Feather pecking behavior in laying hens: Hypothalamic gene expression in birds performing and receiving pecks

Abstract Enrichment of docosahexaenoic-acid (DHA) into eggs of laying-hens may be limited by the availability phospholipids as a deposition sink. The present study was to determine if dietary supplementations of phospholipid-component molecules or synthesis-enhancers: choline, serine, and ethanolamine could elevate phospholipid and DHA enrichment in the eggs and tissues of hens. A total of 50-White-Leghorn-Shavers (42-wk old) were individually caged and divided into 5 groups (n = 10/group). The 5 groups of hens were fed the following diets for 3 wk: Diet-1 = a corn soybean-meal basal-diet, Diet-2 = Diet-1 + 4%-microalgae (Aurantiochytrium, Heliae, Gibert, AZ, 1.81 g-DHA/kg) + choline-chloride (26.3 g/kg diet, 60% purity, DSM-Co., Basel, Switzerland), Diet-3 = Diet-2 + 1.41% of L-serine (100% purity, Ajinomoto-Co., Inc., Kawasaki, Japan), Diet-4 = Diet-2 + 100 mg of ethanolamine/kg (99% purity, Sigma-Aldirch-Co., St Loius, MO), and Diet-5 = Diet-3 + 100 mg of ethanolamine/kg. At the end of study, eggs, liver, ovary, and adipose samples were collected from 6 hens/group for biochemical analysis. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Compared with Diet-1, Diet-2 enhanced (P < 0.05) DHA concentrations in egg yolk and liver by 213 mg/egg and 2.98 mg/g tissue, respectively, but decreased (P < 0.05) total phospholipid-concentrations of yolk and liver by 50%, and hepatic-mRNA levels of elongases-2/5 and desaturases-4/6 by 25–50%. Compared with Diet-2, Diet-5 enhanced (P < 0.05) DHA (by 20%) and phospholipid (by 40%) concentrations in the egg yolk, and upregulated (P < 0.05) lipid-metabolism genes involved in the citicoline (CDP, up-to-3-fold) and CDP-ethanolamine (up-to-2.5-fold) pathways in the liver and ovary-tissue. In comparison, Diets-3 and 4 resulted in only 3–11% higher (P < 0.05) DHA-concentrations in the liver over Diet-2. In conclusion, feeding hens a high DHA and choline diet enriched DHA in the egg yolk and down-regulated lipogenesis-gene-expression in the tissues. Supplementing the diet with extra-serine and ethanolamine further-enhanced the DHA enrichment in the egg yolk and restored the high DHA-mediated changes in the gene-expression. (Supported in part by DOE-MAGIC-grant DE-EE0007091, USDA-grant 2019-69012-29905, and Cornell-University-Hatch-grants NYC-127419/127302).

Download Full-text

Diurnal rhythm of feather pecking behaviour and condition of integument in four strains of loose housed laying hens

Applied Animal Behaviour Science ◽

10.1016/s0168-1591(99)00064-7 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 331-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

J.B Kjaer

Keyword(s):

Diurnal Rhythm ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Feather Pecking

Download Full-text

Severe feather-pecking in non-cage laying hens and some associated and predisposing factors: a review

World s Poultry Science Journal ◽

10.1017/s0043933915002469 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 103-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

K.M. Hartcher ◽

S.J. Wilkinson ◽

P.H. Hemsworth ◽

G.M. Cronin

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Predisposing Factors ◽

Feather Pecking

Download Full-text

Effects of haloperidol, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, on feather pecking behaviour in laying hens

Applied Animal Behaviour Science ◽

10.1016/j.applanim.2003.11.009 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 86 (1-2) ◽

pp. 77-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

J.B. Kjaer ◽

B.M. Hjarvard ◽

K.H. Jensen ◽

J. Hansen-Møller ◽

O. Naesbye Larsen

Keyword(s):

Receptor Antagonist ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Dopamine D2 Receptor ◽

D2 Receptor ◽

Feather Pecking ◽

Dopamine D2 ◽

Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonist

Download Full-text

The dynamics of mitochondrial-linked gene expression among tissues and life stages in two contrasting strains of laying hens

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0262613 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. e0262613

Author(s):

Clara Dreyling ◽

Martin Hasselmann

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Energy Metabolism ◽

Life Span ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Mitochondrial Gene ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Life Stages ◽

Mitochondrial Gene Expression ◽

Cellular Energy ◽

Cellular Energy Metabolism

The cellular energy metabolism is one of the most conserved processes, as it is present in all living organisms. Mitochondria are providing the eukaryotic cell with energy and thus their genome and gene expression has been of broad interest for a long time. Mitochondrial gene expression changes under different conditions and is regulated by genes encoded in the nucleus of the cell. In this context, little is known about non-model organisms and we provide the first large-scaled gene expression analysis of mitochondrial-linked genes in laying hens. We analysed 28 mitochondrial and nuclear genes in 100 individuals in the context of five life-stages and strain differences among five tissues. Our study showed that mitochondrial gene expression increases during the productive life span, and reacts tissue and strain specific. In addition, the strains react different to potential increased oxidative stress, resulting from the increase in mitochondrial gene expression. The results suggest that the cellular energy metabolism as part of a complex regulatory system is strongly affected by the productive life span in laying hens and thus partly comparable to model organisms. This study provides a starting point for further analyses in this field on non-model organisms, especially in laying-hens.

Download Full-text

Effects of dietary oxidized oil on laying performance, lipid metabolism, and apolipoprotein gene expression in laying hens

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps.2011-01354 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 90 (8) ◽

pp. 1728-1736 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

H.Y. Yue ◽

J. Wang ◽

X.L. Qi ◽

F. Ji ◽

M.F. Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Oxidized Oil ◽

Laying Performance

Download Full-text

Providing laying hens in group-housed enriched cages with access to barley silage reduces aggressive and feather-pecking behaviour

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2015-0133 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 161-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S.G. Johannson ◽

C. Raginski ◽

K. Schwean-Lardner ◽

H.L. Classen

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Free Access ◽

Feather Pecking ◽

Nest Boxes ◽

And Performance ◽

Barley Silage ◽

Effect Of Feeding ◽

Bird Weight

Two trials were conducted to study the effect of feeding barley silage on the behaviour and performance of beak-trimmed laying hens. In each trial, 20 hens and 2 roosters were housed in each of eight group-housed enriched cages, with four cages provided a laying hen diet and four cages additionally given free access to barley silage. Egg production and quality, and hen behaviour were assessed throughout the trials (Trial One 20–30 weeks; Trial Two 19–28 weeks). Data were analysed using Proc Mixed of SAS 9.4 and differences were significant when P ≤ 0.05. Silage-fed hens consumed 41 (13.9 g DM) and 50 (13.5 g DM) grams of silage per hen per day in Trials One and Two, respectively, while consuming less layer diet. Birds fed silage spent less time expressing aggressive and feather-pecking behaviours and in nest boxes, and more time feeding than control birds. Egg production, egg quality, and bird weight were not affected by treatment; yolk colour was darker for the silage treatment. Feathering quality was improved in silage-fed birds compared to control birds. It was concluded that providing hens with access to barley silage can improve welfare indicators without negatively affecting the egg production and egg quality.

Download Full-text