Hens That Exhibit Poorer Feed Efficiency Produce Eggs with Lower Albumen Quality and Are Prone to Being Overweight

Feed efficiency (FE) is an important measure of productivity in the layer industry; however, little is known about how FE differs between individual hens during the egg-laying cycle and the implications for egg quality parameters. Individual 25-week-old ISA Brown hens were observed for 42 days, ranked into three FE groups (n = 48 per High (HFE), Medium (MFE) and Low (LFE) FE groups and then monitored later in the laying cycle from 35–40 weeks. The groups exhibited different feed to egg conversion ratios (p < 0.001) from 35–40 weeks. Average daily feed intake and body weight were highest (p < 0.001) in the LFE group compared to the MFE and HFE groups, while albumen height, Haugh unit and amino acid concentrations of the albumen were significantly higher in the HFE groups compared to the LFE cohort (p < 0.001). This study concludes that FE status established in early lay is a stable variable until at least 40 weeks of age, and overweight, mid-laying hens that had poor FE produced inferior egg albumen quality measurements and composition. The distinct traits of the highly efficient hens and the poor feed efficient hens may provide important information to improving productivity in egg production.

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Dual-Purpose Poultry in Organic Egg Production and Effects on Egg Quality Parameters

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10040897 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 897

Author(s):

Marianne Hammershøj ◽

Gitte Hald Kristiansen ◽

Sanna Steenfeldt

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Egg Laying ◽

High Yield ◽

Meat Production ◽

Dual Purpose ◽

Shell Quality ◽

Egg Shell ◽

Genotype A

Egg laying genotypes have been selected for generations due to their high yield and egg quality, resulting in efficient feed utilization and low body weight; hence, they are not suitable for meat production. This imposes an issue for the male layer chicks, which are killed at one day old. Because of ethical and food waste concerns, the search for suitable dual-purpose genotypes in order to avoid euthanasia of male day-old chicks has intensified. The aim of the present study is to evaluate potential dual-purpose genotypes for their egg quality compared to a representative egg laying genotype. Three dual-purpose genotypes with divergent characteristics were evaluated: genotype A represented an experimental crossbreed based on a broiler type male and an egg layer female, genotype B was a pure breed, and genotype C was a crossbreed of a layer type. These were compared to a control genotype D, which was an egg layer. Eggs were collected six times during the period of 21–54 weeks of hen age, i.e., a total of 1080 shell eggs were analyzed. Examined parameters were weights of egg, shell, yolk, and albumen, by calculating their relative proportions. Shell quality was assessed by shell strength, shell stiffness, and shell thickness. Yolk quality was determined as yolk color and inclusions of blood and meat spots, and albumen quality was evaluated in terms of pH and dry matter (DM) content. The egg layer genotype produced the smallest eggs with least blood and meat spot inclusions compared to that produced by the three dual-purpose genotypes. Shell quality was superior for the layer genotype. However, the experimental genotype A laid eggs of comparable shell quality, albumen DM, and yolk weight, but also with the darkest and most red-yellow colored yolk. The two other dual-purpose genotypes produced eggs of low-medium quality. In conclusion, the genotype A could serve as dual-purpose genotype from an egg quality perspective.

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FEEDING VALUE OF RAPESEED FOR LAYING HENS

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas72-067 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 563-566 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

A. J. LESLIE ◽

J. D. SUMMERS

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Feed Consumption ◽

Feeding Value ◽

And Performance ◽

Feeding Diets ◽

Haugh Unit

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding diets containing 0, 5, 10, and 15% ground raw rapeseed to three replicates of 14 laying hens each. Isocaloric isonitrogenous diets were fed for a 28-day experimental period and performance and egg quality parameters were measured. Egg production was depressed at the two higher levels of rapeseed inclusion but was not affected at the 5% level of inclusion. Haugh unit, albumen height, and shell deformation were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) but egg weight decreased progressively as rapeseed inclusion increased. Feed consumption was significantly depressed (P < 0.05) at the 15% level of rapeseed and slightly reduced at the other levels.

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Use of soybean gum as an emulsifier in diets for commercial laying hens

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2019.v54.00683 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

Author(s):

Rosemary Pereira de Pedro Souza ◽

Antonio Carlos de Laurentiz ◽

Glaucia Amorim Faria ◽

Rosemeire da Silva Filardi ◽

Érica do Santos Mello

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stability ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Internal Quality ◽

Average Weight ◽

The Cost ◽

And Storage ◽

Haugh Unit

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the inclusion of soybean (Glycine max) gum in the diet of laying hens on egg production, egg external and internal quality, and economic viability, as well as of temperature and storage time on the oxidative stability of eggs. One hundred and eighty 40-week-old Lohmann-LSL layers were fed 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% soybean gum in the diet. In the economic analysis, the average productive performance of the layers and the cost of feed were considered. In order to evaluate oxidative stability, eggs were stored at room temperature (~30oC) or refrigerated (5oC) for 0, 7, and 21 days. The inclusion of soybean gum in the diet increased feed intake and also egg production, average weight, and mass. Soybean gum improved external and internal egg quality parameters, but reduced the Haugh unit. Oxidative stability was higher in eggs from hens fed 4% gum, at 5oC, for 21 days; however, the largest economic return was with 1% gum. The inclusion of soybean gum promotes improvements in the production, external and internal quality, and oxidative stability of eggs from commercial laying hens.

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Effects of dietary levels of sun-dried sheep manure on productive performance and egg quality parameters of Shika-brown layers

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v35i2.2469 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 195-201

Author(s):

F. O. Abeke ◽

S. O. Ogundipe ◽

S. A. Sekoni ◽

I. A. Adeyinka

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Shell Thickness ◽

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Productive Performance ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Feed Cost ◽

Sheep Manure ◽

Haugh Unit

An experiment was conducted to test the effect of dietary levels of sun-dried sheep manure (SSM) on egg quality parameters and productive performance of Shika-Brown layers. Six isonitrogenous and almost isocaloric diets were formulated to contain SSM at 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 % level of inclusion. Diet I, which had no sheep manure, served as the control. White maize was used for the formulation of the diets. Each of the six diets was replicated four times with five birds per replicate in a completely randomised design experiment. The birds were housed singly in cages. The laying hens were first maintained on the control diet which contained very little or no yolk pigmenting factor for a depigmentation period of twenty-one days. During this period, samples of eggs were broken out and yolk colour scores were determined using the Roche Yolk Colour Fan (RYCF). By the twenty-first day, the (RYCF) scores had dropped to the lowest value of one. The hens were then placed on the experimental diets for the study, which covered a period of twelve weeks. Parameters measured for the egg quality included egg yolk colour, Haugh unit value, yolk index and shell thickness. For the performance characteristics, parameters measured included percent hen day and hen housed egg production, percent peak egg production, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (kg feed/12 eggs) and feed cost per /2 eggs produced. Results obtained indicate that dietary levels of SSM had a significant (P<0.05) effect on RYCF scores and feed intake but had no significant (P>0.05) effect on other parameters such as egg weight, Haugh unit, yolk index, shell thickness, shell weight, percent shell, feed conversion efficiency, feed cost (N/12 eggs), percent hen day, hen housed and peak egg production.

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Passion fruit waste in diets for quail in the laying phase

Acta Scientiarum Animal Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascianimsci.v42i1.48281 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. e48281

Author(s):

Adriana Aparecida Pereira ◽

Rosineide Silva de Alcântara ◽

Andressa Souza de Moura ◽

Dirceu Neutzling Griep Júnior ◽

Gisele Maria Nunes Vieira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Passion Fruit ◽

Production Performance ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Female Quail ◽

Fruit Waste ◽

Egg Albumen

It was aimed to evaluate the effect of including the waste from passion fruit pulp extraction in diets for Japanese quail in the laying phase on their production performance and egg quality. A total of 280 female quail were distributed into five treatments with eight replicates and seven birds per cage. Treatments consisted of 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8% inclusion of passion fruit waste in the diet. The experiment began with quail at 70 days of age and lasted 63 days, with performance evaluated every 21 days and egg quality in the last two days of each cycle. There was no difference between the treatments for feed intake, body weight, specific gravity, or eggshell thickness. However, a decreasing linear regression was obtained for feed intake with the inclusion of the waste, while a quadratic response was show by egg production, weight and parts of the egg. Inclusion of up to 6% passion fruit waste in diets for quail is recommended to maintain the indices in relation to control treatment. However, the best values for egg-laying rate and for the weights of egg, albumen, yolk, and shell are obtained with 2.5 to 3.5% inclusion of passion fruit waste.

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Evaluating Brassica napus and Brassica juncea meals with supplemental enzymes for use in brown-egg laying hen diets: production performance and egg quality factors

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2018-0193 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 99 (4) ◽

pp. 820-832

Author(s):

Rachel K. Savary ◽

Janice L. MacIsaac ◽

Bruce M. Rathgeber ◽

Nancy L. McLean ◽

Derek M. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Feed Efficiency ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Production Performance ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Quality Factors

Canola and juncea meals (CM and JM) have been thoroughly evaluated in diets of white- but not brown-shell egg laying hens (BSLH). This study compared the effects of dietary CM, JM, or soybean meal (SBM) on production performance and egg quality of BSLH. Over 48 wk, 300 Lohmann Brown-Lite laying hens were fed diets containing SBM, 10% or 20% CM (CM-10 or CM-20), and 10% or 20% JM (JM-10 or JM-20), without (−E) or with (+E) a phytase/multicarbohydrase enzyme cocktail. Egg weight decreased with CM-20 inclusion compared with SBM (P = 0.027; SBM, 63.1a; CM-10, 61.8ab; CM-20, 61.1b; JM-10, 62.6ab; JM-20, 61.7ab; g egg−1). In a meal by enzyme interaction, enzyme inclusion decreased percent shell and egg specific gravity of only the hens fed CM-20 (P ≤ 0.008). Body weight decreased (P = 0.031; −E, 2135a; +E, 2078b; g hen−1) and feed efficiency was improved (P = 0.032; −E, 1.98a; +E, 1.95b; g feed g egg mass−1) when enzyme was included in the diet. Dietary treatment did not affect mortality (P > 0.05). All performance and quality parameters were within expected ranges; therefore, 20% CM and JM can be included in BSLH diets, and enzyme inclusion can be used to improve feed efficiency regardless of meal type fed.

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Response of three laying hen genotypes to two feed calcium levels

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/228/2019-cjas ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (No. 12) ◽

pp. 504-510

Author(s):

Mohamed Ketta ◽

Eva Tumova ◽

Darina Chodova

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Shape Index ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Eggshell Colour ◽

Quality Measurements ◽

Haugh Unit

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of two dietary Ca levels (3.00% vs 3.50%) in three hen genotypes (ISA Brown, Bovans Brown and Moravia BSL) on their laying performance and quality of their eggs. In order to evaluate the response to dietary Ca, an experiment was conducted with 300 laying hens. One hundred birds from each genotype were divided into 10 replicates (10 birds/cage/Ca level). To reveal the differences, the following characteristics were measured: hen-day egg production percentage, daily feed intake, egg weight, albumen and yolk weights, Haugh unit, eggshell colour, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, egg shape index and eggshell index. A higher Ca level significantly increased the hen-day egg production percentage of Bovans Brown and Moravia BSL, while ISA Brown laying hens had the higher egg production percentage at a lower dietary Ca level (85.97% vs 82.41%). No significant effect of dietary Ca level was observed on any internal egg quality measurements except the Haugh unit. However, the dietary Ca level significantly affected some of external egg quality measurements, namely eggshell colour (P < 0.001), eggshell weight (P = 0.003) and eggshell strength (P = 0.012). The results of the present study show that laying performance and egg quality parameters responded differently according to hen genotype and dietary Ca level. Bovans Brown and Moravia BSL laying hens required higher levels of Ca to keep egg production high, while the eggshell quality measurements were better at the lower dietary Ca level. Thus, it is recommended to adjust the Ca levels in feed to the nutritional requirements of laying hens.

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The effects of humic acid on egg production and egg traits of laying hen

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/5640-vetmed ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 50 (No. 9) ◽

pp. 406-410 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

S. Kucukersan ◽

K. Kucukersan ◽

I. Colpan ◽

E. Goncuoglu ◽

Z. Reisli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Humic Acid ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Feed Consumption ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Egg Shell ◽

Haugh Unit

The effects of humic acid on feed consumption, egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight and external and internal egg quality of laying hens were studied during feeding periods. A total of 180 (Hysex Brown) layers (36 weeks of age) were used in this experiment. There was one control and two experimental groups, each containing 60 hens and 4 subgroups. The experimental period lasted 16 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the supplementation of humic acid had a significant effect on feed consumption and feed efficiency. An increase in egg production was determined when humic acid was added to the diets at 30 g/t of feeds (91.70%) and 60 g/t of feeds (91.32%). There were no significant differences between the groups in egg shell thickness, egg shell breaking strength, yolk index, albumen index and Haugh unit. It can be therefore concluded that the dietary supplementation of humic acid at doses of 30 and 60 g/t feed can be used to improve egg production, egg weight and feed efficiency.

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REPLACEMENT OF SOYBEAN MEAL WITH FERMENTED THEVETIA CAKE IN LAYERS DIET: EFFECTS ON PERFORMANCE, EGG QUALITY AND NUTRIENT RETENTION

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v27i.1871 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 24-28

Author(s):

O. A. ADEYEMI ◽

A. A. ADEYEMI

Keyword(s):

Soybean Meal ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Substitution Ratio ◽

Dietary Treatments

80, Olympic laying hens that had been in lay for 20 weeks were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments and fed over a 10 week period. the birds were individually caged thus there were 16 replicates per treatment. The dietary treatment contained expeller pressed thevetia cake which had undergone anaerobiosis. The cake replaced soybean meal in the ratio of 0:1000, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 dietary treatments significantly decreased (P<0.05) feed intake, egg production, feed efficiency and egg weight. The treatment however had no effect (P>0.05) on weight gain, mortality and egg quality parameters. Egg production and average egg weight was however not affected by replacement up to 50:50 substitution ratio (P>0.05). Nitrogen and fat retention decreased (P<0.05) with increasing thevetia cake concentration, while fibre was not affected. It was concluded that fermented expeller pressed thevetia cake can replace up to 50% of the soybean in layers' diet

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Effects on egg production and quality of supplementing drinking water with calcium and magnesium

South African Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4314/sajas.v51i4.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 469-476

Author(s):

X.J. Yi ◽

A. Rehman ◽

R.W. Akhtar ◽

A. Abbas ◽

K. Hussain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Production Performance ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Calcium And Magnesium ◽

Eggshell Colour ◽

Haugh Unit

This study was conducted to appraise the effects on egg quality and production performance of laying hens when drinking water was supplemented with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). A total of 384 (64-week-old) Hy-line Brown laying hens were assigned at random to four treatments, which consisted of CON: unsupplemented drinking water; T1: drinking water + 2 mg/L Ca + 250 mg/L Mg; T2: drinking water + 4 mg/L Ca + 510 mg/L Mg /10 L; and T3: drinking water + 5 mg/L Ca and 760 mg/L Mg. The experiment lasted six weeks. Water intake increased linearly in week 1 with the rising levels of Ca and Mg in the drinking water. Increasing the Ca and Mg levels improved eggshell strength (week 2 (P =0.01), week 5 (P =0.01), and week 6 (P = 0.03), and eggshell thickness (week 6) (P =0.02) and reduced the rate at which eggs were broken (week 4) (P =0.01). The supplemental Ca and Mg did not affect egg production, egg weight, Haugh unit, albumen height, eggshell colour, and yolk colour compared with CON. Nor did they influence the Haugh unit and albumen height after storing for 1, 5, 10 and 15 days. In conclusion, adding Ca and Mg to the drinking water increased the thickness and strength of the eggshells.

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