scholarly journals Effects of Cold Stress and Ammonia Concentration on Productive Performance and Egg Quality Traits of Laying Hens

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2252
Author(s):  
Dapeng Li ◽  
Qin Tong ◽  
Zhengxiang Shi ◽  
Weichao Zheng ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Productive Performance

In a cold climate, ensuring indoor air quality and heat preservation simultaneously has always been a difficult problem in the poultry house. The current study was carried out in order to determine the effects of chronic low temperature and ammonia concentration on productive performance and egg quality of commercial laying hens. 576 18-week-old Hy-line Brown hens were used in this study. Birds were housed in cages and received for 20-week exposure to low temperature and ammonia in six artificial environmental chambers. Birds were randomly assigned into six treatments: treatment 1 (T1, 20 °C, ≤5 ppm, control group), treatment 2 (T2, 20 °C, 20 ppm), treatment 3 (T3, 20 °C, 45 ppm), treatment 4 (T4, 8 °C, ≤5 ppm), treatment 5 (T5, 8 °C, 20 ppm) and treatment 6 (T6, 8 °C, 45 ppm). Daily feed intake (DFI), feed efficiency (FE), egg production (EP) and body weight (BW) were recorded and calculated from 19 weeks of age. Egg samples were collected at 22, 26, 30, 34 and 38 weeks of age and egg weight (EW), shell breaking strength (SBS), albumen height (AH), yolk weight (YW), shell weight (SW), shell thickness (ST) and Haugh unit (HU) were measured. The results of the present study indicated that low temperature and excessive ammonia decreased the EP of hens compared with those of the T1 birds. Low temperature increased DFI of hens thereby FE showed significant differences among treatments. During the early period of the experiment, low temperature treatment increased the BW of laying hens, but this trend of increase was suppressed by the treatment of ammonia with the prolongation of the experimental period. Egg quality was also affected by low temperature and excessive ammonia. At different experimental periods, egg quality traits of hens exposed to the cold and ammonia stress presented significant differences compared to those of control birds. The present study indicated that the effect of ammonia was more pronounced on hens than that of low temperature at the early and peak laying period in terms of several main traits of productive performance and egg quality under long term hens breeding.

scholarly journals Biscuit Residue in the Nutrition of Laying Hens: Effects on Animal Health, Performance and Egg Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Rocha Gebert ◽  
João Henrique Dos Reis ◽  
Bruno Fernando Fortuoso ◽  
Gabriela Miotto Galli ◽  
Marcel Manente Boiago ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Poultry Feed ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
The Cost

Background: Corn and soybean meal are common ingredients used in poultry feed in order to supply the demand for energy and protein, respectively. Also, these ingredients directly influence the final price of the diets, and consequently, the final cost of production. A major problem is associated to the oscillation of these grains in some months of the year. Therefore, there is a need to search for nutritionally and economically viable alternatives to mitigate this problem. The aim was to evaluate whether the addition of biscuit residue could partially replace the use of corn in the feed of laying hens in order to obtain economic viability without impairment on production, egg quality and animal health.Materials, Methods & Results:  The experiment was completely randomized and each repetition was considered one experimental unity. One hundred Hy-line brown 48 week-old chickens were allocated in cages and divided into five groups with four repetitions each, allocating five animals per cage. The group T0 was composed by animals that received the basal diet, i.e. without biscuit residue. The other groups were composed by increasing levels of biscuit residue to substitute corn i.e., group T7 (7% of biscuit residue), T14 (14% of biscuit residue), T21 (21% of biscuit residue) and T28 (28% of biscuit residue). Productive performance of the animals, egg quality, as well as analysis of blood parameters related to lipid metabolism, carbohydrates and proteins of birds were measured at the beginning of the experiment (day 0) and at the end of each cycle (days 21, 42 and 63 of experiment). Among the performance variables, only feed conversion was altered by biscuit residue, i.e., the feed conversion was lower in the groups that received the residue when compared to the control. The replacement of corn by biscuit residue did not affect laying rate (P > 0.05). Regarding egg quality, a less intense coloration was observed in the eggs of the treatments that received biscuit residue compared to the control group (P < 0.05), but without difference between treatments. Seric levels of uric acid were higher in the treatments that received biscuit residue in the days 21 and 42 compared to the control group, effect not seen in the third cycle (day 63). The cost ($) of feed reduced as the levels of inclusion of the biscuit residue in the diet were increased, with the control diet costing $ 0.244/kg, while 28% of biscuit inclusion lower its cost to $ 0.189/kg (22.3% lower). The final cost to produce a dozen eggs from each cycle was on average of $ 0.524, 0.415, 0.441, 0.397 and 0.332 for 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28% inclusion, respectively.Discussion: Residues of biscuit is widely used to feed swine, with positive results as an ingredient to attend the demand for energy. Even though the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine include biscuit residue as a possible ingredient, there is a lack of scientific research in laying hens. These study was verified that the inclusion of biscuit residue (18.936%) is feasible, since it favors the productive performance of the animals, without adverse effects on their health; in addition, the inclusion of biscuit residue reduces dietary costs, as the cost of egg production. Whereas animal feed accounts for a large part of the production cost, the reduction in feed costs without impairment on animal productivity, is a key factor in animal farming. At certain times of the year, food can account for 80% of the production costs and consequently it influences the final price of the product in the market. In our study, we observed a significant reduction on total costs of diets that received biscuit residue, which occurred because a part of the energetic portion of the diet was supplied by the biscuit residue, and not by corn, which influenced the final price.Keywords: egg quality, biscuit residue, economic viability, nutrition.

scholarly journals The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sarica ◽  
S. Boga ◽  
U.S. Yamak
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Battery Cages ◽  
And Performance

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage stocking density on egg yield, some egg quality traits and plumage condition in laying hens. Eighteen weeks-old 264 ISA-Brown pullets were divided into four cage density groups. The densities were 2 000, 1 000, 667 and 500 cm<sup>2</sup> per hen (by allocating 1, 2, 3 and 4 hens per cage; floor area 40 × 50 cm) with 48, 30, 24 and 21 replicate cages, totally 123 three-tier battery cages. During the experimental period from 18 to 53 weeks of age, all birds were provided illumination for 16 hours a day. The hens were fed a diet containing 11.7 MJ ME/kg and 180 g CP during the period of 18 to 40 weeks of age and 11.3 MJ ME/kg and 170 g CP during the period of 41 to 54 weeks of age. Feed and water were available for <I>ad libitum</I>. Egg yield, mortality, live weights at 50% egg production age and at the end of experiment, pecking related mortalities, some egg quality traits and plumage condition were recorded weekly. Hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were significantly decreased by higher densities. Most of the egg quality traits were not affected by cage densities. Pecking related mortalities increased in cage densities of 667 cm<sup>2</sup> and 500 cm<sup>2</sup> per hen compared to the other densities (<I>P</I> < 0.05) while plumage scores were higher in all body parts of hens kept in cages of 2 000 cm<sup>2</sup> and 1 000 cm<sup>2</sup> densities compared to the higher densities. The results showed that brown laying hens should be kept in cages having 1 000–2 000 cm<sup>2</sup> densities in order to improve their welfare and performance.

Effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis RX7 and B2A supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, blood profiles, and excreta Salmonella counts in laying hens

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-417
Author(s):  
Huan Shi ◽  
Wan Lin Zhang ◽  
In Ho Kim
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Blood Profile ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Blood Profiles

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis RX7 and B2A supplementation on egg production, egg quality, blood profile, and excreta Salmonella population in laying hens. A total of 192 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (40-wk-old) were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments, each of which was replicated eight times with six hens per replicate in a 5 wk trial. The dietary treatments were NC, which is a basal diet without antibiotics or Bacillus subtilis; PC, which is an NC + 0.5 g kg−1 antibiotic (virginiamycin) diet; BSR, which is an NC + 0.5 g kg−1 Bacillus subtilis RX7 (1.0 × 109 colony forming units g−1); and BSB, which is an NC + 0.5 g kg−1 Bacillus subtilis B2A (1.0 × 109 colony forming units g−1). The results showed that hens receiving BSB diets had increased (P < 0.05) eggshell thickness over hens fed the NC, PC, and BSR diets (week 3). The excreta Salmonella counts in the PC, BSR, and BSB groups were lower than the NC group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary inclusion of Bacillus subtilis RX7 and B2A strains effectively decreased excreta Salmonella counts without any detrimental effects on the performance of laying hens.

scholarly journals EDIBLEEGGQUALITYWHENIODINEISINTRODUCEDINTOLAYINGHENBODY

2021 ◽  
pp. 65-70
Author(s):  
L.V. Rastopshina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Egg White ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trace Element Deficiency

The Altai Region along with the regions of the Siberian Federal District belongs to the zone with trace element deficiency including iodine deficiency. The research goal was to study the effect of iodine on edible egg quality of laying hens of the Rodonit cross. At the final stage of egg-laying, 4 groups of 4 laying hens were formed. No iodine was administered to the hens of the 1st control group. Starch-based iodine product was administered to the birds of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th trial groups into the lower third of the neck, under the wing and into the rump area in a dose of 1.5 mg per head. The egg production intensity in the trial groups was higher by 21.3-28.8%. Egg weight in the 1st control group was 65.6 ± 1.33g which was lower than that in the trial groups by 4.4% (2nd group); 3.7% (3rd group) and 1.5% 4th group). All eggs belonged to “select” grade. The 3rd and 4th trial groups had less egg white by 3.8 and 2.7%; the egg-yolk content increases in the eggs of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th trial groups by 1.2%, 9.4% and 2.4%, respectively, and the eggshell weight by 1.2-9.4% as com-pared to the control. The ratio of egg white and egg-yolk weight in the eggs of the trial groups was lower than in the control group by 9.38-19.29%, but the ratio of egg-yolk to egg white was by 10.4-23.9% higher. The following indices were higher in the trial groups as compared to the control: egg white index -by 1.4-17.1%; egg-yolk -by 3.2-6.4%; Haugh unit -by 7.2-11.1%; eggshell thickness -by 3.9-8.3%. The best results were obtained with the administra-tion of iodine to the hens in the region of the lower third of the neck. The enrichment of the body of laying hens of the Rodonit cross with iodine makes it possible to obtain the profitability of edible egg production at the level of 28.6-41.0%.

scholarly journals The Effect of Clove Oil Supplementation in Laying Hen Diets on Performance, Egg Quality, Some Blood Parameters, and Yolk TBARS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2213-2218
Author(s):  
Melek Şehitoğlu ◽  
Hatice Kaya
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clove Oil ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Treatment Groups

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.

scholarly journals Effects of feed supplementation with manganese from its different sources on performance and egg parameters of laying hens

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 147-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Venglovská ◽  
Ľ. Grešáková ◽  
I. Plachá ◽  
M. Ryzner ◽  
K. Čobanová
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Protein Hydrolysate ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Feed Supplementation ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Dietary Treatments

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feed supplementation of laying hens with manganese from its inorganic and organic sources on performance and some parameters of egg quality. Ninety-six hens at 20 weeks of age were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments, each consisting of 6 replicates (4 birds per replicate). The control group was fed unsupplemented basal diet (BD) with only natural background Mn level of 46.4 mg/kg feed. For the three experimental treatments, the BD was supplemented with 120 mg Mn/kg either from Mn-sulphate or Mn-chelate of protein hydrolysate (Mn-Pro) or Mn-chelate of glycine hydrate (Mn-Gly). After 8 weeks of dietary treatments the egg production, egg weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency were not affected by dietary treatments. Regardless of the sources, Mn supplementation to feed resulted in significantly decreased percentages of cracked eggs compared to the unsupplemented control group. The thickness, weight, proportion, and index of eggshell were significantly elevated in all groups supplemented with Mn. The intake of Mn-Gly resulted in considerably increased Mn deposition in egg yolk compared to the control eggs. In the control and Mn-sulphate groups yolk malondialdehyde (MDA) started to increase after 20 and 30 days of egg storage respectively, whereas in eggs from hens given organic Mn-sources this parameter was not affected up to 40 days. Although there were no significant differences in MDA values between the treatments until 20 days of storage, the Mn-sulphate group showed significantly higher MDA concentration in yolks compared to the control group after 30 days of storage. These results demonstrate that supplementation of hens&rsquo; diet with Mn has positive effects on eggshell quality. Feed supplementation with Mn from organic sources appears to be more effective in preventing yolk lipid oxidation during cold storage of eggs than that from Mn-sulphate. &nbsp;

scholarly journals The effect of dietary Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) on performance, egg quality characteristics and egg cholesterol content in laying hens

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 349-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Yildiz ◽  
P. Sacakli ◽  
T. Gungor
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Jerusalem Artichoke ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Control Group

This research was carried out to determine the effect of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) with or without 5, 10% vetch (V) supplementation on performance, egg quality characteristics and egg cholesterol content. In the study, seventy-five 25 weeks-old commercial white laying hens were randomly divided into one control and 4 treatment groups each containing 15 hens. Control group was fed basal diet without JA or V. Treatment group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were fed diets containing 5% V, 5% JA, 5% JA + 5% V and 10% JA + 10% V, respectively. The feeding period lasted 16 weeks. In the study, it was determined that dried-ground JA contained dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, crude ash, inulin and metabolizable energy (ME) at the level of 93.30, 10.02, 0.36, 5.64, 9.05, 15.80% and 3 060 kcal/kg, respectively. At the end of the study, live weight was lower by 4.36&ndash;10.09% in the treatment group 10% JA + 10% V compared with the other groups, but feed efficiency was improved in this group. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in egg quality characteristics (P &lt; 0.05, P &lt; 0.001). Egg production was not affected by supplementation of 5, 10% JA with or without 5, 10% V supplementation. Egg yolk cholesterol and total cholesterol content were not different in the groups (P &gt; 0.05). As a result, the addition of JA with or without V has no adverse effect on performance and egg quality in hens. &nbsp;

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document