Effect of wheat cultivar and enzyme supplementation on nutrient availability and performance of laying hens

This study examined the effect of four wheat cultivars (Belvedere, Glenlea, Norboro, and Walton) grown in the Maritime provinces of Canada and dietary enzyme supplementation on apparent metabolizable energy (AME), digestibility of crude protein (CP), and performance of laying hens, and compared these values to those obtained using a corn-based diet. Forty groups of three adjacent battery cages, each housing two hens, were fed each diet which included the wheat samples (61.0%) or locally obtained corn (65.1%), with or without commercial enzymes containing a mixture of xylanase, protease, and amylase for corn-based diets and a mixture of xylanase and protease for wheat-based diets. Excreta samples were collected at 17 d for analysis of nutrient retention. The diet that the hens consumed had no significant effect on performance. The feed conversion ratio of hens was lowest (1.79) in the final week of the experiment when egg production was highest (97.0%) and feed intake lowest (109 g bird-1 d-1). The diet significantly affected both AME and digestibility of CP. The wheat cultivar influenced the AME and digestibility of CP when these diets were fed to laying hens, with enzyme supplementation reducing the AME and digestibility of CP for diets containing three (Belvedere, Glenlea, and Walton) of the four wheat cultivars. The significant improvement with enzyme supplementation of the corn-based diet is promising and should be the basis of future studies. Key words: Wheat, layers, apparent metabolizable energy, enzyme

Download Full-text

Nitrogen-Corrected Apparent Metabolizable Energy Value of Crude Glycerol for Laying Hens / Współczynnik Metaboliczności Energii Surowej Gliceryny Dla Kur Nieśnych

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.2478/aoas-2013-0056 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 829-836 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Klaudia Németh ◽

Eszter Zsédely ◽

János Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Crude Glycerol ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Adaptation Period ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Apparent Metabolizable Energy ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract An experiment was conducted with 64 Tetra SL laying hens (placed into four groups) to determine the AMEn value of feed grade crude glycerol (DM 92%; glycerol 86.80%; methanol 0.04%; fat 0.49%; ash 4.67%; GE 15.59 MJ/kg). All groups were given a 100 g basal diet per day (AMEn value 11.46 MJ/kg; protein 16.97%; Ca 3.49%; P (non-phytate) 0.56%; lysine 0.82%; methionine 0.40%; cysteine 0.29%; threonine 0.60%; tryptophan 0.19%), which was supplemented with 5%, 7.5% and 10% glycerol for the three experimental groups. Hens were placed in metabolism cages (4 hens/treatment in four replicates). After a 10-day adaptation period, excreta was collected and weighed individually for 10 days. The AMEn value of crude glycerol (86%) was calculated as 15.30 MJ/kg for laying hens. During the experiment, egg production (90.0-90.8%), egg weight (56.8-58.0 g) and egg mass (51.2-52.7 g) were not affected by dietary treatments. Feed conversion was significantly reduced by a 10% glycerol supplementation. We concluded that crude glycerol’s energy is efficiently used by laying hens, and more efficiently than by broilers. The established 15.30 MJ/kg AMEn value of crude glycerol when fed in the daily ration to laying hens means that they utilized 97.6% of the glycerol’s GE content.

Download Full-text

Metabolizable energy levels for semi-heavy laying hens at the second production cycle

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982009000500011 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 857-862

Author(s):

Fernando Guilherme Perazzo Costa ◽

Janaine Sena da Costa ◽

Cláudia de Castro Goulart ◽

Denise Fontana Figueiredo-Lima ◽

Raul da Cunha Lima Neto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Level ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Production Cycle ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Feed Conversion

This study was carried out to evaluate the energy levels in the diet to obtain better performance rates and quality of eggs from laying hens in the second production cycle. One hundred and eighty Bovans Goldline laying hens with 62 weeks of age were used during four 28-day periods. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four metabolizable energy levels (2,650, 2,725, 2,800, 2,875 and 2,950 kcal/kg), each with six replicates of six birds. The energy level of diet did not affect the weight of the egg, yolk, albumen and eggshell, the percentages of yolk, albumen and eggshell, yolk color and egg specific gravity. Feed intake, egg production, egg mass and feed conversion per egg mass and per dozen eggs increased significantly with increasing levels of metabolizable energy. Feed intake decreased linearly as the energy level in the diet increased. The metabolizable energy levels showed a quadratic effect on egg production, egg mass and feed conversion per egg mass and per dozen eggs. The metabolizable energy level of 2,830 kcal/kg was the most appropriate to promote better performance and quality of eggs from laying hens in the second production cycle.

Download Full-text

Effect of protein and energy levels in a constant ratio supplemented with methionine and lysine on performance of layers and on egg quality.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v28i1.17041 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 29-35

Author(s):

A.R. El Boushy ◽

L.G.M. van Gils ◽

M.C. Papadopoulos

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Constant Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Egg Weight

Twenty groups of 36 laying hens in individual cages were fed on one of 5 diets in which the energy:protein ratio was constant. Diets 1 to 5 had crude protein 12.0, 12.9, 14.0, 15.0 and 16.0% and metabolizable energy 8.71, 9.57, 10.27, 11.10 and 11.70 MJ/kg. From 24 to 64 weeks old, egg production of hens given diets 1 to 5 was 71.46, 71.31, 72.51, 71.13 and 69.99%, respectively. Corresponding values of mean egg weight, weekly feed intake and efficiency of feed conversion were 60.51, 60.47, 61.11, 61.02, 61.07 g; 157.16, 147.56, 142.03, 130.37, 126.72 g; 3.674, 3.460, 3.262, 3.031, 3.014 kg feed/kg egg, respectively. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Download Full-text

Effect of different phytases on the performance, nutrient retention and tibia composition in broiler chickens

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.7482/0003-9438-56-104 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 1028-1038 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Ptak ◽

D. Józefiak ◽

B. Kierończyk ◽

M. Rawski ◽

K. Żyła ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Nutrient Utilization ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

E Coli ◽

Performance Response ◽

Apparent Metabolizable Energy

Abstract. The effect of different phytases on the performance response, nutrient utilization and tibia characteristics of chickens was investigated. The five pelleted diets were the following: positive control (PC) with added monocalcium phosphate; negative control (NC) formulated with equivalency values of phytase for Ca and digestible P; and three further diets where different phytases were individually added to the NC diet at 500 FTU/kg. The phytases were derived either from Aspergillus (phytase I), or E. coli (phytases II and III). Compared to PC, the performance parameters, as well as apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), mineral retention, bone breaking force and tibia mineral content were suppressed by the reduction of dietary Ca and digestible P. All phytases enhanced the overall body weight gains and feed conversion ratio in comparison with NC, but none outperformed PC. Only phytase II improved AMEn compared to NC and PC group. However only phytase I outperformed NC group in terms of mineral retention and P retention was higher than phytase II and III. No significant differences were observed in fat digestibility and N retention. Bone strength among phytases did not differ and all improved this parameter compared to the NC diet. However, even though all phytases enhanced tibia minerals content, the improvement was less pronounced with phytase III. Moreover, the differences in all analysed tibia minerals between phytase III and II were significant suggesting that even among 6-phytases derived from and expressed in the same organism, different efficacy or mode of action can occur.

Download Full-text

The effect of hatchery waste meal in ration on nutrient retention and performances of laying quails

Journal of the Indonesian Tropical Animal Agriculture ◽

10.14710/jitaa.43.2.131-139 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 131

Author(s):

R. Indreswari ◽

A. Ratriyanto

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Retention ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Coturnix Coturnix ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Apparent Metabolizable Energy ◽

Improved Performance ◽

And Performance ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Range Test

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hatchery waste meal (HWM) as a whole or without shell (shell-less) in the diet on nutrient retention and performance of quails. The study used 500 female quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) aged 30 days with an average initial body weight of 94.75±4.17 gr. The quails were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 5 replicates of 20 quails. The dietary treatments were: Control = basal diet, Whole 4% = 96% basal diet + 4% whole HWM, Whole 8% = 92% basal diet + 8% whole HWM, Shell-less HWM 4% = 96% basal diet + 4% of shell-less HWM, Shell-less HWM 8% = 92% basal diet + 8% of shell-less HWM. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, when the treatments indicated significant effect it was continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Quails fed HWM up to 8% improved (P<0.05) their crude fat retention, apparent metabolizable energy, calcium consumption and calcium retention (P<0.05). In addition, HWM in the ration increased the performance, and also yolk and albumen weight, but decreased (P<0.05) yolk and albumen index. It can be concluded that HWM improved performance and nutrient retention of quails.

Download Full-text

Effect of cultivar and enzyme supplementation on nutrient availability and performance of broilers fed Maritime Canadian wheat

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a04-048 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 493-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. L. Rafuse ◽

F. G. Silversides ◽

M. R. Bedford ◽

P. H. Simmins

Keyword(s):

Body Weight Gain ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Broiler Performance ◽

Key Words Wheat ◽

Apparent Metabolizable Energy ◽

Feeding Value ◽

Enzyme Supplementation

The feeding value of wheat is affected by the content of soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), which varies among cultivars and the environment in which they are grown. Dietary enzymes can reduce the negative effects of NSP and improve the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) content of the wheat. This study examined differences in feeding value of four wheat cultivars grown in 2 crop years in the Maritime provinces of Canada and the need for enzymes. In a growth trial, diets containing one of the Maritime wheats or corn were fed with or without commercial enzymes containing, for wheat-based diets a mixture of xylanase and protease, and for corn-based diets a mixture of xylanase, protease, and amylase. In a broiler chick bioassay, diets containing 80% wheat were fed with or without a commercial enzyme with xylanase and protease activities. Enzymes significantly lowered body weight gain of birds fed Walton wheat in the second year, and improved the grower feed conversion ratio of birds fed Norboro wheat. Enzyme supplementation significantly improved apparent metabolizable energy and digestibility of crude protein. The AME content did not appear to be a direct indicator of performance. There were significant differences in AME content among the wheat samples. Enzymes generally did not improve performance in this study, possibly due to the relatively low in vitro viscosity values of these samples. Maritime wheats were equal or compared favourably with the sample of wheat from Western Canada and to locally obtained corn. Key words: Wheat, broiler performance, apparent metabolizable energy, enzyme

Download Full-text

Performance of laying hens fed wheat, wheat-barley or wheat-barley-wheat bran based diets supplemented with xylanase

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a01-047 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 193-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

N. Mathlouthi ◽

M. Larbier ◽

M. A. Mohamed ◽

M. Lessire

Keyword(s):

Wheat Bran ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Conversion Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion Ratio ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Low Energy ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Low Energy Diet

Two experiments were conducted to study the response of laying hens to a commercial enzyme preparation (Safizyme XP20) containing 70 000 IU g-1 xylanase. In the first experiment, 270 laying hens (ISA Brown), aged 28 wk, were fed basal diets of wheat (W), wheat-barley (WB) or wheat-barley and wheat bran (WBB) without xylanase, or supplemented with 1400 IU xylanase kg-1 in 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. In the second experiment, 180 ISA Brown laying hens, aged 28 wk, were assigned to 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and fed wheat-based diets containing 2753 or 2653 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) kg-1 without xylanase, or supplemented with 1400 IU xylanase kg-1. Egg production (% hen-day), egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio and changes in body weight were recorded for 12 wk. The effects of xylanase on true metabolizable energy (TME) values of wheat, barley and wheat bran were determined using roosters. Layers fed W-, WB- or WBB-based diets had similar egg mass. The feed conversion ratio of layers fed the WBB-based diet was better (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the other groups. Xylanase improved (P ≤ 0.05) egg mass of layers fed W- or WB-based diets, but it did not affect the performance of hens fed the WBB-based diet. Low dietary ME significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the performance of laying hens. Xylanase supplementation improved (P ≤ 0.05) egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio of layers fed the low energy diet. It did improve the feed conversion ratio of layers fed the high-energy diet. Addition of 1400 IU xylanase kg-1 to the low-energy diet was equivalent to an increase of at least 100 kcal ME kg-1. Xylanase increased (P ≤ 0.05) the TME values by 5.2 and 2.44% for wheat and barley, respectively, and did not affect the TME value of wheat bran. Key words: Xylanase, hens, laying, wheat, barley, wheat bran, metabolizable energy.

Download Full-text

CASHEW NUT MEAL IN THE FEEDING OF BROWN LAYING HENS

Ciência e Agrotecnologia ◽

10.1590/s1413-70542015000100008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 68-74

Author(s):

Carlos Eduardo Braga Cruz ◽

Ednardo Rodrigues Freitas ◽

Regina Patrícia de Souza Xavier ◽

Danilo Rodrigues Fernandes ◽

Germano Augusto Gerônimo Nascimento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Control Diet ◽

Maximum Level ◽

High Energy ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Poultry Feed ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Cashew Nut

The use of alternative foods to replace conventional foods is becoming a source of research for many researchers. The cashew nut meal (CNM) has high energy and protein value, may be a partial substitute for corn and soybean meal for poultry feed. In this context, this research was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of CNM on the utilization of nutrients in the ration for laying hens, as well as the performance and characteristics of the eggs. The study used 180 Dekalb Brown laying hens 27 weeks of age, distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and five replicates of six birds. Treatments consisted of a control diet without CNM and others with the inclusion of this food at levels of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%. Upon regression analysis, a linear increase in nitrogen metabolism, crude energy and apparently metabolizable energy was seen. The dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy corrected for rations were not affected by the inclusion of the CNM. Feed intake and egg weight were not affected by the inclusion of the CNM; however, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion, and yolk color worsened linearly with inclusion of CNM. Compared to control diet, the inclusion of CNM worsened the egg mass and feed conversion from 15%, and yolk color from 20%. As a result, it is recommended the inclusion of the CNM in the diet of laying hens at a maximum level of 10%.

Download Full-text

ПРЕРЫВИСТОЕ ОСВЕЩЕНИЕ ПОВЫШАЕТ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ИСКУССТВЕННОГО ОСЕМЕНЕНИЯ КУР В КЛЕТКАХ

10.33845/0033-3239-2019-68-7-8-51-55 ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Performance ◽

Artificial Insemination ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Electric Energy ◽

Productive Performance ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Scientific Center ◽

Academy Of Sciences ◽

Egg Fertility

Intermittent Lighting Improves the Efficiency of Artificial Insemination in Cage Housed Laying Hens Kavtarashvili A.Sh., Kolokolnikova T.N. Federal Scientific Center “All-Russian Research and Technological Poultry Institute” of Russian Academy of Sciences Omsk Agrarian Scientific Center Summary: The effects of different lighting regimes on the oviposition schedule, productive performance, and reproductive efficiency in cage housed laying hens of layer parental flock (Hisex White-R) were studied; the reasonable regime of artificial insemination (AI) under intermittent lighting is proposed. It was found that intermittent lighting regime 1L:4D:4L:1D:4L:10D compared to the constant lighting significantly alters oviposition schedule: under this regime 82.3% of all daily eggs were laid until 9 am (vs. 66.6% in control). This regime and AI at 10 am improved the productive and reproductive performance compared to control (constant lighting 16L:8D and AI at 12 am): mortality by 1.9%, egg production per initial hen by 3.8%, egg weight by 1.1%, percentage of eggs suitable for incubation by 1.9%, egg fertility by 0.9%, hatchability by 2.3%, hatch of chicks by 2.9%, feed conversion ratio (kg of feed per 10 eggs) by 5.3%, the expenses of electric energy for lighting (per 1000 eggs suitable for incubation) by 54.5%. Key words: INTERMITTENT LIGHTING, CAGE HOUSED LAYERS, ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (AI), OVIPOSITION SCHEDULE, AI TIMING, PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

Download Full-text

Bayesian inference of genetic parameters for reproductive and performance traits in White Leghorn hens

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/116/2017-cjas ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 63 (No. 6) ◽

pp. 230-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J.O. Rosa ◽

G.C. Venturini ◽

T.C.S. Chud ◽

B.C. Pires ◽

M.E. Buzanskas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bayesian Inference ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Egg Production ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

A Posteriori ◽

White Leghorn ◽

Performance Traits ◽

And Performance

This study estimated the genetic parameters for reproductive and performance traits and determined which ones can be used as selection criteria for egg production in laying hens using the Bayesian inference. The data of 1894 animals from three generations of White Leghorn laying hens were analyzed for fertility (FERT), hatchability (HATC), and birth rate measurements at 60 weeks of age (BIRTH), body weight at 16 and 60 weeks of age (BW16 and BW60), age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg height/width ratio, weight, and density at 28, 36, and 40 weeks of age (RHW28, RHW36, RHW40, WEGG28, WEGG36, WEGG40, DENS28, DENS36, and DENS40, respectively) traits. The genetic parameters were estimated by the Bayesian inference method of multi-trait animal model. The model included the additive and residual genetic random effects and the fixed effects of generation. The a posteriori mean distributions of the heritability estimates for reproductive traits ranged from 0.14 ± 0.003 (HATC) to 0.22 ± 0.005 (FERT) and performance from 0.07 ± 0.001 (RHW28) to 0.42 ± 0.001 (WEGG40). The a posteriori mean distributions of the genetic correlation between reproductive traits ranged from 0.18 ± 0.026 (FERT and HACT) to 0.79 ± 0.007 (FERT and BIRTH) and those related to performance ranged from –0.49 ± 0.001 (WEGG36 and DENS36) to 0.75 ± 0.003 (DENS28 and DENS36). Reproductive and performance traits showed enough additive genetic variability to respond to selection, except for RHW28. This trait alone would have little impact on the genetic gain because environmental factors would have a higher impact compared to those from the additive genetic factors. Based on the results of this study, the selection applied on the BIRTH trait can be indicated to improve FERT and HATC of eggs. Furthermore, the use of the WEGG40 could improve egg quality in this population.

Download Full-text