Research Note: Responses of Laying Hens on Saline Drinking Water to Dietary Supplementation with Various Zinc Compounds

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mycotoxin binders in reducing the adverse effects of co-occurring dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA) on laying hens. Three hundred and sixty 26-week-old Roman laying hens were randomly allocated into four experimental groups with 10 replicates of nine birds each. The four groups received either a basal diet (BD; Control), a BD supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg AFB1 + 1.5 mg/kg DON + 0.12 mg/kg OTA (Toxins), a BD + Toxins with Toxo-HP binder (Toxins + HP), or a BD + Toxins with TOXO XL binder (Toxins + XL) for 12 weeks. Compared to the control, dietary supplementation of mycotoxins decreased (P < 0.10) total feed intake, total egg weight, and egg-laying rate, but increased feed/egg ratio by 2.5–6.1% and mortality during various experimental periods. These alterations induced by mycotoxins were alleviated by supplementation with both TOXO HP and XL binders (P < 0.10). Furthermore, dietary mycotoxins reduced (P < 0.05) eggshell strength by 12.3% and caused an accumulation of 249 μg/kg of DON in eggs at week 12, while dietary supplementation with TOXO HP or XL mitigated DON-induced changes on eggshell strength and prevented accumulation of DON in eggs (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary mycotoxins increased relative liver weight, but decreased spleen and proventriculus relative weights by 11.6–22.4% (P < 0.05). Mycotoxin exposure also increased alanine aminotransferase activity and reduced immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, and IgG concentrations in serum by 9.2–26.1% (P < 0.05). Additionally, mycotoxin exposure induced histopathological damage and reduced villus height, villus height/crypt depth, and crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and (or) ileum (P < 0.05). Notably, most of these histological changes were mitigated by supplementation with both TOXO HP and XL (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the mycotoxin binders TOXO HP and XL can help to mitigate the combined effects of AFB1, DON, and OTA on laying hen performance, egg quality, and health.

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Untargeted UHPLC-MS metabolic profiling as a valuable tool for the evaluation of eggs quality parameters after dietary supplementation with oregano, thyme, sideritis tea and chamomile on brown laying hens

Metabolomics ◽

10.1007/s11306-021-01801-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Ilias Giannenas ◽

Katerina Grigoriadou ◽

Erasmia Sidiropoulou ◽

Eleftherios Bonos ◽

Antigoni Cheilari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Profiling ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Eggs Quality

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Arthrospira Platensis (Spirulina) Supplementation on Laying Hens’ Performance: Eggs Physical, Chemical, and Sensorial Qualities

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods8090386 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 386 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Omri ◽

Amraoui ◽

Tarek ◽

Lucarini ◽

Durazzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Control Diet ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Egg Yolk ◽

Arthrospira Platensis ◽

Cholesterol Concentration ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Egg Yolks ◽

The Impact

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of spirulina on laying hens’ performances: Eggs’ physical, chemical, and sensorial qualities. A total of 45 Lohman White hens, 44 weeks of age, were randomized into 3 groups of 15 birds. Hens were given 120 g/d of a basal diet containing 0% (control), 1.5%, and 2.5% of spirulina for 6 weeks. Albumen height and consequently Haugh unit were significantly affected by dietary supplementation of spirulina (p < 0.05) and by weeks on diet (p < 0.05). This supplement did not affect (p > 0.05) egg yolk weight or height. However, spirulina increased egg yolk redness (a*) from 1.33 (C) to 12.67 (D1) and 16.19 (D2) and reduced (p < 0.05) the yellowness (b*) parameter from 62.1(C) to 58.17 (D1) and 55.87 (D2). Egg yolks from hens fed spirulina were darker, more red, and less yellow in color than egg yolks from hens fed the control-diet (p < 0.0001). However, spirulina did not affect (p > 0.05) egg yolks’ total cholesterol concentration. In conclusion, a significant enhancement of egg yolk color was found in response to spirulina supplementation. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the impact of spirulina on egg yolks’ fatty acids profile.

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Research Note: Effect of Tu-Chung Leaf (Eucommia ulmoides) on Egg Production Performance, Egg Quality, and Fat Metabolism in Laying Hens at a Late Production Stage

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps.0722176 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 72 (11) ◽

pp. 2176-2179 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T. MURAMATSU ◽

K. ASAKURA ◽

J. OKUMURA ◽

S. TAKAHASHI ◽

K. TOYOSHIMA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Fat Metabolism ◽

Research Note ◽

Production Performance ◽

Eucommia Ulmoides ◽

Production Stage

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Effect of the Feed Additive Clinoptilolite (ZeoFeed) on Nutrient Metabolism and Production Performance of Laying Hens

Acta Veterinaria Brno ◽

10.2754/avb201079s9s029 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 79 (9) ◽

pp. S29-S34 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Miroslav Macháček ◽

Vladimír Večerek ◽

Nora Mas ◽

Pavel Suchý ◽

Eva Straková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Laying Hen ◽

Production Performance ◽

Feed Consumption ◽

Control Group ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Indicator Method ◽

Balance Tests ◽

Gross Energy

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of two levels of clinoptilolite administered in feed (2% and 4%) on some selected performance indicators, metabolic utilization of basic nutrients and the health status of laying hens. The selected 24 Bovans Goldline hybrid laying hens were divided into three equal groups, two experimental groups (E1 and E2) and one control group (C). The laying hens were housed individually in cages with an automatic supply of drinking water, manual feeding, in a setting with controlled light and temperature regimens. Hens from individual groups were all fed a complete feed mix of the same composition and the only difference was in clinoptilolite supplementation: feed mixes for E1 and E2 groups contained 2% and 4% of clinoptilolite (commercial additive ZeoFeed) respectively, replacing the same amounts of wheat. The hens received feed mixes and drinking water ad libitum. During this 28-day experiment, feed consumption and the number and weight of eggs laid were monitored individually for each hen. At the end of the experiment, the balance test using the indicator method (Cr2O3) was performed in all eight hens in each of the groups. The results of balance tests were then used to calculate the metabolic utilization of selected nutrients (nitrogen, fat, ash, nitrogen-free extracts, starch, gross energy, Ca, P). After the balance tests, blood samples for haematological and biochemical examinations were collected via puncture of the vena basilica. The addition of 2% clinoptilolite to feed mix resulted in a highly significant (P ⪬ 0.01) increase in mean egg weight to 64.69 g, but the addition of 4% clinoptilolite in group E2 resulted in a highly significant (P ⪬ 0.01) decrease in mean egg weight to 62.20 g compared to the control (63.73 g). Moreover, daily feed mix consumption in group E1 decreased to 114 g per one laying hen/day compared to the controls (118 g per one laying hen/day). In group E2 (4% clinoptilolite), daily consumption of feed mix increased compared with the controls to 124 g. The 2% clinoptilolite supplementation of E1 group feed slightly increased metabolic utilization of fat, nitrogen-free extracts, starch and gross energy compared to group C. Results of haematological test of the hens’ blood showed significant changes in haemoglobin, whose values in groups C and E1 were significantly higher (P ⪬ 0.05) than in group E2. Differences in the values of the biochemical indicators monitored (total protein, glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerols, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and the AST enzyme) between group C and experimental groups E1 and E2 were not significant and remained within the range of reference values.

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