scholarly journals Effects of laying hens housing system on laying performance, egg quality characteristics, and egg microbial contamination

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Englmaierová ◽  
E. Tůmová ◽  
V. Charvátová ◽  
M. Skřivan

The objective of this study was to compare the performance, egg quality, and microbial contamination of egg shells from hens maintained in different housing systems, such as conventional and enriched cages, litter, and aviaries. The housing system significantly (P < 0.001) influenced the performance characteristics. The highest egg production, lowest daily feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were measured in conventional cages compared to litter and aviaries. Higher egg shell and albumen qualities were observed in conventional cages, whereas hens housed in enriched cages and aviaries laid eggs with a higher yolk index (P < 0.001). The housing system significantly (P < 0.001) influenced the total count of bacteria on the egg surface and the microbial contamination of Enterococcus and Escherichia coli. The lowest values for the total count of bacterial contamination (P < 0.001) were found in eggs from conventional cages (4.05 log colony-forming units (CFU)/egg) and enriched cages (3.98 log CFU/egg). Eggs from aviaries had 5.49 log CFU per egg, and the highest level of contamination was observed in eggs that were laid on litter (6.24 log CFU/egg). The level of the microbial contamination of egg shells from litter and aviaries was by 2 log CFU higher than in eggs from cages. It could be concluded, from the viewpoint of egg safety, a more suitable substitute for conventional cages are enriched cages and aviaries than litter.  

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 345-345
Author(s):  
Alfredo Herrera ◽  
Mario Ortiz ◽  
Hector Torrealba ◽  
Christian H Ponce

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn protein concentrate (CPC) levels in the diets on laying performance, and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 180 64-wk-old laying hens (2.05 kg ± 0.19 kg of live weight) were randomly assigned to 36 cages (5 birds/cage) with separate feeders, including 6 dietary treatments. Birds were fed 1 of 6 experimental diets containing CPC at different levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 or 2.5%) for 10 weeks. Diets were isocaloric (2850 Mcal/kg) and isonitrogenous (CP, 15.0%), having similar digestible amino acid profile. Hens were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment to determine BW change. Egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded daily, while egg quality variables were evaluated every 14 days. Data were analyzed using the general linear model procedure of SAS in a complete randomized design. The cage was considered the experimental unit. Linear and quadratic effects of treatment were used for mean separation and significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05. Hens fed CPC maintained BW and gain at an increased rate (Quadraic: P < 0.01). Feed intake increased as CPC increased in the diet (Lineal and quadratic: P < 0.01). Egg production, mass and weight were increased as CPC increased in the diet (Quadraic: P < 0.01). Feed conversion rate was improved as CPC increased in the diet (Lineal and Quadraic: P < 0.02). Shell thickness and breaking strength tended to linearly increased as CPC increased in the diet (P < 0.06). Albumen height and Haugh unit were not altered by dietary treatment (P > 0.25). Yolk color was increased as CPC increased in the diet (P < 0.01). Results from this experiment suggest addition of up to 2.5% CPC in the diet enhances egg production and some parameters of egg quality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Endang Sukarini

The aim of this study was to test the use of carrot juice fermentation with probiotics in rations with different levels on the production performance and quality of egg-laying hens. The material used was Lohman Brown strain of laying hens, 27 weeks old with an average initial body weight of 1.69 kg, as many as 45 birds. The research was conducted with experimental methods and used a Complete Design Acal (CRD). The treatment tested was the use of Carrot Extract Fermentation (FLSW) with probiotic SOC in the feed consisting of T1 = 100% basal ration, T2 = basal ration (97.5%) + FLSW (2.5%): T3 = basal ration ( 95%) + FLSW (5%); T4 = basal ration (92.5%) + FLSW (7.5%); T5 = basal ration (90%) + FLSW (10%). The variables observed were production performance (consumption, egg production (HDA / Hen Day Average), egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion and income over feed cost) and egg quality variables (albumin index, yolk index, Haugh Unit (HU), yolk color, albumin pH, yolk pH). The results of the analysis of variance showed that the use of carrot extract fermentation (FLSW) with different levels had a significant effect on feed consumption (Sig.115) and HDA (Sig.063), yolk index value (Sig.087) and yolk color (Sig. 000). , and not significantly different on feed conversion (Sig. 403), albumin index value (Sig. 522), and Haugh Unit (Sig. 259). The conclusion of the research showed that the use of fermented carrot juice waste (FLSW) in the feed of laying hens had an effect on feed consumption, egg production (Hen Day Averag / HDA), yolk index and yolk brightness (yolk color), but had no effect on conversion. feed, Haugh unit and albumin index value. Key words : probiotics, fermentation, carrot juice waste, production performance, egg quality 


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elwy A. Ashour ◽  
Mohamed S. El-Kholy ◽  
Mahmoud Alagawany ◽  
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack ◽  
Laila A. Mohamed ◽  
...  

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves and/or seed powder on laying Japanese quail performance in terms of egg production, egg quality, blood serum characteristics, and reproduction. In total, 168 Japanese quails (120 hens and 48 males) at eight weeks of age in laying period were randomly distributed to four treatment groups, with six replicates per group and seven birds (five hens and two males) per replicate. The first group (G1) served as a control group, while G2, G3 and G4 groups were supplemented with M. oleifera leaves (ML) and M. oleifera seeds (MS) and their combination ((1 g/kg ML; 1 g/kg MS; and 1 ML g/kg + 1 MS g/kg (MSL), respectively). From the results, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, fertility and hatchability from fertile eggs, egg and yolk index, and Haugh unit were not affected by dietary treatments. However, egg production, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and hatchability were significantly increased and blood aspartate transaminase (AST) and urea decreased in the MS treatment. Both triglycerides and total cholesterol were reduced (p < 0.05) in all treatments with ML, MS, and MSL, with no significant differences in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, total protein, globulin, and A/G ratio among dietary treatment. Our results clearly indicated that the inclusion of M. oleifera seeds in Japanese quail diet significantly increased egg production and improved hatchability, along with some egg quality parameters, and also lowered some blood biochemical components.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 1553 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Diarra ◽  
I. Wamekeni ◽  
A. Vunagilee ◽  
H. Lavaka ◽  
T. Finau

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 &gt; 0.05). Feeding whole ACM with 40 g limestone/kg diet reduced hen-day production and shell thickness (P &lt; 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.


1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (76) ◽  
pp. 619 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK Connor ◽  
HW Burton

Three commercial egg production strains, a White Leghorn and two White Leghorn x Australorp, were used in two experiments which examined the effects of cage size and number of birds per cage on production characteristics. Nine cage housing systems varying from a 23 cm frontage single bird cage to a 61 cm frontage cage housing seven birds were compared. The efficacy of debeaking again at 12 or 20 weeks of age following routine debeaking at five days of age as a cannibalism control measure in a comparison of five housing systems was examined in another two experiments. Further experiments examined the practice of housing birds according to body weight in either one, two or three bird cage populations. Increasing bird numbers per cage or stocking density had little effect on egg weight, feed consumption or liveweight gain but decreased egg production and increased mortality in experiments where cannibalism was a significant cause of death. Hen housed egg production was an accurate measure of bird performance for comparison of housing systems. In experiments where additional debeaking was carried out the incidence of cannibalism was insignificant and debeaking at 12 or 20 weeks had no detrimental effect on bird performance. No strain x cage housing system interactions were observed and no improvement in performance resulted from housing birds in multiple bird cages according to liveweight.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Lucky ◽  
MAR Howlider ◽  
MA Alam ◽  
MF Ahmed

A total of 48 Shaver-579 chicken layers aged between 85 to 94 weeks were reared in individual cages and given a basal diet amounting to 115g feed/bird/day. The basal diet fortified with 0.05, 0.10 or 0.15% Rena-Phytase-400 constituted of 3 experimental diets to see the effects of exogenous phytase on egg production and egg quality. Results indicated that increasing level of exogenous phytase in diet almost linearly (p<0.05) increased egg production and feed conversion but did not affect egg quality. Providing phytase in the diet at 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15% increased egg production by 11.86, 22.2 and 24.58%, respectively. It was shown that highest egg production was found at 0.15% phytase levels in diet. It can be concluded that egg production of aged hen could be increased by adding said amount of exogenous phytase in the diet.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v43i1.19385 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (1): 52-55


Author(s):  
Melek Şehitoğlu ◽  
Hatice Kaya

In this study, it was investigated the effect of clove oil supplementation at increasing levels into laying hens’ diets on performance, egg quality traits, some blood parameters and yolk TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reagent) values. For this purpose 96 Lohman white laying hens, 28 weeks of age, were divided into four treatment groups. Control group was fed with basal diet (C) and treatment groups were fed with diets formed by addition of clove oil at 50 ppm (CO1), 100 ppm (CO2) and 150 ppm (CO3), respectively. During the trial, feed and water were given as ad-libitum, and poultry house was illuminated for 17 hours. Experiment lasted for 13 weeks. Addition clove oil at increasing rates into diet did not affect the live weight. The data analysed as polynomial showed that supplementation of clove oil into layer diet linearly improved feed conversion ratio and increased the egg production. But, daily feed consumption, egg weight, damaged egg ratio and egg quality parameters were not affected by treatments. Serum parameters such as triglyceride, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and calcium were not affected by the clove oil supplementation. TBARS values in C, CO1, and CO2 were found higher than the CO3 group fed with diet including 150 ppm clove oil. In conclusion, clove oil at 150 ppm level in diets of laying hens could be used due to extend the egg shelf life and to decline serum cholesterol content.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 56-59
Author(s):  
O. J. Uko ◽  
P. Awoyesuku ◽  
G. M. Babatunde

Two hundred and sixteen Golden Hubbard strain of laying eggs, aged 32 weeks, were used to investigate the optimal level of maize offal (MO) that could replace maize with no detrimental effects on the performance of the hens. Graded levels of MO(0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) replaced equal levels of maize in six dietary treatments (1 to 6 respectively). There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between diets in egg production and weight weight gain of the hens. Egg weight was highly influenced (P<0.01) by the dietary treatments, with 30% MO producing the heaviest eggs. Increasing dietary levels of MO significantly (P<0.01) significantly increased feed consumption. Feed conversion efficiency differed (P>0.05) only at 50% levels of dietary MO. Of the egg quality parameters investigated, albumen, yolk and shell percentages were not affected (P>0.05) by the MO, while the Haugh Units were (P<0.05).


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 331
Author(s):  
Zahra Sorosh ◽  
Somayyeh Salari ◽  
Mohsen Sari ◽  
Jamal Fayazi ◽  
Saleh Tabatabaei

There is considerable behavioural evidence demonstrating stress reactions in birds. Behaviour of birds can affect their performance parameters. Also, nutritional factors may affect the behaviour of laying hens. Dietary deficiencies, such as minerals can increase feather-pecking behaviour and cannibalism. In the present study, we evaluate the effect of dietary zinc (Zn) on performance and behaviour of laying hens with four treatments (40, 70, 100, 130 mg Zn/kg of diet) with 96 Hy-Line W-36 leghorn hens for 10 weeks. The results showed that egg production for hens receiving 130 mg Zn/kg of diet was significantly higher than for those receiving 40 and 70 mg Zn/kg of diet (P &lt; 0.05). Those hens receiving 130 mg Zn/kg of diet had lower feed consumption compared with those that had other treatments (P &lt; 0.05). Dietary inclusion of Zn caused an improvement to feed conversion ratio (P &lt; 0.05). There was a treatment × time interaction on feeding behaviour that hens received 130 mg Zn/kg of diet spent significantly less time at the feeder than the other treatments. Hens receiving 130 mg Zn/kg of diet spent significantly less time drinking than the hens that received 40 and 70 mg Zn/kg of diet. Also, those that received 130 mg Zn/kg of diet did more non-nutritive pecking and preening than the hens that received 40 and 70 mg Zn/kg of diet. High levels of Zn decreased the aggressive behaviour of hens compared with those that received 40 mg Zn/kg of diet (P &lt; 0.05). It can be concluded that Zn can improve laying performance, and can decrease aggressive behaviour.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1116
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. A. Abdel-Wareth ◽  
Jayant Lohakare

This study investigated the dietary effects of Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation on egg quality, laying performance, excreta ammonia concentrations and serum biochemistry of laying chickens during the late laying period. A total of 240 64-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were assigned to four treatment diets including Moringa oleifera leaves at 0, 3, 6 or 9 g/kg, respectively, for eight weeks. The treatments had twelve replicates with five hens each. The results revealed that incremental dietary Moringa oleifera leaves significantly increased (p < 0.01) egg weight, production, and mass through 64–68, 68–72 and 64–72 weeks of age. Simultaneously, feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (p < 0.01) with Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation compared with the control. Haugh units and the thickness of eggshells significantly improved as a response to diets supplemented with 3, 6 and 9 g/kg Moringa oleifera leaves at 72 weeks of age. Interestingly, excreta ammonia concentrations, serum cholesterol, aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase significantly decreased by Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation compared with the control group. In conclusion, introducing Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation at 3, 6 and 9 g/kg increased egg production, eggshell quality, Haugh units, and decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, excreta ammonia concentrations besides serum liver enzymes, uric acid and creatinine. Overall, based on the observed results, Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation was very promising and these leaves could be used as an effective feed additive in laying hens’ diet during the late laying period.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document