Crop content in nutrient-restricted versus non-restricted organic laying hens with access to different forage vegetations

1. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how feed intake of organic layers varies according to type of forage vegetation available when hens are fed a normal concentrate for organic layers or a nutrient-restricted diet with whole wheat and oyster shells, assuming that the nutrient-restricted diet would reflect the capacity of the hens to forage. 2. Two 23-d experiments were arranged with chicken runs in a 2 x 2 factorial design with two types of complementary feed (concentrate with 184 g/kg dry matter (DM) crude protein vs whole wheat with 120 g/kg DM crude protein) and two types of forage vegetation (grass/clover vs a mixture of forbs in experiment 1 and grass/clover vs chicory in experiment 2): each experiment was carried out in three replications. 3. Twice during each experiment two hens from each run were slaughtered - two in the evening and two the following morning. Subsequently, the birds' crops were removed. Crop content was separated into 8 fractions. 4. For most feed items crop content was found to be significantly higher in the evening than in the morning. 5. Complementary feed significantly influenced the content of several feed items in the crop. In both experiments wheat-fed hens had a significantly higher amount of soil in the crops and a significantly lower amount of weed seeds compared to the concentrate-fed hens. Plant material and grit stone were significantly more abundant in wheat-fed hens only in experiment 2 and numerically more abundant in experiment 1, whereas the amount of oyster shells was significantly higher in wheat-fed hens in experiment 1 and numerically higher in experiment 2. 6. Type of forage itself only significantly influenced the amount of soil in the crops in experiment 1 and amount of seeds in experiment 2, since more soil was found in hens foraging on the mixed forbs and more seeds were found in the hens foraging on the chicory plots, respectively.     

Effect of dietary inclusion of cumin seed oil on the performance,egg quality,immune response and ovarian development in laying hens under high ambient temperature

The objective of the present study was to find the effect of cumin seed oil (CSO, Cuminum cyminum L.) on the laying performance, ovarian follicular development and immune response in laying hens under high ambient temperature. A total of 162 Boven hens were randomly divided into three treatments and were fed, ad libitum, diets containing 0 (control), 250 or 500 g CSO per ton from 24 to 30 weeks of age. The experiment was done during summer season where the average temperate was 30 to 36°C. Feed intake and egg mass were recorded. Egg quality characteristics and egg‐yolk cholesterol content were evaluated. Ovary and oviduct samples were immediately weighted, and ovarian follicles were classified. Plasma total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, HDL‐cholesterol glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were measured. Yolk width, yolk weight, yolk colour, shell weight and shell thickness were increased by feeding CSO. Egg production rate was not affected. However, dietary 500 g CSO per ton had a significantly positive impact on egg weight in comparison with control. The FCR was improved by feeding 500 g CSO per ton; however, feed intake and egg mass were not affected by CSO treatments. Plasma GOT, GPT and triglycerides were significantly decreased, while, plasma HDL‐cholesterol was significantly (p < .05) increased due to CSO treatments. Yolk cholesterol content was significantly decreased; however, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was insignificantly decreased due to dietary treatments. Interestingly, the inclusion of CSO in laying hens’ diets improved the antibody titres against Newcastle disease (ND, p < .05) and against avian influenza H9N1 (p > .05) when compared with the control diet. It could be concluded that dietary inclusion of CSO improved egg weight, FCR, yolk and shell quality characteristics and did not have a negative effect on the reproductive morphology parameters in laying hens.     

Semiquantitative multi‐analysis of plasma obtained from Romney lambs (Ovis aries) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,and the classification according to feed type

The establishment of a classification system for domestic animals on consumed feed stuff is thought to be important from both a hygiene and market point of view. We collected plasma samples of Romney lambs (Ovis aries) which were fed one of the following: a herb‐clover mix (n = 10) which included chicory, red clover, white clover and plantain; a plant‐grass mix (n = 10) which included plantain, ryegrass and white clover; or a grass mix (n = 10) which included ryegrass and white clover. A total of 20 elements in plasma samples obtained from the lambs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The data were then analyzed by principal component analysis. The lambs were divided into three groups on a score plot depending on the different feed conditions. Furthermore, discriminant analyses of the elements were examined, using linear discriminant analysis with forward stepwise regression. This discriminant function correctly classified the samples from each group. The accuracy of classification of each group, as shown by 10‐fold cross‐validation, proved the effectiveness of the established discriminant function. It is concluded that using linear discriminant analysis might be a useful tool for the validation of elements from plasma in lambs grown in different conditions.     

The effect of extended grazing time and supplementary forage on the dry matter intake and foraging behaviour of cattle kept under traditional African grazing systems

An experiment was carried out at Alemaya University in Ethiopia to investigate the effect of night kraaling on the dry matter intake (DMI), live weight gain (LWG) and foraging behaviour of Ogaden cattle. Three groups of four animals were given either 7 h access to pasture per day, simulating traditional grazing (TG) practice; extended grazing (EG) access for 11 h per day; or traditional grazing access plus a nocturnal forage supplement (TF). Live weight gain, DMI and foraging behaviour were measured during the late dry season (EP1) and the wet season (EP2). None of the treatments had any significant effect on either DMI or LWG during EP1 or EP2. Extending pasture access time from 7 h to 11 h did not significantly increase the amount time spent grazing, but grazing intensity was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced during the non-common grazing hours. Step rate was significantly lower (p < 0.01) during EP2 than during EP1 and bites per step were significantly higher (p < 0.001) during EP2 than EP1, indicating that animals had to travel a shorter distance before selecting material to eat during the wet season (EP2). Providing supplementary forage (TF) had no significant effect on any measured parameter. In this study neither of the two low-cost methods (EG and TF) of improving access to forage had any beneficial effect on cattle productivity. It is concluded that, under the prevailing conditions, the traditional grazing practices of this part of Ethiopia do provide sufficient pasture access time to achieve daily voluntary food intake.     

AtmiR156a调控菊苣营养生长与品质

菊苣是南方草地生态畜牧业发展的重要牧草资源,其产量与植物营养生长阶段长短密切相关。本研究采用转基因的方法将拟南芥AtmiR156a在菊苣中过量表达,获得了140株转基因植株,PCR检测阳性率达94.3%。荧光定量PCR分析发现转基因菊苣中AtmiR156a表达量上调7.9倍。AtmiR156a过量表达菊苣与野生型菊苣的发芽率基本相当,但其叶片发生速率显著比野生型快,抽薹时间比野生型推迟20.2 d,开花推迟27.3 d,但是株高比野生型要矮,年均产草量与野生型基本相当。分析第一茬草的品质性状发现AtmiR156a过量表达菊苣叶片中粗蛋白含量比野生型高3.7%,纤维素降低2%,其他品质性状在两个材料中没有显著差异。本研究不仅建立了高效的菊苣遗传转化体系,培育出晚花、速生的菊苣新种质资源,为培育高产耐刈菊苣新品种奠定基础,同时为开展借助其他农作物重要功能基因进行菊苣遗传改良的研究工作提供借鉴,具有重要的理论研究与实际应用价值。     

氧化鱼油对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及血清抗氧化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加氧化鱼油对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及血清抗氧化指标的影响。选择720只体重相近的38周龄海兰灰蛋鸡,随机分为4个组,每组6个重复,每个重复30只鸡。将新鲜鱼油和过氧化物值(POV)为1 200.10 meq O2/kg的氧化鱼油按不同比例分别加入基础饲粮中,组成新鲜鱼油组(FFO组)、0.25%氧化鱼油组(OFO1组)、0.50%氧化鱼油组(OFO2组)和1.00%氧化鱼油组(OFO3组)。试验期4周。结果表明,试验期内各氧化鱼油组显著降低了蛋鸡的平均蛋重(P<0.05),与FFO组相比,OFO1、OFO2和OFO3组平均蛋重分别降低了0.9%、0.9%和1.7%(P<0.05);氧化鱼油组显著降低了鸡蛋蛋黄颜色和哈氏单位(P<0.05),对蛋壳颜色影响差异不显著(P>0.05);与FFO组相比,OFO3组显著降低了蛋鸡血清谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性(P<0.05),显著提高了血清丙二醛含量(P<0.05)。由此可见,蛋鸡饲粮中鱼油被氧化在一定程度上影响了蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质和血清抗氧化指标。     

新疆半干旱区不同豆科/禾本科牧草混播草地生产力的变化研究

混播草地竞争和促进关系是影响生产力和稳定性的重要因素,最终都通过牧草干物质产量以及草地物种的组成变化等指标表现出来。研究选择当地生产最常用的4种牧草无芒雀麦、鸭茅、红豆草、红三叶,以单播为对照,通过对2种豆/禾和3种牧草组合的混播草地牧草产量及物种组成变化进行长期监测,分析混播草地生产力的变化以及影响其稳定性的因素。结果表明:不论是单播还是混播,刈割干物质产量在年际间均表现为2017年高于2018年。放牧干物质产量在年际间均表现为2018年显著高于2017和2016年,鸭茅/红三叶混播草地除外。对2种牧草混播草地各物种干物质产量、密度及粗蛋白贡献的比例分析,从2016年到2018年,无芒雀麦干物质产量和密度所占比例均显著增加,鸭茅和红三叶干物质产量和密度所占比例均显著下降。红豆草与无芒雀麦混播时逐步降低,而与鸭茅混播时显著增加。3种牧草混播草地中,无芒雀麦和红豆草干物质产量和密度所占的比例显著增加,红三叶和鸭茅干物质产量和密度所占比例显著降低。综上所述,干旱区混播草地年际间干物质产量的消长变化主要取决于年均降水量和牧草的适应性。从混播草地干物质产量和密度的变化来看,随着年限增加,无芒雀麦和红豆草在混播草地中逐渐占据优势,鸭茅和红三叶在混播草地中逐渐处于劣势,且有消退的趋势。     

Effects of high-sugar ryegrass silage and mixtures with red clover silage on ruminant digestion. 1. In vitro and in vivo studies of nitrogen utilization

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of feeding grass silages differing in their water-soluble carbohydrate content, with or without red clover silage, on the efficiency of nutrient use. High-sugar grass, control grass, and red clover were ensiled in laboratory silos for use in an in vitro experiment (Exp. 1). For an in vivo experiment (Exp. 2), the same forage types were baled and ensiled. All silages were well preserved; within experiments the grass silages had similar composition, except for greater (P < 0.05) water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations in the high-sugar than the control grass silage. In Exp. 1, high-sugar grass, control grass, and red clover silages were fed alone or as mixtures (30:70, 50:50, or 70:30 on a DM basis, respectively) of each grass with the red clover silage to a simulated rumen culture system. There were no significant differences in microbial N flow or efficiency of microbial protein synthesis between individual forages. However, the corresponding values for the 70:30 ratio of high-sugar grass:red clover silage were greater (P < 0.05) than for the red clover silage. The value for the efficiency of N use (g of microbial N/g of feed N) was greater (0.86; P < 0.05) for high-sugar grass silage than the control grass silage. In addition, the high-sugar grass:red clover silage mixtures all gave greater (P < 0.05) values for the efficiency of N use than red clover silage alone; this difference was not achieved with the control grass mixture. Experiment 2 was an incomplete Latin square design conducted with 6 Here-ford x Friesian steers (163 +/- 5.9 kg of BW) with rumen and duodenal cannulas fed the following 5 silage diets: high-sugar grass silage; control grass silage; high-sugar grass and red clover silage (50:50 DM basis); control grass and red clover silage (50:50 DM basis); and red clover silage. Rumen NH3-N concentration was lowest (P < 0.05) with the high-sugar grass silage. Microbial N flows to the duodenum and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis were greater (P < 0.05) for steers fed the high-sugar grass silage than for control grass and red clover silages, and mixing red clover with grass silages increased (P < 0.05) these values compared with red clover silage alone. In both experiments, the efficiency of incorporation of silage N into microbial N was more than 20% greater (P < 0.05) for high-sugar grass than for control grass silage. These data suggest that grass silage with high-sugar content provides a forage-based strategy for balancing N and energy supply and improving the efficiency of use of grass silage N in the rumen.     

The effects of kale (Brassica oleracea ssp. acephala), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as forage material in organic egg production on egg quality

1. In organic egg production, forage material as part of the diet for laying hens is mandatory. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of feeding with forage materials including maize silage, herbs or kale on egg production and various egg quality parameters of the shell, yolk colour, egg albumen, sensory properties, fatty acid and carotenoid composition of the egg yolk.

2. A total of 5 dietary treatments were tested for 5 weeks, consisting of a basal organic feed plus 120?g/hen.d of the following forage materials: 1) maize silage (control), 2) maize silage incl. 15?g/kg basil, 3) maize silage incl. 30?g/kg basil, 4) maize silage incl. 15?g/kg thyme, or 5) fresh kale leaves. Each was supplied to three replicates of 20 hens. A total of 300 hens was used.

3. Feed intake, forage intake and laying rate did not differ with treatment, but egg weight and egg mass produced increased significantly with the kale treatment.

4. The egg shell strength tended to be higher with the kale treatment, and egg yolk colour was significantly more red with the kale treatment and more yellow with basil and kale treatments. The albumen DM content and albumen gel strength were lowest with the thyme treatment. By sensory evaluation, the kale treatment resulted in eggs with less sulphur aroma, higher yolk colour score, and more sweet and less watery albumen taste. Furthermore, the eggs of the kale treatment had significantly higher lutein and β-carotene content. Also, violaxanthin, an orange xanthophyll, tended to be higher in kale and eggs from hens receiving kale.

5. In conclusion, forage material, especially basil and kale, resulted in increased egg production and eggs of high and differentiable quality.     

Effects of Antimicrobial peptides on egg production,egg quality and caecal microbiota of hens during the late laying period

This study was conducted to determine the effects of diet supplementation of laying hens with antimicrobial peptides (AMP) on egg production, egg quality and caecal microbiota. A total of 360 Hy‐Line Brown laying hens (72 weeks old) were divided into three groups with four replicates of 30 birds each. The laying hens were fed with the basal diet (Control), the basal diet + 50 mg/kg AMP (group 1) and the basal diet + 100 mg/kg AMP (group 2). The experiment lasted for 45 d. Eggs were collected daily and caecal samples were collected at the end of the experiment. The results showed that AMP supplementation caused a significantly increased laying rate and decreased feed/egg ratio (p ＜ .05). Meanwhile, a distinctive difference in cecal microbiota was observed between AMP and control groups and the average values of microbial diversity and richness were lower in the AMP group than in the control group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Cyanobacteria were lower in the AMP group than in the control group. In conclusion, the results indicated that dietary supplementation with AMP can improve egg production and affect the cecal microbial community membership and structure of hens during late laying period.     

Effects of high-sugar ryegrass silage and mixtures with red clover silage on ruminant digestion. 2. Lipids

The experiment investigated the digestion of lipids from different forage silages in beef steers. Six Hereford x Friesian steers prepared with rumen and duodenal cannulas were given ad libitum access to a high-sugar grass silage, control grass silage, red clover silage, or mixtures of the red clover and each of the grass silages (50:50, DM basis). The experiment was conducted as an incomplete 5 x 5 Latin square, with an additional randomly repeated sequence. Total fatty acid and C18:3n-3 concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) for the high-sugar grass silage than the control grass silage or the red clover silage. Dry matter and total fatty acid intake were less (P < 0.05) for steers fed the control grass silage than for steers fed the other diets. Duodenal flow of C18:3n-3 was greater (P < 0.05), and flows of C18:0 and total C18:1 trans were less (P < 0.05), for the red clover silage compared with the 2 grass silage diets, with the mixtures intermediate. These results were supported by a reduction (P < 0.05) in biohydrogenation of C18:3n-3 for the red clover silage, with the mixtures again being intermediate. Flows of total branched- and odd-chain fatty acids were greater (P < 0.05) for the high-sugar grass silage diet, possibly as a result of greater microbial flow, because these fatty acids are associated with bacterial lipid. Duodenal flows of the chlorophyll metabolite, phytanic acid, were greater (P < 0.05) for animals fed the high-sugar grass silage treatments compared with the other treatments. These results confirm the potential for modifying the fatty acid composition of ruminant products by feeding red clover silage.     

Development of furnished cages re‐using conventional cages for laying hens: Behaviour,physical condition and productivity

Furnished cages for laying hens have advantages in allowing normal behaviors and maintaining productivity. As the cost of introduction is a barrier for farms, we developed furnished cages that re‐use conventional cages. To determine the minimum and functional cage design, we compared six designs, combinations of two floor designs (artificial turf or wire cage floor) and three screening designs in the integrated area (no screening, one entrance side or four sides). In total, 144 hens were used, and we measured behavior, physical condition and productivity. Comparing the floors, the percentages of hens performing dust‐bathing and laying eggs in the integrated area were higher in cages with turf than wire floor (P < 0.05 for both). Comparing the screening, dust‐bathing, litter‐exploring and active behavior tended to be more frequent in cages with the integrated area screened on one side than four sides. Feather damage was lower in cages with the integrated area screened on one side than with no screening (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the cage design with an integrated area with artificial turf floor, screened on one side, was effective for furnished cages that re‐use conventional cages.     

Effects of High-tannin Sorghum and Bentonite on the Performance of Laying Hens

The effects of feeding high-tannin sorghum (HTS) (5% catechin equivalents (CE)) on the performance of laying hens were examined in two experiments. In experiment 1, the effects of including varying levels of HTS in layer diets were investigated. Sixty-three Isabrown hens were randomly assigned to each of the seven diets over a period of 56 days. In experiment 2, the effects of bentonite on the utilization of HTS (3.74% CE) by laying hens were investigated. Forty-five Isabrown hens were randomly assigned to each of five diets over a period of 42 days. In both experiments, weekly measurements were made for feed intake (FI), percent hen-house production (% HHP), egg weight and egg specific gravity (ESG). The results of experiment 1 showed that the different sorghum inclusion levels had no effect (p>0.05) on HHP, egg weight and ESG, while those of experiment 2 showed that maize and LTS diets gave similar weight gain, FI and FE (p>0.05). However, HHP was higher (p<0.05) for the LTS diet than for the other diets. The addition of bentonite of 0.25% or 0.5% to the HTS diet did not improve (p>0.05) layer performance. When all the results were considered together, it was concluded that HTS can be used in layer diets without adverse effects on performance. The use of bentonite to deactivate sorghum tannins is not considered necessary.     

Nutritive value of forage species grown in the warm temperate climate of Australia for dairy cows: Herbs and grain crops

The objective of this study was to quantify the nutritive characteristics of 6 grain crops and 4 herb forages over 4 seasons, when all species were grown at the same site, under the same climatic and edaphic conditions, and with soil moisture and nutrient availability being non-limiting to growth. The forages grown were maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), millet (Pennisetum americana), wheat (Triticum aestivum), triticale (Triticum × secale), oats (Avena sativa), fodder radish (Raphanu sativa), rape (Brassica rapa), chicory (Cachorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata). The in sacco degradation characteristics of organic matter (OM) and crude protein of herbages were measured in the rumen of cannulated sheep in order to calculate the availability of effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP), rumen by pass protein, metabolisable protein (MP) and the synchrony index (I_s), which describes the efficiency of utilization of degradable nitrogen (N) and OM for microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in the rumen.In this study, all grain crops except maize had a ERDP/fermentable metabolizable energy (FME) ratio varying from 14 for millet to 23 for wheat, well above the ratio of 11 required for optimum MPS in the rumen of dairy cows. In contrast, maize had the lowest ERDP/FME ratio of 3, indicating that ERDP would be limiting MPS in the rumen. The availability of MP varied from 58 g/kg DM in maize to 153 g/kg DM in wheat and all forage species except maize were be able to meet the MP requirement of high-producing dairy cows (30 L/milk/day) provided they were able to consume 11 to13 kg DM/cow/day of the forage.The availability of MP from herbs varied from 95 g/kg DM in fodder radish to 163 g/kg DM in plantain, which would be sufficient for high-producing cows, however, most dairy cows could not consume sufficient forage to achieve these high levels of production due to very high nitrate content in rape (mean of 11.1 g/kg DM) and fodder radish (mean of 8 g/kg DM).     

Effects of dietary protein on egg production of laying hens housed in furnished or conventional cages

Abstract

In the present experiment the effects of dietary protein content on egg production of hens kept either in conventional cages (CCs) or furnished cages (FCs) were studied. A total of 1088 LSL (Lohmann LSL-Classic Layer) hens were housed in either FCs or CCs and offered high or low protein diets with a protein/energy ratio of 17 or 13, respectively, during three consecutive feeding phases of 20, 16 and 16 weeks, respectively. There was no interaction between the effects of cage design and of dietary treatment on laying performance. Hens kept in FCs consumed less feed than hens in CCs (p<0.05). After the first feeding phase, hens housed in FCs produced fewer eggs (p<0.01) than hens in CCs. No differences in the feed conversion ratio were found between the housing systems. Hens on the low protein diet laid smaller eggs than hens on the high protein diet (p<0.001). No effect of dietary protein on laying rate was found. It can be concluded that dietary protein affects egg production irrespective of the cage type.     

Effects of nanocalcium carbonate on egg production performance and plasma calcium of laying hens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of nanocalcium carbonate (NCC) instead of calcium carbonate (CC) on egg production, egg weight, egg mass, FCR, blood calcium and egg quality characteristics in laying hens. A total of 120 laying hens were used in a 10‐weeks trial, from week 23 to 33 of age. Laying hens were randomly assigned to six treatments with four replications, five hens each. The experimental treatments involved replacing 50% of the CC in the diet by decreasing amounts of NCC and were T1 Basal diet (BD) with 8.06% CC; T2 (6.045% of CC as a negative control); T3 (4.03% of CC replaced by 2.015% NCC); T4 (4.03% of CC replaced by 1.01% NCC); T5 (4.03% of CC replaced by 0.252% NCC) and T6 (4.03 of CC replaced with 0.126%NCC).Egg weight was unaffected by dietary treatments (p > .05). However, the egg production percentage and egg mass in T6 were less than that of other treatments (p < .05). The laying hens in the control group had the best average feed conversion ratio (p < .05). Also, the lowest concentration of calcium in hens’ blood was recorded for birds fed T6 (p < .05). The best egg shell quality (relative egg shell weight and egg shell weight/surface) was observed in T1 (p < .05).Collectively, our results demonstrated that NCC could replace CC at a lower inclusion level but extreme reduction of calcium concentration in diets (to 1.43% Ca in the T6 group) reduced production performance, egg quality characteristics, Tibia thickness and blood calcium of laying hens.     

Advances in pasture management for animal productivity and health

A wide range of management techniques is available to enhance quantity and quality of forage supply to grazing animals throughout the annual production cycle. Within broad limits, dry matter (DM) production is relatively insensitive to management of defoliation frequency, severity and duration. However defoliation management has effects on feed quality which can be enhanced, in particular, by control of pasture growth in the spring through maintenance of relatively low average pasture masses. Treading damage can have significant immediate and ongoing effects on pasture production and farmers can use a range of management techniques to minimise these.

Fertiliser application practices have a potent influence on pasture production and seasonality of that production. Available soil nitrogen is the primary nutrient deficiency limiting production in New Zealand's characteristically grass-dominant pastures. Nitrogen fertiliser usage has increased markedly in recent years, particularly to grow substantially greater amounts of forage during the cool season, and this trend looks set to continue. However, the use of nitrogen fertiliser has important environmental implications.

Pasture renewal and forage crop use has also increased in recent years. Care needs to be taken in conducting cost-benefit analyses, selecting the options that best meet the needs, and in establishment and subsequent management practices. Ryegrass (perennial and hybrids) and white clover remain the primary choice for permanent pasture renewal, the availability of safe endophytes having largely alleviated effects of endophyte toxicosis. Special-purpose mixtures are used, especially in dry environments. Italian ryegrasses, brassicas and chicory are common choices for forage crops. A range of management techniques can be used to alleviate deleterious effects of some forages, including ryegrass endophyte toxicosis, facial eczema, and toxins associated with Fusarium fungi. Generally these techniques are not totally effective. More research is required to increase our understanding of these disorders, and in order to develop more effective and reliable management practices.     

Bitter vetch as a single dietary ingredient for molt induction in laying hens

Molting is used to increase productivity in the second laying cycle of commercial laying flocks. We report here the applicability of whole grain of bitter vetch as an alternative method for molt induction in laying hens. A total of 120 laying hens were molted by feed withdrawal (FW), a high-Zn diet (HZn), a moderate-Zn and Ca-P-deficient diet (MZn-CaP), or whole grain of bitter vetch (BV). Egg production ceased first in FW-treated hens and last in MZn-CaP-treated hens (P < 0.05). The rest period was longer (P < 0.05) in hens exposed to the BV diet, which proved to be comparable with the FW treatment for postmolt egg production. Egg mass for 4 to 16 wk after the molting was greater (P < 0.05) for hens molted by BV than hens molted by the MZn-CaP diet. Egg weight and yolk color were not (P > 0.05) significantly different among various molting induction methods. Albumen height and Haugh unit of eggs from hens molted by BV, for the most part of the experimental period, were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than for birds on the MZn-CaP diet and unmolted hens. In conclusion, use of BV grain as a single dietary ingredient proved to be effective in molt induction and improving postmolt egg production and internal egg quality when compared with unmolted hens.     

日粮添加高铜对产蛋鸡生产性能和脂质代谢的影响

试验研究饲粮中添加铜对产蛋鸡生产性能,脂质代谢和组织铜含量的影响。试验共分4个处理,分别在基础饲粮中添加0、100、250、300mg/kg铜,80只360日龄的新罗曼蛋鸡随机分到4个处理中,每个处理5个重复,每个重复4只鸡,试验期28d。结果表明:添加高铜对各阶段产蛋鸡的采食量,产蛋率,蛋重无显著影响(P>0.05);但与对照组相比,添加高铜降低了第14、21、28天鸡蛋中每克蛋黄的胆固醇(TC)含量(P<0.05)和第21天血清中甘油三酯(TG),极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(VLDL-C)含量(P<0.05)以及第28天肝脏中谷胱苷肽(GSH)的含量(P<0.05)。添加300mg/kg的铜增加了肝脏中铜的沉积(P<0.05),而对蛋黄中铜的含量无影响。本研究表明添加铜能够降低蛋黄中的TC含量,而对蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋黄中铜的含量无显著影响。     

Expression of follistatin is associated with egg formation in the oviduct of laying hens

The objective of this study was to examine the expression profiles of follistatin (FST) and its associated molecules (MSTN, INHA, INHBB, INHBA, ACVR2A, and ACVR2B) in the oviduct of laying hens at 3 hr and 20 hr post‐ovulation (p.o., n = 5; 35 weeks old), molting (n = 5; 60 weeks old), and non‐laying (n = 4; 35–60 weeks old) hens and also to localize the FST by using immunohistochemistry assay. Expression of FST was significantly higher (p < .05), and MSTN was lower in the uterus of laying hens around 15–20 hr p.o. (during eggshell formation), however, their expressions in the magnum remain unchanged across different physiological stages of hens. FST was mainly expressed in the luminal and glandular epithelium of the uterine tissues, and their expression intensity was highest in laying hens during the eggshell mineralization. There was a relatively increased expression of INHA in the magnum of laying hens around 3 hr p.o. as compared to non‐laying and molting hens. At the same time (3 hr p.o.), there was a significant (p < .05) decrease in the expression of the INHBB, ACVR2A, and ACV2B. These results indicate that follistatin may regulate the differentiation of uterine luminal and glandular epithelium during eggshell biomineralization.