Egg proteome: the protein and carotenoids characteristics deriving from laying hens reared in different housing systems and under different environmental conditions

2013 ◽  
pp. 295-297
Author(s):  
Charles Spiteri ◽  
Everaldo Attard ◽  
Cesare Castellini ◽  
Adrian Bugeja Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Housing Systems

scholarly journals Investigation of the Morphology of Adrenal Glands in Hens Kept in Two Different Housing Systems—A Pilot Study

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2124
Author(s):  
Franziska Keßler ◽  
Angelika Grümpel-Schlüter ◽  
Christian Looft ◽  
Stefanie Petow
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adrenal Glands ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Adrenal Cells ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Interrenal Cells

It is difficult to objectively assess the chronic effects of housing systems on livestock and particularly on laying hens. However, this seems to be important in the context of animal welfare. Therefore, we conducted the present study in order to compare the effect of two different housing conditions, single cage (SC) and floor pen (FP), on the morphology of the adrenal gland. A higher amount of interrenal cells, which secrete stress hormones, can lead to a difference in the relation of adrenal and interrenal cells, which could be interpreted as an indication of chronic stress. For this purpose, adrenal glands were extracted, prepared, stained and examined by microscopy, and total area of the cut, total area of interrenal cells and total area of adrenal cells were measured. As a result, all laying hens had a higher percentage of interrenal cells than adrenal cells (FP: interrenal cells/adrenal cells = 78.37%/21.63%; SC: 80.00%/20.00%). The median of adrenal–interrenal ratio did not differ significantly (FP = 0.2503, SC = 0.2499), while the variation of the ratio between laying hens in FP and SC showed a slight tendency of a higher ratio in adrenal glands of FP (p < 0.0870). Body weight and adrenal–interrenal ratio were significantly negatively correlated in laying hens in FP (rS = −0.943, p < 0.0048) but not in SC (rS = −0.162, p = 0.7283). There was no significant correlation between body weight and total cell area for interrenal cells or adrenal cells. Body weight was significantly lower for laying hens kept in SC than for laying hens kept in FP (p < 0.0001). Due to the present results, it can be concluded that keeping laying hens in single cages can have a negative effect on body weight.

scholarly journals DAMAGES OF THE KEEL BONE IN LAYING HENS – OVERVIEW OF THE ETIOLOGICAL ASPECTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (Suppl.1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
K. Uzunova ◽  
L. Lazarov
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Breeding Systems ◽  
Locomotor System ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Bone Damage ◽  
Industrial Complexes ◽  
Characteristic Behaviour ◽  
Unbalanced Diet ◽  
The Individual

The damages of the locomotor system and the skeletal system, in particular, are one of the major problems in the industrial poultry farming. The topic for the pathological changes in the keel bone in oviparous birds has become especially popular among scientists and researchers in recent years. The high incidence of keel bone damage (KBD) of laying hens in industrial complexes is one of the biggest welfare problems facing the industry. They lead to disturbance of the animal welfare, causing pain, limiting the ability to move and to perform the characteristic behaviour of the species. This in turn causes a decrease in productivity and unacceptably large losses not only for the individual producer but also for the whole sector. The problem with the KBD is widespread in Switzerland, Great Britain, the Nederland, Belgium, Germany, and Canada. Different genetic lines of laying hens are affected, as well as all types of breeding systems. In general, the etiological factors are reduced to three main groups – genetic predisposition, unbalanced diet and imperfections in housing systems. The causes and influencing factors of KBD remain unknown to the research community - a circumstance that seriously complicates the development of effective strategies to reduce their occurrence and severity.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Type of Alternative Housing System, Genotype and Age of Laying Hens on Egg Quality

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Sokołowicz ◽  
Józefa Krawczyk ◽  
Magdalena Dykiel
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Color Intensity ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Blood Spots ◽  
Alternative Housing ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
System Type ◽  
Eggshell Color

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of the type of alternative housing system, and genotype and age of laying hens on physical traits of egg shell and contents. It was demonstrated that alternative housing system type influenced egg weight and shape, and eggshell color and yolk color intensity. Eggs from free-range system were heavier and were characterized by more intense yolk color. No effect of alternative housing system type on albumen height, value of Haugh units (HU value) and presence of meat and blood spots was noted. Hen genotype had a significant effect on egg weight and eggshell color intensity in each of the alternative housing systems tested in this study. Hy-line Brown hens laid heavier eggs than hens of native breeds. Genotype was also observed to affect egg content traits (albumen height, HU values and presence of meat and blood spots). Independently of the type of alternative housing system, most blood and meat spots were noted in eggs of hens laying brown-shelled eggs, i.e. R-11 and Hy-line Brown layers. Laying hen age significantly impacted on egg weight, yolk percentage, eggshell traits (color intensity, weight, thickness and strength) and egg content traits (HU value, yolk weight and color intensity, presence of meat and blood spots). Older hens laid heavier eggs with a greater yolk percentage but with thinner eggshell.

scholarly journals Eggshell characteristics and cuticle deposition in three laying hen genotypes housed in enriched cages and on litter

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ketta ◽  
E. Tumova
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Laying Hen ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Eggshell Thickness ◽  
System Effect ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Eggshell Quality ◽  
System P

The objective of the present study was to compare the eggshell characteristics and cuticle deposition of Lohmann Brown, Hy-Line Silver Brown, and Isa Brown layers kept in two different housing systems. The three laying hen genotypes were housed in enriched cages (100 hens, 750 cm<sup>2</sup>/hen, 10 hens/cage) and in littered pens (100 hens, 9 hens/m<sup>2</sup>, 10 hens/pen). The experiment was carried out in weeks 40–56 of hens age. Non-significant interactions of genotype and housing system for eggshell quality parameters and cuticle deposition were detected in this study. Egg weight was significantly affected by genotype (P ≤ 0.001) and housing system (P ≤ 0.043). The heaviest eggs were laid by Lohmann Brown, while the lightest eggs were produced by Hy-Line Silver Brown. Eggshell strength was not affected by genotype and housing system, however, genotype had a significant effect on eggshell thickness (P ≤ 0.033). Isa Brown eggs had thicker eggshells compared to Lohmann Brown and Hy-Line Silver Brown. However, a non-significant effect of housing system on eggshell thickness was observed. Eggshell percentage was significantly affected by both genotype and housing system. Genotype of laying hens had a significant effect on cuticle deposition; significantly higher cuticle deposition was observed in Lohmann Brown eggs (P ≤ 0.001). It could be concluded that genotype had a significant effect on eggshell quality parameters and cuticle deposition. However, the housing system effect was less important in these characteristics.

Prevalence, Persistence, and Antimicrobial Resistance ofCampylobacterspp. from Eggs and Laying Hens Housed in Five Commercial Housing Systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 506-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estefanía Novoa Rama ◽  
Matthew Bailey ◽  
Deana R. Jones ◽  
Richard K. Gast ◽  
Ken Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Commercial Housing

scholarly journals A cross-sectional study on feather cover damage in Canadian laying hens in non-cage housing systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Decina ◽  
Olaf Berke ◽  
Nienke van Staaveren ◽  
Christine F. Baes ◽  
Tina M. Widowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Linear Regression Modeling

Abstract Background Feather damage (FD) resulting from feather pecking remains a concern in non-cage housing systems for laying hens worldwide. This study aimed to identify bird-, housing-, and management-related factors associated with FD in non-cage housing systems as the egg production sector phases out the conventional cage system in Canada. A survey on housing and management practices was developed and distributed to 122 laying hen farms where 39 respondents provided information on non-cage flocks. Farmers visually assessed 50 birds throughout the barn for FD using a 0–2 scoring scale according to severity. Prevalence of FD was calculated as the percentage of birds with any form of FD (score > 0). Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with FD prevalence. Results Six variables were included in the final model and accounted for 64% of the variation in FD between farms. FD prevalence was higher with increasing flock age (0.9% ± 0.29) and when birds were housed in all wire/slatted barns compared with all litter barns (37.6% ± 13.1). Additionally, FD prevalence tended to be higher in barns with manure removal only after depopulation (20.1% ± 10.70). Enrichment also tended to be associated with higher FD (19.1% ± 8.04), possibly indicating that it was provided after FD was observed as a control measure, or, was not efficient in reducing the development of FD. Conclusions These findings emphasize the role of litter provision and management (e.g., manure removal effects on air quality), and its potential impact on FD among laying hens in non-cage housing systems in Canada. Further longitudinal and/or intervention studies are needed to assess the potential of the identified factors to function as a management strategy to prevent or reduce FD in non-cage housed laying hens.

scholarly journals Influence of different housing systems on prevalence of keel bone lesions in laying hens

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 454-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sónia Saraiva ◽  
Alexandra Esteves ◽  
George Stilwell
Keyword(s):  
Laying Hens ◽  
Bone Lesions ◽  
Housing Systems
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