Nutritive constituents of Silky fowl eggs: comparison with hen eggs of White Leghorn origin

In the present study, proportional parts, amounts of major constituents, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids composition of Silky fowl eggs were examined compared with those of hen eggs. The ratio of egg yolk weight to whole egg weight of Silky fowl egg was significantly larger than that of egg yolk of hen egg. The amount of cholesterol of Silky fowl eggs were significantly (P < 0.01) less than those of hen eggs. The amount of vitamins (B2, B6, D and E), calcium and potassium in Silky fowl eggs were significantly higher than those of hen eggs. Unsaturated fatty acids in Silky fowl eggs were 62.5% among total fatty acids, the unsaturated fatty acids of hen eggs were 53.9%. Especially, the contents of arachidonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in Silky fowl eggs were significantly larger than in hen eggs.     

Significance of local immunity in hen reproductive organs

The current paper describes aspects of local immunity in the ovary and oviduct, and the significance of immunity to reproductive functions in hens. The immunocompetent cell populations in the ovary and oviduct change with a positive correlation to sexual activity, and gonadal steroid is one of the key factors in the increase. Local immune responses mediated by major histocompatibility complex class II and T cell subsets occur in response to infection by Salmonella enteritidis, which may contaminate eggs. In the ovary, immunocompetent cells are also suggested to play roles in the regulation of ovarian functions. Macrophages and T cells are likely to enhance the regression of atretic follicles to maintain the ovarian tissue microenvironment. Autoantibodies to ovarian tissues appeared in the hens with low egg laying frequency, suggesting that the auto‐antibodies may be one of the factors in the decline of egg production. In the oviduct, local immunity possibly has a role in the selection of sperm, though the immunoreactions may also affect sperm survival leading to the decline in fertility. The concentration of yolk IgY, which plays a role in maternal immunity transmission, significantly decreases with the aging of birds, whereas it is significantly increased by estrogen. Therefore, the immune system plays significant roles not only in defense against infection, but also in the functions of reproductive organs. Investigations on the local immune system in the reproductive organs and factors affecting it are of importance for the production of sterile eggs and improvement of reproductive functions.     

鸡抗鸭病毒性肝炎高免卵黄抗体的研制及应用

应用雏鸭病毒性肝炎病毒（DHV）弱毒疫苗和DHV油乳剂灭活苗多次免疫产蛋鸡，制备鸡抗鸭病毒性肝炎高免卵黄抗体，自制鸭病毒性肝炎病毒高免卵黄抗体的疗效取决于卵黄抗体的中和效价及治疗的时间。实验室试验及临床应用结果表明，卵黄抗体的中和效价应达2^8以上，并且在感染DHV 24h以内对雏鸭进行肌肉注射，治疗效果最为理想。     

阿莫西林、舒巴坦联用对鸭实验性大肠杆菌病的疗效试验

用试管两倍稀释法测定了阿莫西林、阿莫西林与舒巴坦联合对大肠杆菌的体外抗菌活性,并观察阿莫西林与舒巴坦联合治疗耐阿莫西林大肠杆菌诱发的鸭大肠杆菌病的效果。结果表明:阿莫西林与舒巴坦联合对鸭大肠杆菌产酶菌株体外抗菌活性优于阿莫西林,表现为明显的体外协同作用。阿莫西林与舒巴坦联用治疗耐阿莫西林大肠杆菌诱发的鸭大肠杆菌病,按10mg/kg体重(以阿莫西林量计算)肌肉注射,阿莫西林与舒巴坦联用1∶1和2∶1的有效率、治愈率分别为92.5%、92.5%和85%、80%,均显著高于感染对照组、阿莫西林饮水组及阿莫西林肌肉注射组(P<0.01)。     

鸡蛋消毒方法的对比研究

采用5种消毒方法对鸡蛋蛋壳表面细菌进行杀菌效果试验,结果表明,各处理组之间抑菌效果差异显著(P＜0.05),杀菌效果优劣依次为开水浸烫＞甲醛熏蒸＞过氧乙酸熏蒸＞高锰酸钾浸泡＞过氧乙酸浸泡,开水浸烫操作技术难度较大,容易引起蛋壳破裂,适宜实际生产的消毒方法为过氧乙酸熏蒸和甲醛熏蒸.将消毒处理后的鸡蛋在温度25℃,相对湿度60%～80%贮存20天,开水浸烫处理组鸡蛋仍保持较鲜的品质,其余各组鸡蛋品质较差.结果表明,常规消毒方法(除开水浸烫法)只能抑制蛋壳表面微生物的生长繁殖,不能延缓鸡蛋品质下降达到保鲜鸡蛋的作用.     

致麻鸭产蛋下降的副粘病毒的分离和鉴定

从浙江省某麻鸭养殖基地产蛋锐减的病鸭生殖器官分离到1株致产蛋下降、不致鸭死亡的病毒株(YH99V)。该病毒易感蛋鸭，经SPF鸡胚传至第9代时致病性突然增强，第11代出现对鸡红细胞的血凝特性，通常在42～80h致死SPF鸡胚，EF15EID50为10^1.8。经磷钨酸负染电镜观察，YH99V粒子呈现圆形、杆状形、葫芦状形等多形态，直径70～400nm不等，病毒外表有囊膜，囊膜外层有排列整齐的纤突。病毒粒子和包涵体位于细胞浆内。病毒抵抗力由弱到强依次为：0．2%甲醛、24h-56℃、45min→紫外线、1h→乙醚≈氯仿≈37℃、16h—pH9→pH5→1％Try。对人眼结膜易感，鸭眼结膜不易感。接种传代细胞BHK-21、IBRS-2均能引起细胞病变。YH99V株与同样引起鸭产蛋下降的AIV、鸭源EDSV无抗原相关性，而能被禽副粘病毒Ⅰ型阳性血清中和。根据试验结果，初步将YH99V判定为鸭副粘病毒。     

0～3周龄北京鸭氨基酸理想模式的研究

依据扣除法原理，根据现有氨基酸需要量标准和目前的研究结果规划出一种氨基酸模式，依次将模式中赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、色氨酸、苏氨酸、异亮氨酸扣除20％，而非扣除的氨基酸量保持不变，来确定扣除某一种氨基酸后对育雏期北京鸭生产性能和血液生化指标的影响，确定出理想的氨基酸比例。试验共设6个处理组，为6种氨基酸模式，每个处理设4个重复。结果表明：北京鸭育雏期氨基酸理想模式为赖氨酸：蛋氨酸：色氨酸：苏氨酸：异亮氨酸=100：42：22：38：48。     

Assessing exterior egg quality indicators using machine vision

ABSTRACT

1. The objective of this study was to develop a machine vision method for analysing exterior parameters of chicken eggs to automate the stage of primary sorting.

2. The developed algorithm based on predetermined thresholds calculated egg quality indicators, including geometric dimensions, shape index and the mottling grade. The algorithm was implemented with an experimental setup that combined the image-based and the candling methods. A total of 400 egg samples were analysed.

3. Comparison of results of the algorithm with those obtained using the traditional manual method showed that mean value of radii values difference was 0.095 ± 0.058 mm for the sharp and 0.080 ± 0.047 mm for the blunt end of the egg, with standard deviations of 0.58 mm and 0.49 mm, respectively.

4. The correlation coefficient between the shape index values determined by the two methods was 0.93; the standard deviation of absolute differences between corresponding values was 1.05%.

5. The results of mottling grade estimation were compared using F-measure and confusion matrix.

6. The results allow the possibility to perform the assessment of egg exterior quality factors in an automatic mode, independent of the expertise of a grader.     

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves improved the egg and meat qualities and protected against ethanol‐induced oxidative damage in laying hens

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves (PE) were value resources due to various pharmacological activities, but data on the effect on laying hens are very scare. This study was conducted to determine the effect of PE on the laying performance, egg traits, meat quality, antioxidant status and liver tissues of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 256‐day‐old Yueqinhuang laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (different levels of PE at 0, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 g/kg diet) for 63 days with 15 replicates per group. Addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg trait by increasing the eggshell thickness and decreasing MDA production and cholesterol content in the egg yolk, but also significantly enhanced meat quality of hens, as suggested by the increase pH_45 min (p < .01) and a* value, and decrease drip loss rate (p < .01). Meanwhile, under acute ethanol‐induced oxidative damage condition, supplementation of 0.8 g/kg PE enhanced the serum antioxidant status by increasing enzymatic activities (GSH‐PX, T‐SOD, T‐AOC), inhibited oxidative damage and provided protective effect to liver tissue. In conclusion, addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg traits and meat quality without obvious adverse effects, but also increased the serum antioxidant status of the hens and protected their liver tissue from ethanol‐induced oxidative damage. This study indicated that PE could be utilized as an effective feed additive for laying hens to improve health performance and egg traits.     

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the egg quality,immune response,zinc retention,and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) on the performance, egg quality, Zn retention, immunity responses, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum parameters in laying hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, and 12 birds within each group. Experimental diets included a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet (without Zn supplementation) and a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg of Zn‐oxide, ZnO‐NPs, and Zn‐methionine. The results indicated that egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the Zn‐methionine and ZnO‐NPs groups (p < .05). Also, eggshell thickness and shell strength increased in the ZnO‐NPs group as compared with the other groups (p < .05). Moreover, Zn supplementation decreased egg loss (p < .05). There were significant differences among treatments in Zn deposition in tibiotarsus, liver, pancreas, eggs, and excreta (p < .01). Antibody titre, heterophil (%(, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were significantly higher in birds fed with Zn‐supplemented diets (p < .05). In treatments supplemented with ZnO‐NPs and Zn‐methionine, the SOD activity in the liver, pancreas, and plasma was greater as compared with the other treatments (p < .05). The MDA content in eggs was significantly reduced in groups supplemented with Zn (p < .01). Moreover, dietary Zn supplementation significantly affected serum total protein, albumin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity, and Zn level (p < .05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ZnO‐NPs can improve the performance of laying hens. Therefore, ZnO‐NPs can enhance zinc absorption in the intestine of aged layers and can be a more suitable source of zinc than regular Zn‐oxide in diets.