scholarly journals Prolonged Dark Time Within A 24-h Light Regime Improves Eggshell Quality by Enhancing Calcium Deposition in Laying Hens

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Xin ◽  
Jingpeng Zhao ◽  
Hongchao Jiao ◽  
Haifang Li ◽  
Xiaojuan Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The absorption and transportation of calcium and phosphorus is mainly relied on their corresponding transporters. Eggshell is mainly formed during dark time in one egg cycle. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different light regime on eggshell quality and the expression of the relevant calcium and phosphorus transporters in laying hens. Seventy two 56-week-old laying hens were randomly divided into two groups and subjected to the following treatments: 16 h light: 8 h dark (control) and 9 h light: 15 h dark (LDP). The expression of phosphorus transporters type IIb Na/Pi co-transporter NaPi-IIa (NPt2a) and NaPi-IIb (NPt2b), calcium transporter calbindin-D28k (CaBP-D28k), and plasma membrane Ca ATPase 1b (PMCA1b) were measured in small intestine, kidney, and eggshell gland. Results: The results showed that the feed intake (P < 0.001) and egg weight (P = 0.05) was decreased by LDP treatment, while laying rate, egg production, and feed efficiency were not significantly influenced (P > 0.05). Compared to control, eggshell hardness was increased (P < 0.05) by LDP treatment whereas eggshell thickness and eggshell percentage were not significant changed. Eggshell calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents were elevated in LDP-hens, compared to control birds. Compared to control birds, serum Ca (P < 0.01) and P levels (P = 0.079) at dark time were increased in LDP-hens while and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was lowered (P < 0.05). The protein expression levels of CaBP-D28k and PMCA1b were not influenced in duodenum but were decreased at light time in jejunum of LDP hens. In kidney, the expression of CaBP-D28k, PMCA1b and NPt2a were not changed by LDP treatment. In eggshell gland, however, the expression of CaBP-D28k and osteopontin (OPN) were relative higher in LDP hens compared to control birds, whereas the PMCA1b expression was not altered. Conclusions: The result indicates that the increased circulating Ca and P concentrations in dark time are favorable for the deposition of calcium and phosphorus in eggshell. The result offers an alternative strategy for the laying hen with a worse eggshell problem.

2021 ◽  
pp. 101098
Author(s):  
Qian Xin ◽  
Minghui Wang ◽  
Hongchao Jiao ◽  
Jingpeng Zhao ◽  
Haifang Li ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 294-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Świątkiewicz ◽  
J. Koreleski ◽  
A. Arczewska

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 &times; 40 cm in size. A 2 &times; 7 factorial arrangement, with two dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus (normal &ndash; 3.70% Ca, 0.65% P, and reduced &ndash; 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. &nbsp;


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 185-196
Author(s):  
M. MONSI ◽  
A. O. AMAKIRI

Four groups of 48 laying hens (Gallus domesticus), midway in their laying cycle were fed diets containing graded levels (0.00%, 1.5%, 2.5% and 3.5%) of dietary Nutrafos 3 for 56 days. The completely randomized experimental arrangement was designed to evaluate the responses of the caged layers to the inclusive levels of the additive under humid tropical conditions. The dietary additive produced statistically significant (P< 0.01) improvements in the rate of egg production of the hens. Significant increases (P< 0.01) in feed consumption and improvements in feed efficiency (P < 0.01) were also observed. Haugh unit was significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by dietary Nutrafos 3, especially at the highest level of inclusion. There was no treatment effect on egg size as well as some major anatomical characteristics. The best overall performance was achieved at the 3.5% level of dietary inclusion in contrast to the proprietary recommendation of 2.5%.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2120
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ketta ◽  
Eva Tůmová ◽  
Michaela Englmaierová ◽  
Darina Chodová

The objective of this study was to evaluate hen performance and eggshell quality response to genotype, housing system, and feed calcium (Ca) level. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted on 360 laying hens of ISA Brown, Bovans Brown (commercial hybrids), and Moravia BSL (traditional Czech hybrid). Laying hens were kept in enriched cages and on littered floor and fed similar feed mixtures with different Ca content (3.00% vs. 3.50%). In terms of hen performance, ISA Brown had the highest egg production (84.2%) compared to Moravia BSL (74.3%) and Bovans Brown (71.4%). Regarding eggshell quality, Bovans Brown showed the highest values of all eggshell quality parameters. Increasing feed Ca level augmented egg production (p ≤ 0.001) but had no effect on other performance parameters. Except eggshell thickness, all eggshell quality parameters were affected by the three-way interaction of genotype, housing, and Ca. Bovans Brown, which had the strongest eggshells (5089 g/cm2) when housed on a littered floor system and fed 3.00% Ca, while Moravia BSL housed on a littered floor had the weakest eggshells (4236 g/cm2) at 3.50% Ca. The study pointed out the importance of the interactions between studied factors on performance and eggshell quality compared to an individual factor effect.


1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bar ◽  
S. Striem ◽  
S. Mayel-Afshar ◽  
D. E. M. Lawson

ABSTRACT The effect of shell calcification and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) on calbindin-D28k (previously known as vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein) and calbindin mRNA was investigated in the intestine and eggshell gland (ESG) of juvenile female chicks, laying hens and non-laying female birds with active gonads. Increasing amounts of 1,25-(OH)2D3 were fed to laying hens and juvenile birds treated with oestradiol to develop the ESG. The intestinal concentration of calbindin was increased 30-fold by 1,25-(OH)2D3 in chicks treated with oestradiol and fed a vitamin D-deficient diet. In these same animals, 1,25-(OH)2D3 had no effect on the formation of calbindin mRNA or calbindin in the ESG even though fully viable 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptors are present in this tissue. In laying birds fed adequate amounts of vitamin D3, intestinal, but not ESG, calbindin was increased by the addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to the diet. At the onset of egg production the concentrations of calbindin and calbindin mRNA were increased in the intestine and ESG. This increase occurred within the period of calcification of the first egg, through a process unaffected by vitamin D. Calcification of the first egg increased the concentration of calbindin in the ESG by eight- to tenfold, although the concentration of calbindin mRNA was increased by only two- to threefold. These results suggest that the induction of calbindin synthesis by 1,25-(OH)2D3 or by the egg calcification process is associated with an increase in the concentration of calbindin mRNA in the ESG and intestine. They also suggest that the vitamin D-dependent physiological changes in the ESG occurring during the calcification process do not include an increase in calbindin synthesis, that calbindin is induced and/or regulated by a mechanism requiring additional factors besides 1,25-(OH)2D3, and that post-transcriptional regulation of calbindin synthesis in these tissues may be possible.


1979 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-183
Author(s):  
A.R. El Boushy

1. For 6 months 432 medium heavy laying hens were given diets which supplied 0.16, 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80 or 1.00% available phosphorus. Egg production was greatest by hens given 0.20 or 0.40% P and least by those given 0.16%. Feed intake did not differ among groups. Heaviest eggs, 62.2 g, were laid by hens given 1.00% P. Shell quality, determined from shell percentage, shell thickness and shell index, decreased as P in the diet increased. Hatchability, yolk and white indices of eggs and calcium, P and ash in tibiae of chicks one day old did not differ among groups. Ca in blood of hens did not differ among groups but inorganic P in plasma increased with increasing P in the diet. Ash, Ca and P in tibiae and breaking strength of tibiae of hens increased with increasing P in the diet. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


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