Studies on Egg Laying Performance of the Gifu Native Fowl.

Abstract Background Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are essential nutrients that are linked to a large array of biological processes. Disturbances in Ca and P homeostasis in chickens are associated with a decline in growth and egg laying performance and environmental burden due to excessive P excretion rates. Improved utilization of minerals in particular of P sources contributes to healthy growth while preserving the finite resource of mineral P and mitigating environmental pollution. In the current study, high performance Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) and Lohmann Brown (LB) hens at peak laying performance were examined to approximate the consequences of variable dietary Ca and P supply. The experimental design comprised four dietary groups with standard or reduced levels of either Ca or P or both (n = 10 birds per treatment group and strain) in order to stimulate intrinsic mechanisms to maintain homeostasis. Jejunal transcriptome profiles and the systemic endocrine regulation of mineral homeostasis were assessed (n = 80). Results Endogenous mechanisms to maintain mineral homeostasis in response to variations in the supply of Ca and P were effective in both laying hen strains. However, the LSL and LB appeared to adopt different molecular pathways, as shown by circulating vitamin D levels and strain-specific transcriptome patterns. Responses in LSL indicated altered proliferation rates of intestinal cells as well as adaptive responses at the level of paracellular transport and immunocompetence. Endogenous mechanisms in LB appeared to involve a restructuring of the epithelium, which may allow adaptation of absorption capacity via improved micro-anatomical characteristics. Conclusions The results suggest that LSL and LB hens may exhibit different Ca, P, and vitamin D requirements, which have so far been neglected in the supply recommendations. There is a demand for trial data showing the mechanisms of endogenous factors of Ca and P homeostasis, such as vitamin D, at local and systemic levels in laying hens.

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Active Yeast but Not Henhouse Environment Affects Dropping Moisture Levels in Egg-Laying Hens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11082179 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2179

Author(s):

Xue Cheng ◽

Yuchen Liu ◽

Zhong Wang ◽

Lujiang Qu ◽

Zhonghua Ning

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Animal Health ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Production Costs ◽

Production Performance ◽

Absolute Pressure ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Production Environment ◽

Laying Performance

Dropping moisture (DM) refers to the water content in feces. High DM negatively affects poultry production, environment, production costs, and animal health. Heredity, nutrition, environment, and disease may affect DM level. DM has medium inheritability and is related to cage height in henhouses. We examined the relationship among DM level, production performance, and environmental factors at different locations at the same henhouse height and effects of three types of additives. We measured the correlation between environmental factors including temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, absolute pressure, and DM levels and laying performance of 934 Rhode Island Red hens. DM level was not significantly associated with environmental factors or production performance. We divided 64 persistently high DM hens into control and treatment groups supplied with different additives (probiotics, anisodamine, and antibiotics). DM levels, laying performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical indices were determined. Compared with the control and antibiotics, probiotics significantly reduced DM levels and eggshell strength while improving yolk color but did not significantly affect production performance. The additives reduced the b value of eggshell color; compared with probiotics, anisodamine decreased serum globulin levels. Exogenous active yeast supplementation can significantly reduce DM levels.

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The laying of male eggs by bumble bee queens: an experimental reappraisal and a new hypothesis

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z90-072 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 68 (3) ◽

pp. 493-497 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R. C. Plowright ◽

C. M. S. Plowright

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Bumble Bee ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Laying Workers ◽

New Hypothesis

The hypothesis that proximal factors associated with high worker density in a bumble bee (Bombus terricola) colony trigger laying of male eggs by the queen was examined in a series of four experiments. Neither the age of workers, the presence or absence of laying workers, nor the amount of pollen available to the colony affected the date of first male egg laying. Moreover, queens that had begun laying male eggs did not revert to laying female eggs after being removed from their colonies and placed in isolation. Instead, onset of male egg production appeared to be associated with the date of attainment of a critical worker/larva ratio in the colony. Functional considerations lead to the new hypothesis that queens monitor their egg-laying performance and begin to lay male eggs when it can be predicted that their female eggs will be raised as young queens.

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Egg laying response of Arco black hen to garri chaff and cassava peel based diets

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v44i2.1012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 132-138

Author(s):

A. B. Gbadegesin ◽

T. T Bello ◽

F. A. O. Akinnusi

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Weight Increase ◽

Feed Consumption ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Protein Rich ◽

By Products ◽

Cassava Peel

The need to optimize the utilization of garri processing by-products and improve the protein availability through egg production motivated this study. 165 Acro Black laying hen of 41 weeks old were grouped into five dietary treatments of 35 birds per treatment and five replicates of seven birds each. Layers' diets were compounded at 0%, 11.25%, 22.5%, 33.5% and 45% of garri chaff and 0%, 3.575%, 7.15%, 10.275% and 14.3% of sun dried cassava peel levels of inclusion. The diets and groups of birds were labelled A, B, C, D and E and the birds were fed with their corresponding diets for 6 consecutive weeks. Records of feed consumption and number of eggs laid were taken daily throughout the period of experimentation. The results showed that egg laying performance was of the order C>D>A>B>E among the dietary treatments. While egg laying performance hovered around 60% in the control treatment A, it increased from 57% to 86% in group C. Birds in treatment E had the least feed consumption and least egg laying performance. Weight increase of the birds at the end of the experimentation were of the order A>B>D>C>E. It was thus concluded that garri chaff and cassava peel appeared useful as ingredients in layers' diets at about equal quantity with maize and wheat offal, respectively but the feed should be adequately fortified with protein rich feedstuffs and the diets must be introduced early to avoid rejection by the birds.

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Vegetable (Telfairia occidentalis) Leaf Meal as Dietary Protein Supplement in Laying Hens: Egg Laying Performance, Egg Quality and Heamatological Implications

American Journal of Food Technology ◽

10.3923/ajft.2008.235.245 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 235-245

Author(s):

A.O. Fasuyi ◽

O.P. Olorunfemi

Keyword(s):

Dietary Protein ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Protein Supplement ◽

Leaf Meal ◽

Telfairia Occidentalis ◽

Laying Performance

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RNA Expression Profile and Alternative Splicing Signatures of Genistein-Treated Breeder Hens Revealed by Hepatic Transcriptomic Analysis

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2019/3829342 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Zengpeng Lv ◽

Jingle Jiang ◽

Chao Ning ◽

Hongjian Dai ◽

Song Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alternative Splicing ◽

Immune Function ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Egg Laying ◽

High Dose ◽

Rna Expression ◽

Broiler Breeder ◽

Breeder Hens ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Hepatic Transcriptome

Little information has been available about the influence of dietary genistein (GEN) on hepatic transcriptome of laying broiler breeder (LBB) hens. The study is aimed at broadening the understanding of RNA expression profiles and alternative splicing (AS) signatures of GEN-treated breeder hens and thereby improving laying performance and immune function of hens during the late egg-laying period. 720 LBB hens were randomly allocated into three groups with supplemental dietary GEN doses (0, 40 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg). Each treatment has 8 replicates of 30 birds. Dietary GEN enhanced the antioxidative capability of livers, along with the increased activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Furthermore, it improved lipid metabolic status and apoptotic process in the liver of hens. 40 mg/kg dietary GEN had the better effects on improving immune function and laying performance. However, transcriptome data indicated that 400 mg/kg dietary GEN did negative regulation of hormone biosynthetic process. Also, it upregulated the expressions of EDA2R and CYR61 by the Cis regulation of neighbouring genes (lncRNA_XLOC_018890 and XLOC_024242), which might activate NF-κB and immune-related signaling pathway. Furthermore, dietary GEN induced AS events in the liver, which also enriched into immune and metabolic process. Therefore, the application of 40 mg/kg GEN in the diet of breeder hens during the late egg-laying period can improve lipid metabolism and immune function. We need to pay attention to the side-effects of high-dose GEN on the immune function.

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