Allium-Based Phytobiotic for Laying Hens’ Supplementation: Effects on Productivity, Egg Quality, and Fecal Microbiota

The poultry industry is constantly demanding novel strategies to improve the productivity and health status of hens, prioritizing those based on the holistic use of natural resources. This study aimed to assess the effects of an Allium-based phytobiotic on productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and ninety-two 14-week-old Lohmann Lite LSL hens were allocated into an experimental farm, fed with a commercial concentrate with and without the Allium-based phytobiotic, and challenged against Salmonella. Productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota were monitored for 20 weeks. Results showed that the phytobiotic caused an increase on the number of eggs laid (p < 0.05) and in the feed conversion rate (p < 0.05); meanwhile, egg quality, expressed as egg weight, albumin height, haugh units, egg shell strength, and egg shell thickness remained unchanged (p > 0.05), although yolk color was decreased. Fecal microbiota structure was also modified, indicating a modulation of the gut microbiota by increasing the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes but reducing Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. Predicted changes in the functional profiles of fecal microbiota suggest alterations in metabolic activities that could be responsible for the improvement and maintenance of productivity and egg quality when the phytobiotic was supplemented; thus, Allium-based phytobiotic has a major impact on the performance of laying hens associated with a possible gut microbiota modulation.

Interspecific variations in external and internal egg quality among various captive avian species from Punjab, Pakistan

Present study was planned to determine variations in external and internal quality egg parameters of different avian species including ostrich Struthio camelus, ducks Anas platyrhynchos, chicken Gallus gallus, turkeys Meleagris gallopavo and grey francolin Francolinus pondicerinus. All the birds were kept under similar rearing conditions. A total of 150 eggs were collected for each species to record external features of these eggs. Statistically significant (p<0.05) variations were recorded in egg weight, egg length and egg width between ostrich, ducks, chicken, turkey and quail eggs. Significantly (p<0.05) higher egg weight, egg length and egg width was observed for ostrich eggs while the same was lowest for grey francolin eggs. Similarly, significantly (p<0.05) greater shape index and egg volume values were observed for ostrich eggs while lowest shape index values were recorded for turkey eggs and egg volume was lowest for grey francolin. Significantly, higher (p<0.05) values of egg density were noted for eggs of the quail and the same were lowest for ostrich eggs. Non-significant variations in egg density values were observed between eggs of the ducks, chicken, turkey and grey francolin. It has been concluded that the positive correlations between the internal and external egg quality traits indicated that the traits can be improved through selection.

Use of the feed additive “Toxinon” in feeding of replacement young chickens and laying hens

At the present time of the development of industrial poultry farming, the main tasks are to increase the productivity of poultry, reduce production costs and improve its quality. Under practical conditions, there is a shortage of minerals in compound feed for poultry, which leads to a violation of metabolism in the body, slowing down growth and development, deterioration of the work of organs and systems, a decrease in productivity and its quality, and an increase in the prime-cost of production. The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of the use of the feed additive “Toxinon” in feeding of replacement young chickens and laying hens. The research has been carried out under the conditions of OOO “Bogotolskaya Poultry Farm” in the Bogotolsky area in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Comprehensive studies have been conducted to study the effect of the feed additive “Toxinon” on the growth and development, productivity and metabolism of replacement young chickens and laying hens of the industrial herd of the cross “Haysex brown”. The influence of different dosages of the feed additive “Toxinon” on the growth rate, livestock livability, digestibility and use of feed nutrients, egg productivity, egg quality, hematological and biochemical blood parameters of replacement young chickens and laying hens has been studied. The laying hens of the 3rd experimental group were distinguished by the highest egg productivity during the experiment period, which exceeded the control group in terms of the gross number of eggs by 6,4 %, the intensity of egg production by 5,02 abs.%, egg weight by 3,0 % (P > 0,95), the yield of egg mass on the average laying hen by 9,12 %. At the same time, expenditures of feed in the 3rd experimental group have decreased compared to the control group by 7,3 % for 10 eggs, by 9,2 % for 1 kg of egg mass. It has been found that in feeding replacement young chickens and laying hens, the most effective use of the feed additive “Toxinon” in the dosage of 0,25 % of the weight of the feed mixture (2,5 kg/ton of feed).

Environment type and storage period on eggshell quality of laying hens at different ages

ABSTRACT: Eggshell quality is directly linked to the good acceptability of the product by consumers, whereas the industry is concerned with economic losses. Prolonged periods of laying, diseases, nutrition, bird age and genetics can influence egg quality. This study aimed to examine the influence of the environment, bird age and storage period on the physical characteristics of the shell of eggs from commercial laying hens. The experiment involved 288 eggs from Hy-line hens, which were distributed in a completely randomized design with a triple 3×2×4 factorial arrangement represented by three ages (31, 62 or 88 weeks), two storage temperatures (ambient or refrigerated), and four storage periods (one, 10, 20 or 30 days), totaling 24 treatments. Four replications were used with three eggs each. Eggshell strength, percentage and thickness were measured. Differences were observed, with the eggs stored at room temperature exhibiting lower shell strength. Laying eggs at an advanced age (88 weeks) resulted in decreased eggshell strength as compared with the other ages, whereas the eggs from young layers (31 weeks) had a thicker shell. The advancing age of the laying hens reduced eggshell quality, regardless of the storage environment. Nonetheless, the eggs stored in the refrigerator showed better eggshell quality and integrity than those stored at ambient temperature.

Penyebaran Kutikula Pada Kerabang Telur Pada Usaha Peternakan Ayam Dengan Sistem Free Range

The cuticle is the outermost layer of the egg which deposited on to the surface of the egg during the final 1-1.5 hours prior to oviposition. It is a protective coating which prevents bacterial penetration through the gas exchange pores in the eggshell. The aim of this research is analysing the cuticle cover and ultrastructural features of the mammillary layer cover during production cycle in the free-range system. Data were collected from age 26, 37, 50 and 60 weeks of age to observe the eggshell colour (%), cuticle cover following the MST blue dye which analysed by spectrophotometry based on L*a*b system and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were analysed using Statview Software (SAS Institute Inc., Version 5.0.1.0). A two way analysis of variance was conducted taking flock age and shed/flock as the independent variables and body weight, egg quality measurements, spectrophotometry (L*a*b) measurements, single score measurements for cuticle cover, and ultrastructural features as dependent variables. Level of significance was indicated by probability of less than 5%. The Fishers PLSD test was used to differentiate between mean values. The result of this research showed that the cuticle cover is vary from age to age. The greater value of cuticle cover in at 37 weeks of age which the same result also showed by single scrore and SEM. The cuticle cover of the shell is mostly affected by age and also strain. Keyword: Cuticle; Eggshell quality; Laying hens. Abstrak Kutikula pada telur merupakan lapisan terluar telur yang dideposisikan pada lapisan palisade kurang lebih 1,5 – 2 jam di akhir pembentukan kerabang di dalam uterus. Kutikula berfungsi sebagai benteng pertahanan pertama untuk mencegah masuknya bakteri ke dalam telur. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada usaha peternakan ayam petelur yang dipelihara dengan system free range. Telur diambil untuk dianalisa penyebaran kutikula telur pada umur 26, 37, 50, dan 60 minggu. Variable yang diamati meliputi reflektifitas warna kerabang (%), penyebaran kutikula diukur menggunakan MST blue dye dan selanjutnya diukur melalui sistim spectrophotometry, yang difokuskan pada sistim pewarnaan berdasarkan sistim L*a*b* dan single score, dan dilanjutkan dengan pengamatan menggunakan scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Selanjutnya data dianalisis menggunakan Staview software (SAS Institute Inc. version 5.0.1.0) dengan analisis anova dua arah, dimana umur ayam sebagai variable independent dan nilai SCI a* sesudah perendaman dan nilai single score (ΔE*ab) sebagai variable dependent, pada level of significance 5%. Pengaruh yang nyata diuji lanjut menggunakan Fisher PLSD. Pada penelitian ini didapatkan bahwa penyebaran kutikula pada kerabang telur bervariasi selama pengamatan. Penyebaran kutikula terbanyak ditemukan pada saat ayam berumur 37 minggu. Hal ini juga diperkuat dengan hasil yang diperoleh dengan single score (ΔE*ab) yang memperlihatkan nilai ΔE*ab yang tinggi pada umur 37 minggu. Penyebaran kutikula pada kerabang telur sangat dipengaruhi oleh umur dan juga strain ayam. Kata kunci: Ayam petelur; Kualitas telur; Kutikula.

Effects of Dietary Organic and Inorganic Sulfur on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Ileal Morphology, and Antioxidant Capacity in Laying Hens

The present study was conducted to investigate the comparative effects of organic and inorganic forms of sulfur, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and sodium sulfate (SS), on laying performance, egg quality, ileal morphology, ileal volatile fatty acids, and antioxidant and stress markers in various biological samples in aged laying hens. A total of 144, 73-week-old Lohman Brown-Lite laying hens were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets: basal diet (CONT), CONT + 0.2% MSM (MSM), and CONT + 0.3% SS (SS). The trial lasted for 12 weeks. MSM and SS diets contained 0.07% of sulfur, either organic or inorganic. Dietary MSM did not affect egg production or feed conversion ratio at 12 weeks compared with the CONT group. Dietary sulfur did not affect egg quality except for the Haugh unit at 4 weeks, which was lowered (p < 0.05) in the SS group. Compared with the CONT group, a higher (p < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio was observed in the SS group. Dietary sulfur did not affect the percentages of short-chain fatty acids in the ileum. Total antioxidant capacity of the liver increased (p < 0.05) in laying hens fed MSM- and SS-added diets compared with the CONT group. The MSM and SS groups were found to have lowered (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum samples compared with CONT. Finally, dietary MSM had the lowest (p < 0.05) MDA concentrations in yolk samples. Taken together, our study showed that dietary organic and inorganic sulfur have positive effects on ileal morphology and antioxidant capacity in laying hens. However, SS-mediated inhibition in laying performance needs to be clarified.

SENSORY QUALITY OF QUAIL EGGS FED WITH CORIANDER FLOUR (CORIANDUM SATIVUM LINN) IN THE FEED

One of the sources of animal protein for the community can be obtained from quail eggs. Quail eggs have nutritional value that is not inferior to other poultry eggs. Feed is one of the factors that can affect egg quality. Coriander is a spice that contains essential oils that are beneficial for the body when consumed. So it is hoped that the presence of this essential oil can help improve livestock growth and produce quality quail eggs sensory. This study aimed to examine the effect of giving coriander flour to quail feed on the sensory quality of eggs. The study was conducted for 30 days. The livestock used were Japanese quail aged 30 days with 100 heads. The feed used is commercial feed and additional coriander flour. The design used was a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replications for each unit of 5 birds with treatment R0 = commercial feed +0% coriander flour, R1 = commercial feed + 0.5% coriander flour, R2 = commercial feed + 1% coriander flour, R3 = commercial feed + 1.5% coriander flour. Data were analyzed using Kruskall Wallis and Duncan's multiple range test. The results showed that the administration of coriander flour had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the hedonic test of egg white color and texture hedonic quality test, while for the egg yolk color, taste, aroma variables were not significantly different (P>0.05). This study concludes that organoleptic administration of 1% coriander flour can increase the panelists' preference for egg whites and improve the texture of quail eggs.