00 to 18:00 using black curtains. Liveweight, feed intake, and egg production were higher (P < 0.01) in the feed withdrawal and darkening groups, particularly in the darkening group, than in the control. Water intake was higher in the control group compared with the feed withdrawal and darkening groups (P < 0.01). T3, T4, and TSH concentrations in the serum were higher (P < 0.01), whereas ACTH serum concentration was lower (P < 0.01) in the feed withdrawal and darkening groups compared with the control. The haematocrit was higher in the feed withdrawal and darkening groups compared with the control (P < 0.01). Darkening and feed withdrawal treatments increased serum glucose, urea-N, uric acid, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, Ca, P, Na, and K concentrations, also the activities of amylase and alkaline phosphatase, but did not influence the activities of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). The present study found that feed withdrawal and darkening, particularly darkening, at high temperatures during the summer months offer a good management practice to reduce heat stress related depression in feed intake and egg production in laying hens.

Author(s):  
L.V. Rastopshina ◽  

The Altai Region along with the regions of the Siberian Federal District belongs to the zone with trace element deficiency including iodine deficiency. The research goal was to study the effect of iodine on edible egg quality of laying hens of the Rodonit cross. At the final stage of egg-laying, 4 groups of 4 laying hens were formed. No iodine was administered to the hens of the 1st control group. Starch-based iodine product was administered to the birds of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th trial groups into the lower third of the neck, under the wing and into the rump area in a dose of 1.5 mg per head. The egg production intensity in the trial groups was higher by 21.3-28.8%. Egg weight in the 1st control group was 65.6 ± 1.33g which was lower than that in the trial groups by 4.4% (2nd group); 3.7% (3rd group) and 1.5% 4th group). All eggs belonged to “select” grade. The 3rd and 4th trial groups had less egg white by 3.8 and 2.7%; the egg-yolk content increases in the eggs of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th trial groups by 1.2%, 9.4% and 2.4%, respectively, and the eggshell weight by 1.2-9.4% as com-pared to the control. The ratio of egg white and egg-yolk weight in the eggs of the trial groups was lower than in the control group by 9.38-19.29%, but the ratio of egg-yolk to egg white was by 10.4-23.9% higher. The following indices were higher in the trial groups as compared to the control: egg white index -by 1.4-17.1%; egg-yolk -by 3.2-6.4%; Haugh unit -by 7.2-11.1%; eggshell thickness -by 3.9-8.3%. The best results were obtained with the administra-tion of iodine to the hens in the region of the lower third of the neck. The enrichment of the body of laying hens of the Rodonit cross with iodine makes it possible to obtain the profitability of edible egg production at the level of 28.6-41.0%.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Naeem Tahir

In the present feeding trial, responses of laying hens, kept at high ambient temperature, to various dietary ratios of linoleic acid (LNA) to α-linolenic acid (ALA) and vitamin A levels on performance and egg characteristics were evaluated. A total of 360, 40-wk-old, Leghorn laying hens were fed on diets with various combinations of canola oil and linseed oil to achieve LNA to ALA dietary ratios of 20:1, 10:1, 4:1, 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2, each supplemented with 3000 IU or 10000 IU vitamin A/kg of diet. The diets were fed in a 6×2 factorial Completely Randomized Design that continued for 12 weeks. Feed intake, weight gain, egg production and egg quality traits were recorded during the trial. Decreasing dietary LNA to ALA ratio in the diet affected negatively (P<0.05) on body weight gain and yolk percentage in laying hens. While, feed intake, hen-day and hen-housed egg production, feed conversion ratio (FCR) per dozen of eggs and shell quality remained unaffected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments, with the exception of FCR per kg eggs, egg weight and egg-shell thickness which responded significantly (P<0.05) to various dietary treatments. Although the dietary ratio of LNA to ALA of 4:1 or less could produce eggs by the hens with desirable quantities of n-6 and n-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids – that are characteristics of functional diets – the performance of laying hens in terms of body weight gain and egg-yolk percentage was slightly compromised.


2020 ◽  
pp. 12-16

The present study was conducted to find the effect of different levels of organic minerals on egg production and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 45 laying hens were selected and divided into three groups with 3 replicates of 5 birds each. The control group was provided with commercial ration having inorganic minerals and the other two groups were supplemented with organic minerals at the rate of 7.5 (OM-50) and 15 mg/kg (OM-100). The experiment lasted for 5 weeks including 1 week of adaptation period. Overall feed intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the control. Significantly lower feed intake was recorded in group OM-100. Numerically lower (better) FCR was recorded in OM-100 at all recorded stages. Significantly (P<0.05) higher egg weight, egg shell weight and egg shell thickness was found in OM-100 compared to the control. Similarly, albumin height, Haugh unit and yolk weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher in M-100. It was concluded from the present results that organic minerals at the level of 50 and 100 mg/kg improved the performance and egg quality of laying hens. However, better results were found in OM-100.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mst Nasrin Banu ◽  
Md Bazlar Rashid ◽  
Md Mahmudul Hasan ◽  
Fahima Binte Aziz ◽  
Md Rakibul Islam ◽  
...  

The study was conducted to determine the effect of antiprolactin drug (Bromergon®) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) on broodiness, laying performance and egg quality in indigenous hens. The effect of modulation of prolactin concentration on egg production, sequence length and inter sequence pauses were studied by analyzing the oviposition records. Total sixty indigenous laying hens (30-40 weeks of age), were assigned for treatment with peppermint solution and Bromergon®. Sixty laying hens were randomly divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D) and each group remained 15 hens. Group A was kept for control, Group B was treated with bromocriptine (Bromergon® SANDOZ) orally @ 640 ?g per bird per day, Group C with 50% peppermint solution @ 10 g per bird orally and Group D was with peppermint and Bromergon® combined at previous dose. Over the course of trial, incremental dietary peppermint (Group C) significantly (p?0.05) increased egg production, body weight of treated indigenous hens than other groups. Egg shell percentage, thickness and haugh unit of hens fed diets supplemented with peppermint were greater than that of hens fed the control diet. However, peppermint supplementation did not influence other egg quality characteristics like albumen and yolk percentages and albumen height. The treated birds had comparatively longer sequences and fewer pauses. It is concluded that the physiological pauses occur during ovulatory sequences can be disrupted effectively using Bromergon® and peppermint. Prolactin levels modulated which may interfere with follicular recruitment and subsequent oviposition thereby improves egg laying potential of the indigenous hens.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 547-554


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibek Chandra Roy ◽  
Sachchidananda Das Chowdhury ◽  
SM Lutful Kabir

The effects of feeding probiotic (PB) with or without Lincomycin 2.2% (AGP) were investigated in broiler chickens during summer. Seven hundred Cobb-500 one day old straight run broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments each of five replications. Four diets were compared: control; control diet plus PB (Bacillus subtilis DSM17299) at a level of 50g/100kg; control plus (AGP) at a level of 15g/100kg and control plus a combination of PB and AGP (50gm/100kg and 15g/100kg respectively). Control birds were fed on a corn-soybean based starter mash that contained ME 3000 kcal/kg and CP 24.39% from 0-21 days of age and a corn-soybean based grower mash of ME 3100 kcal/kg and CP 20.43% during 22-35 days of age. The records were kept of feed intake (FI), body weight and mortality while weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survivability were calculated. Temperature and humidity were recorded four times daily except during extreme heat stress when measurements were made more frequently. One bird that was close to average of pen weight was taken from each replication at the end of the trial and the birds were sacrificed to determine carcass characteristics. Both performance and carcass yield data were statistically analyzed. Birds that received PB and a combination of PB +AGP treatments showed significant differences (P<0.01) from control with respect to body weight gain and FCR while feeding AGP alone although showed a decrease in feed intake. Abdominal fat was significantly (P<0.01) reduced in PB treated birds. Higher mortality was encountered in control group. Both PB alone and a combination of AGP treatments were able to show improved performance and reduced mortality, feeding PB alone may be practiced on the combined grounds of improved performance, efficiency in combating heat stress and to discourage the use of AGP in broiler diet.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(1): 80-88


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Qiu ◽  
Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Hai-jun Zhang ◽  
Guang-hai Qi ◽  
...  

In the context of increasing awareness on the dietary supplementation of organic selenium in commercial poultry production and ensuring safe egg production, the present study investigated the effects of selenium on the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic use of florfenicol and enrofloxacin from perspectives of laying performance, selenium deposition in eggs, and drug residue in plasma, organs, and eggs. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two kinds of drugs (florfenicol vs. enrofloxacin, 200 mg/kg) and three levels of dietary organic selenium SCIP (selenium conjugated to insect protein) (0, 2, and 5 mg/kg) was designed together with a blank control group. Healthy Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 252, 40-week-old and 90.0 ± 1.7% of egg production rate) were randomly allocated into one of seven treatments with six replicates and six hens per replicate. The experiment lasted for 42 days and consisted of three periods (adjusted stage, depositional stage, and eliminating stage) of 14 days each. These stages entail feeding of the laying hens with basal diets, addition of drugs and selenium synchronously into the diets, drug withdrawal from diet, and supply of selenium uninterruptedly in the diet. Egg production and feed intake were recorded on daily and weekly bases, respectively. The selenium content in egg yolk, egg white, and whole eggs and the drug residues in eggs, plasma, liver, kidney, and breast muscle were determined on days 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 14 of the depositional and eliminating stages. There was no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) in egg production among the dietary treatments, but feed intake decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in the drug treatment group compared to other groups. Dietary organic selenium decreased the residue of drugs in tissues and eggs, while the metabolism and deposition of selenium in laying hens were suppressed due to drug effects. The results of the present study are of significance to enrich the knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and enrofloxacin in laying hens and ensure the quality of poultry products.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
I.F. Gorlov ◽  
◽  
Z.B. Komarova ◽  
A.V. Rudkovskaya ◽  
D.N. Nozhnik ◽  
...  

Aim. Study of the effectiveness of the use of the feed additive "Mega HenOn" in the training of chickens of an industrial herd of the cross "Highsex brown" under heat stress. Materials and Methods. Evaluation of the efficiency was carried out for 32 weeks on industrial chickens in the amount of 70 heads. During the experiment, the egg production of chickens (daily), feed costs, and the category of eggs were taken into account. To determine the quality characteristics of edible eggs, GOST 31654-2012 “Edible hen eggs. Technical conditions". Results. The studied additive had a positive effect on the egg productivity of chickens, both during heat stress and during normalization of the temperature regime. At the age of 47-50 weeks (June-July, the ambient temperature during the daytime increased to 38-40°C), egg production dropped sharply, and in the control group it was 79.03%, and in the experimental group, despite the decrease, it exceeded this indicator by 3.63%. At the age of 51-58 weeks (July-August, the increase increased to 36°C), the decrease in egg production continued, but in comparison with the previous period, there was a certain trend towards recovery, which amounted to 85.51%, exceeding the control by 2.22%. The studied feed additive, to some extent, neutralized the negative effect of heat stress on the body of birds. In general, over the period of the experiment, the egg-laying intensity in the experimental group was 89.1%, and in the control group - 87.09%. The cost of producing 10 eggs in the experimental group is 1.29 kg, which is 0.07 kg less than in the control group. The yield of eggs of the category "superior" and "selected" in the experimental group exceeded the control by 0.53 and 16.89%. The yield of eggs of the II category turned out to be higher in the control group and amounted to 29.56%, which is higher than in the experimental group by 13.73%. Conclusion. The use of the innovative “Mega HenOn” feed additive, in the diets of chickens during the heat stress period, contributed to a more complete realization of the genetic potential of birds, due to the stabilization of metabolic processes in the body of birds, an increase in egg production, a decrease in the yield of culling eggs and, as a consequence, an increase in the level of profitability by 2.38%.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-88
Author(s):  
SUNIL KUMAR ◽  
S.V. SINGH ◽  
S.C. BHAN

A study was conducted on twelve Karan Fries (Holstein Friesian X Tharparkar) heifers, (10-12 months), in LRC of NDRI, Karnal.Heifers were divided equally into two groups i.e. control, and treatment (supplemented with astaxanthin@ 0.25 mg per kgBW per day per animal) to assess the heat stress ameliorative action of astaxanthin during summer season. During experimental period, environmental variables were recorded and THI was calculated to assess levels of summer stress. Blood samples were collected from both the group of heifers at fortnightly interval for quantification of plasma leptin and ghrelin hormones.Body weights of heifers were recorded at monthly interval. The body weight gain and ADG were significantly (P  0.05) higher in treatment group. Feed intake was higher (P  0.05) and FCR was lower (P  0.05) in astaxanthin supplemented group.Plasma leptin was higher(P  0.05), while,plasma ghrelinand surface skin temperature were numerically lower in treatment than control group of heifers.The study found that astaxanthin supplementation amelio rated the negative impact of summer stress and helped in enhancement of growth rate and ADG by improving the feed intake and by decreasing the FCR of heifers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (16) ◽  
pp. 1672
Author(s):  
S. T. Yong ◽  
H. Y. Tan ◽  
N. Samat ◽  
H. K. Wong

Context Reducing egg cholesterol has been a major goal of many researchers over four decades. Monacolin K, a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, identical to the active ingredient in the prescription statin drug lovastatin, could be a promising feed supplement for layers. Aims To determine the effects of high monacolin K red yeast rice (RYR) supplement on feed intake, egg production, egg cholesterol content, plasma lipid and enzyme metabolites in laying hens. Methods Hyline brown layers were fed RYR supplement at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6% of the diet for 6 weeks. Total and daily feed intake, egg production, egg weights and feed conversion ratio between the RYR treated groups and the control were compiled. Egg cholesterol and egg quality at the 3rd and 6th week of the feeding trial were analysed. Plasma lipids and enzymes were sampled towards the end of the trial. Key results Egg cholesterol were significantly lower (P &lt; 0.05) in the 0.8 and 1.6% RYR supplemented group. Supplementation with 0.8% RYR resulted in 11.16% reduction in egg cholesterol at the 3rd week with no further improvements with longer feeding. There were no significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) in total and daily feed intake, egg production, egg weights and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between the RYR treated and control group. Total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower (P &lt; 0.05) in the 0.8 and 1.6% RYR supplemented group when compared with the control group. RYR supplementation exert no significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) in plasma enzyme levels. Conclusions The present study suggests that RYR supplementation of 0.8% resulted in egg cholesterol reduction by 11.16% with no adverse effects on laying hens. Implications The feeding trial showed that RYR supplement can be used as a feed additive in layer diets to lower egg cholesterol, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides with no adverse effects on layer egg production and plasma enzymes over the feeding period.


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