Effect of dietary karaya saponin on serum and egg yolk cholesterol in laying hens

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary karaya saponin on cholesterol deposition in laying hens. 2. A total of 40 Boris Brown hens were randomly assigned at 20 weeks of age to 4 treatment groups and fed on diets supplemented with 0 (control), 25, 50 or 75 mg/kg karaya saponin for an 8-week experimental period. 3. After 8 weeks of dietary supplementation, karaya-saponin-treated groups had significantly lower serum cholesterol (23·0%) and triglycerides but increased high density lipoproteins cholesterol concentration than controls, irrespective of karaya saponin content in the diet. Egg yolk cholesterol and triglycerides were also significantly reduced by dietary karaya saponin. Hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly reduced by karaya saponin but bile acids concentration in the faeces and liver were significantly increased by karaya saponin. The concentrations of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in the yolk were greater in hens receiving karaya saponin than in controls. Karaya saponin significantly increased egg production, feed efficiency and yolk colour compared with controls. Karaya saponin tended to increase egg weight, feed consumption, Haugh units, albumen weight and yolk index. 4. In conclusion, karaya saponin is a potential agent for reducing yolk cholesterol concentration together with an overall increase of production performance and improvement in egg quality.     

Effects of karaya saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus on yolk cholesterol in laying hens

1. It has been reported that karaya saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus individually have hypocholesterolaemic activity in laying hens. This study focuses on the effect of adding karaya saponin with R. capsulatus to hen's diet with regard to serum and egg yolk cholesterol and triglycerides.

2. A total of 56 Boris Brown laying hens were divided into 7 groups at 20 weeks of age. Combinations of 25, 50, 75 mg kg^?1 karaya saponin and R. capsulatus 200 and 400 mg kg^?1 were used as treatment groups.

3. After 8 weeks of supplementation, the effects of all the combinations of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus on serum and egg yolk cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were greater than either karaya saponin or R. capsulatus alone. The combination of karaya saponin 50 mg kg^?1+ R. capsulatus 400 mg kg^?1 exhibited the greatest reduction of serum (32?5%) and yolk (22?5%) cholesterol and the greatest increase of faecal, liver bile acids and yolk fatty acid (oleic, linoleic and linolenic) concentrations. In addition, egg production and yolk colour were significantly improved by the combined use of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus supplementation.

4. Therefore, the dietary supplementation of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus may lead to the production of a low-cholesterol egg, with production performance maintained at a standard level.     

Effect of the mycotoxin aurofusarin on the antioxidant composition and fatty acid profile of quail eggs.

1. The effect of the mycotoxin aurofusarin on the antioxidant composition and fatty acid profile of quail eggs was investigated. 2. Thirty eight 45-d-old Japanese quails were divided into two groups (experimental and control, 15 females +4 males in each group) and were fed on a maize-soya diet balanced in all nutrients. The diet of the experimental quails was supplemented with aurofusarin at the level of 26.4 mg/kg feed in the form of Fusarium graminearum culture enriched with aurofusarin. At the beginning and after 2, 4 and 8 week supplementation periods, eggs were collected and analysed. After 8 weeks of supplementation, experimental quails were fed on unsupplemented diet during the next 4 weeks and eggs were collected after 2 and 4 weeks on such a diet and analysed. 3. Aurofusarin caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in vitamins E, A, total carotenoid, lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations and significantly (P<0.05) increased egg yolk susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. During two weeks on the diet without aurofusarin the levels of carotenoids in the egg yolk returned to the initial level, vitamins A and E returned to the initial level during 4 weeks on the same unsupplemented diet. 4. Dietary supplementation with aurofusarin was associated with a significant (P<0.01) decrease in the docosahexaenoic acid proportion in the phospholipid, cholesteryl ester and free fatty acid fractions of the egg yolk. At the same time the proportion of linoleic acid in the phospholipid, free fatty acid and triacylglycerol fractions significantly (P<0.05) increased. 5. It is concluded that mycotoxin aurofusarin is detrimental to the nutritional quality of eggs.     

Effect of dietary Rhodobacter capsulatus on lipid fractions and egg-yolk fatty acid composition in laying hens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Rhodobacter capsulatus on lipid fractions and egg‐yolk fatty acid composition in laying hens. Thirty‐six laying hens (30 weeks old) were randomly assigned into two dietary groups fed diets with (0.04%) or without (control) R. capsulatus for a 60‐day feeding trial. Dietary R. capsulatus decreased (p < 0.05) serum and hepatic cholesterol and increased (p < 0.05) the excreta cholesterol, and resultant lower (p < 0.05) cholesterol contents in egg yolk. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ratio to saturated fatty acids in egg yolk was improved (p < 0.05) by dietary R. capsulatus. The concentration of hepatic bile acid was increased (p < 0.05) and excreta bile acid was decreased (p < 0.01) in the laying hens fed R. capsulatus diet. The incorporation of 1‐¹⁴C‐palmitic acid into hepatic lipids and lipid fractions was increased (p < 0.05) in laying hens fed R. capsulatus diet. Moreover, dietary R. capsulatus did not appear to cause any adverse effects on laying hen performances. Therefore, dietary supplementation of R. capsulatus in layer diets may be a feasible means of producing eggs with lower cholesterol and higher PUFA contents for health conscious consumers.     

Use of L-carnitine and humate in laying quail diets

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of using L-carnitine and humate alone or in combination in quail diets on laying performance, egg traits and blood parameters. A total of 280 Japanese quails aged 10 weeks, divided into one control group and three treatment groups, were used. The diets of the first, second and third treatment groups were supplemented with 100 mg L-carnitine/kg, 1.5 g humate (Farmagülat?r Dry Plus)/kg and 100 mg L-camitine + 1.5 g humate/kg, respectively. The experimental period lasted 16 weeks. The addition of L-carnitine and sodium humate alone or in combination did not significantly affect body weight, feed consumption, egg production, feed conversion ratio, mortality, egg-shell thickness, egg yolk index and the percentages of egg-shell, albumen and yolk. Egg weight increased (P < 0.001) with L-carnitine supplementation. The values of egg albumen height (P < 0.05), egg albumen index (P < 0.01) and egg Haugh unit (P < 0.05) were increased with humate supplementation. Egg cholesterol content and blood serum parameters were not affected by the supplementation of L-carnitine with or without humate. The results in this study demonstrated that L-carnitine supplementation increased egg weight while humate addition increased egg albumen index and egg Haugh unit of laying quails. However, the combined administration of L-carnitine and humate did not have any significant effects on the parameters measured.     

Vitamin E supplementation can alleviate negative effects of heat stress on egg production,egg quality,digestibility of nutrients and egg yolk mineral concentrations of Japanese quails

The aim of this study was to determine if the negative effects of high ambient temperature (34 degrees C) on egg production, egg quality, digestibility of nutrients, and mineral content of egg yolk could be alleviated by dietary vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) supplementation in laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japanica). Japanese quails (n=240; 7-week-old) were divided into eight groups, 30 birds per group. The quails were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 125, 250 or 500 mg of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg of diet. Birds were kept at 22 degrees C and 55% relative humidity (RH). At 14 weeks of age, the thermo-neutral (TN) group remained in the same temperature as at the beginning of the experiment, whereas the heat stress (HS) group was kept at an environment-controlled room at 34 degrees C and 44% RH for 3 weeks. Heat exposure decreased performance when basal diet was fed (P=0.001). With 250 and 500 mg/kg of diet, an increase in body weight (P=0.01), feed intake (P=0.01), egg production (P=0.001), and improvement in feed efficiency (P=0.01) was found with vitamin E supplementation in quails reared under heat stress conditions (HS). Similarly, egg weight (P=0.01), egg specific gravity (P=0.01), egg shell thickness (P=0.05) and Haugh unit (P=0.01) were positively influenced by vitamin E supplementation. Heat exposure decreased digestibility of dry matter (DM) (P=0.03), organic matter (OM) (P=0.05), crude protein (CP) (P=0.02), ether extract (EE) (P=0.05) and were elevated by supplemental vitamin E (P相似文献   

日粮中添加亚麻籽油对鸡蛋脂肪酸组成和风味的影响

试验旨在研究日粮中添加亚麻籽油对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质、蛋黄脂肪酸组成及鸡蛋风味的影响。选取40周龄海兰灰商品代蛋鸡288只,随机分为4组,每组8个重复,每个重复9只鸡。设计分别添加0、0.5%、1.0%和3.0%亚麻籽油的4种等能等氮日粮。预试期1周,正试期4周。结果显示：①日粮中添加0.5%、1.0%、3.0%亚麻籽油对产蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质均无显著影响（P>0.05）;②亚麻籽油可显著提高蛋黄中α-亚麻酸（ALA）、二十碳五烯酸（EPA）、二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）及总n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）含量,且其随亚麻籽油添加水平增加呈线性和二次变化（P<0.05）;③3.0%亚麻籽油组显著降低了蛋黄气味及滋味评分,同时显著增强了蛋黄鱼腥气味及滋味评分（P<0.05）,而蛋黄总体接受度显著降低（P<0.05）,且其均随亚麻籽油添加水平增加呈线性和二次变化（P<0.05）;④鸡蛋蛋黄总n-3 PUFA含量与鱼腥气味、滋味间具有显著相关性（P<0.05）,且鸡蛋蛋黄接受度随n-3 PUFA含量增加而降低（R²=0.801）。综上所述,日粮添加亚麻籽油可提高蛋黄总n-3 PUFA含量,但添加量过高时对鸡蛋风味产生不良影响导致总体接受度下降;蛋黄总n-3 PUFA含量不高于21.26 mg/g时,可接受度评分大于5分,鸡蛋感官品质在可接受范围内。     

饲粮胆碱和裂殖壶菌油联合添加促进二十二碳六烯酸在鸡蛋卵黄中的富集

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加胆碱与裂殖壶菌油(Schizochytrium oil,SO)对鸡蛋卵黄脂质及二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)富集的影响。选取26周龄京红蛋鸡288只,分4组(每组6个重复,每重复12只鸡)。采用2×2因子试验设计,饲粮添加胆碱(500和1 000 mg/kg)和SO(0和0.5%)为2个主效应,共配制4种等氮等能饲粮。预试期1周,正试期8周。结果表明:1)试验期内,各组生产性能和蛋品质均无显著差异(P0.05)。2)各组卵黄中干物质、粗脂肪、胆固醇及甘油三酯含量均无显著差异(P0.05)。1 000 mg/kg胆碱组卵黄总磷脂含量显著高于500 mg/kg胆碱组(P0.05)。胆碱和SO对卵黄总磷脂含量有显著交互作用(P=0.04),1 000 mg/kg胆碱+0.5%SO组卵黄总磷脂含量最高。3)0.5%SO显著提高卵黄n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)和DHA含量(P0.05),显著降低n-6 PUFA含量及n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA值(P0.05)。胆碱和SO对卵黄中n-3 PUFA(P0.001)、n-6 PUFA(P=0.01)及DHA(P0.001)含量和n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA值(P=0.01)有显著交互作用,1 000 mg/kg胆碱+0.5%SO组卵黄中n-3PUFA和DHA含量显著高于其他组(P0.05),且n-6 PUFA含量及n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA值显著低于其他组(P0.05)。综上,本试验条件下,饲粮中1 000 mg/kg胆碱和0.5%SO联合添加可促进卵黄DHA富集,且对蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质无显著影响。     

日粮月见草籽对鹌鹑蛋黄中脂肪酸的作用

通过饲养试验,在基础日粮中分别添加0%、8%1、0%、12%、15%的月见草籽(磨碎),研究不同添加量对鹌鹑蛋黄中脂肪酸的影响。选用150羽健康1日龄鹌鹑随机分成5组,每组设3个重复,每个重复10羽鹌鹑进行为期50 d的饲养。结果显示:添加月见草籽可明显增加鹌鹑蛋黄中不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)的含量(P<0.05),尤其是C18:2的含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。蛋黄中ω-6含量和日粮中月见草籽添加量之间呈现出显著的相关关系(P<0.05),其关系可用一次回归式Y=3.688 7 X+42.038(r=0.958 9)来表示。     

Influence of sumac (Rhus Coriaria L.) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) on egg yolk fatty acid,cholesterol and blood parameters in laying hens

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effect of different levels of sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) seed powder and ginger (Zingiber officinale) root powder on egg yolk fatty acid composition, blood/yolk cholesterol in laying hen. A total of 63 (ATAK‐S: Domestic Turkish Laying Hens) laying hens (average weight: 1470 g each hen, 25‐weeks of age) were assigned to seven treatment diets including sumac seed (S) and ginger root powder (G) at 0 g/kg (control), 10 g/kg (S1), 20 g/kg (S2), and 30 g/kg (S3); 10 g/kg (G1), 20 g/kg (G2), or 30 g/kg in rations respectively, for 8 weeks. After a two‐week adaptation period to cages, the hens were allocated to 7 groups with 9 replicates of 1 hen in per cage each. The replications were allotted equally into the upper and lower cages to minimize the effects of cage level. In this study, egg yolk cholesterol had a decrease (p <0.05) in supplemented diet( sumac seed and ginger root powder). Fatty acid content in yolk; saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and rate of n6/n3 were not significant (p <0.05). However, dietary supplementation with sumac and ginger powder reduced and yolk/blood cholesterol concentrations in laying hens. Supplementation of sumac and ginger affected on HDL, there was found a significant effect (p < 0.05) in treatment groups. Moreover, LDL positively decreased in all treatment groups compared with the control group. The findings of this study suggested that feeding sumac and ginger tend to be decreasing cholesterol levels in both yolk and blood on laying hens. It can be concluded that ginger root and sumac seed powder can be used as an effective feed additive to improve fatty acid composition and yolk and blood cholesterol in ATAK‐S laying hens.     

维生素E对蛋鸡产蛋后期产蛋性能和蛋品质的影响

文章旨在研究日粮中不同梯度维生素E添加水平对蛋鸡产蛋后期产蛋性能和蛋品质的影响。试验选择60周龄罗曼白壳商品蛋鸡300羽,试验随机分为5组,添加水平分别为0(对照组),30、60、120、240 mg/kg,每组6个重复,每个重复10羽鸡,预试期1周,正试期8周。结果表明:与对照组相比,蛋鸡产蛋后期日粮中添加120 mg/kg的维生素E可显著提高蛋鸡产蛋后期产蛋性能(P<0.05);与对照组相比,蛋鸡产蛋后期日粮中添加120 mg/kg的维生素E可显著提高蛋壳硬度、蛋壳相对重、蛋黄相对重以及蛋黄颜色(P<0.05),蛋黄总胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01)。综上所述,在蛋鸡产蛋后期日粮中添加120 mg/kg的维生素E可显著改善其产蛋性能和蛋品质。     

Physiological performance of quails that underwent dietary and pharmacological manipulation of cholesterol

The present work evaluated whether dietary and pharmacological interference on cholesterol synthesis were capable of inducing alterations in blood and yolk cholesterol levels and the secretion of corticosterone metabolites. Forty‐five 40‐day‐old quails were divided into three experimental groups: vegetal fat diet, 2% beef fat (tallow) diet and vegetal fat diet with simvastatin administration (3.13 mg/kg/day). During all experiments, the animal weights and food consumption were recorded and blood and faecal samples (days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60), as well as eggs (days 30, 45 and 60), were collected. Analysis of serum and yolk cholesterol was performed and faecal corticosterone levels were measured. No differences were observed on blood cholesterol or faecal corticosterone between all treatments, despite a tendency of increased cholesterol in the group with the animal fat diet. However, quails submitted to an animal fat diet displayed an increase in yolk cholesterol at day 30 of the treatment and the egg yolks of quails treated with simvastatin exhibited a decrease in cholesterol content by the end of the treatment at 60 days. These results improved the knowledge regarding the physiology of quails and offered support to other studies concerning the consequences of the pharmacological treatment and the dietary manipulation of cholesterol levels.     

硒和铬对蛋鸡脂质代谢及鸡蛋硒含量的影响

本试验旨在研究在蛋鸡日粮中添加酵母硒和吡啶羧酸铬及其互作对蛋鸡生产性能、脂质代谢及鸡蛋品质的影响.选用320只45周龄海赛克斯蛋鸡随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复20只鸡,在基础口粮中分别添加0 mg/kg吡啶羧酸铬(Ⅰ组)、0.4 mg/kg吡啶羧酸铬(Ⅱ组)、0.5 mg/kg酵母硒(Ⅲ组)、0.4 mg/kg吡啶羧酸铬+0.5 mg/kg酵母硒(Ⅳ组),预饲1周,试验从46周龄持续到50周龄,试验期5周(35 d).结果表明,Ⅲ、Ⅳ组产蛋率极显著提高,料蛋比极显著降低(P<0.01).Ⅱ、Ⅳ组血清总胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01),Ⅲ、Ⅳ组血清高密度胆固醇含量极显著升高(P<0.01).Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组蛋黄中的胆固醇含量与Ⅰ组差异极显著(P<0.01).Ⅲ、Ⅳ组与Ⅰ、Ⅱ组相比,鸡蛋硒含量极显著升高(P<0.01).Ⅲ、Ⅳ组在试验开始到第2周末鸡蛋硒含量极显著升高(P<0.01),从第2周末到第5周末,硒含量基本稳定,4个组均进入平台期.结果显示,吡啶羧酸铬极显著降低了血清及蛋黄中的胆固醇含量.酵母硒极显著提高了产蛋率,降低了料蛋比,并降低了蛋黄中胆固醇含量,提高了鸡蛋中的硒含量.同时添加吡啶羧酸铬和酵母硒极显著提高了产蛋率,降低了料蛋比,并降低了血清及蛋黄中的胆固醇含量,提高了血清中高密度胆同醇含量和鸡蛋中的硒含量.     

In vivo antioxidant properties of vitamin E and chromium in cold-stressed Japanese quails.

An experiment was conducted to determine if vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol-acetate) and chromium (chromium picolinate, Cr Pic) supplementation attenuate the negative effects of cold stress on egg production, egg quality, serum metabolites, and antioxidant status in Japanese quails (Corurnix coturnix japonica). One hundred and fifty laying Japanese quails (50-day-old) were divided into five groups, 30 birds per group. The laying quails kept at 6 degrees C for 12 h/d (08.00 p.m. to 08.00 a.m.) were fed either a basal diet (low temperature-basal diet, CS group) or the basal diet supplemented with either 400 microg of Cr/kg of diet (Cr group), 250 mg of alpha-tocopherol-acetate per kg of diet (Vit. E group) or 400 microg of Cr plus 250 mg of alpha-tocopherol-acetate per kg of diet (Vit. E + Cr group) while quails kept at 18 degrees C were fed a basal diet (thermo-neutral-basal diet, TN group). Performance and egg quality were significantly reduced in CS group compared with TN group. Supplemental chromium and vitamin E significantly increased live weight change, egg production, and improved feed efficiency in cold-stressed laying hens compared with the group fed the basal diet at 6 degrees C. Egg production and egg weight were also greater (P < 0.05) in each supplemental group compared with the CS group. However, a combination of vitamin E and chromium, rather than each separately, provided the greatest performance. Supplemental vitamin E and chromium also increased serum vitamin C and E but, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (P < 0.05); the combination of vitamin E and chromium resulted in the highest levels of serum vitamin C and E within the cold-stressed quails. Results of the present study indicate that combined antioxidant supplements increased performance, egg quality and serum antioxidant levels while lowering MDA in cold-stressed quails.     

Lipid profile in eggs of Araucana hens compared with Lohmann Selected Leghorn and ISA Brown hens given diets with different fat sources

1. In a cross-over trial, the egg cholesterol and fatty acid composition of Araucana hens was compared with those of two commercial breeds (Lohmann Selected Leghorn and ISA Brown) under two feeding regimes, either high (Hn-3) or low (Ln-3) in long-chain n-3 fatty acids. 2. The Hn-3 diet was formed by isocaloric substitution of animal fat in the control diet (Ln-3) by a dry product containing stabilised fish oil with standardised concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). 3. Both breed and diet had influences on egg composition, without interactions. 4. The Araucana breed showed lower feed intake and lower egg weights than the other two breeds. The yolk weight was similar, leading to a much higher yolk:albumen ratio in the Araucana eggs. 5. In comparison to commercial breeds, Araucanas produced eggs with higher cholesterol content per g of yolk, which was even more pronounced when expressed per g of egg, due to the high yolk content of the eggs. The cholesterol content of an egg remained unchanged by the diet, irrespective of the dietary fat source. 6. Changing to the Hn-3 diet led to greater concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and lower concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) contents in the yolk, without a change in the ratio of saturated (SFA) to unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). 7. Within the PUFA, the n-3 fatty acids increased at the expense of the n-6 fatty acids, indicating a competition between n-3 and n-6 fatty acids for incorporation in the yolk.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of organic zinc on laying performance,egg quality and some biochemical parameters of laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc methionine (Zn‐Met) supplementation on the performance, egg quality, antioxidant status and some biochemical parameters of blood serum in laying hens from 22 to 34 weeks of age. A total of 120 Hisex Brown laying hens of 22‐week‐old were randomly allocated into five treatments with six cage replicates for each (four hens/replicate). Dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet with no Zn‐Met supplementation (control group) and basal diet supplemented with 25, 50, 75 or 100 mg Zn‐Met/kg diet. No significant differences were observed on body weight, body weight gain or feed conversion ratio due to dietary Zn‐Met supplementation. However, highly significant impact was observed on daily feed intake. Egg number, egg weight and egg mass were increased in the group fed diet supplemented with the highest level of Zn‐Met (100 mg/kg of diet) as compared to other groups. All egg quality traits were statistically (p > .05 or .01) affected as a response to dietary Zn‐Met supplementation except egg shape index, shell percentage and yolk index. In comparison with the control group, dietary supplementation of 25, 50, 75 or 100 mg Zn‐Met/kg decreased serum triglyceride and LDL‐cholesterol levels. Serum cholesterol level was increased with all dietary levels of Zn‐Met in comparison with the control group. Dietary Zn‐Met supplementation increased the serum content of zinc, where the highest values were recorded with 50 and 100 mg Zn‐Met/kg diet. Dietary Zn‐Met levels did not affect the antioxidant indices in blood serum except for the activity of copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu‐Zn‐SOD). The activity of Cu‐Zn‐SOD was increased with Zn‐Met supplementations with no differences among supplemental zinc levels. It is concluded that dietary Zn‐Met supplementation reduced serum triglyceride, LDL‐cholesterol and increased Zn status and resulted in promoting antioxidant ability of laying hens, and the addition of 100 mg Zn‐Met/kg to layer diet was appropriate for improving the above parameters in addition to egg production indices and Haugh unit score.     

Effects of supplementary iodine on the performance and egg traits of laying hens

1. This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of dietary iodine supplementation on the performance and egg traits of laying hens. A total of 600 SHSY type brown layers aged 21 weeks of age were chosen at random from a large flock. They were randomly distributed into 30 pens at 20 hens per pen. Each treatment comprised 6 replicates of 20 layers in groups of 5 birds. The diets were supplemented with 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg iodine as calcium iodate. The experimental period lasted 30 weeks. 2. There were no significant differences among the groups in body weight, food consumption, egg production, food consumption per kg eggs, eggshell index, eggshell breaking strength, shell thickness or egg yolk index. 3. Supplementation of the diet with 12 mg/kg iodine increased food consumption per dozen eggs compared to the groups fed on diets supplemented with 0 and 6 mg/kg iodine. 4. Egg weight was less in groups fed on diets supplemented with 12 and 24 mg/kg iodine than in the group receiving no iodine supplementation. 5. Iodine supplementation to provide 12 and 24 mg/kg reduced egg albumen index and egg Haugh units. 6. There were no significant differences among the groups in egg cholesterol and egg yolk cholesterol contents. 7. The iodine concentrations in egg yolk, egg albumen and whole egg increased with increased iodine supplementation. 8. As a result, the 3 and 6 mg/kg iodine supplementation of diet could be used to enrich the eggs with iodine without any adverse effect on performance and egg traits.     

Juniper oil improves oxidative stability and eggshell and albumin quality of quail eggs

1. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of juniper oil (JO) dietary supplementation on the laying performance, egg traits and egg malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations of quail.

2. A total of 400 female Pharaoh quails were equally divided into 4 groups containing 100 quails (5 replicates of 20 quails each). The study included a control treatment with no diet additives, and the treatments were as follows: (group 1) 100 mg JO/kg; (group 2) 200 mg JO/kg; (group 3) 300 mg JO/kg. The experiment was carried out for 60 d.

3. At the end of the experiment, there were no significant differences in body weight, egg weight, egg mass, egg shape index, yolk colour, egg production, feed consumption or feed efficiency.

4. The Haugh unit was increased in groups 2 and 3 compared to the control group. Dietary fortification with JO improved eggshell thickness and breaking strength compared to the control group. Furthermore, the damaged egg ratio was significantly decreased in group 3 compared to the control. The increasing concentration of JO (200 and 300 mg/kg) caused a significant decrease in egg yolk MDA concentration after 15 and 30 d of storage at 20°C.

5. It was concluded that inclusion of JO in layer diets can improve egg quality characteristics in terms of Haugh unit, eggshell thickness and breaking strength. Moreover, supplementation of JO in the diets of quail may enhance the antioxidant status of eggs, and the most effective doses of JO were 200 and 300 mg/kg.     

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。     

Influence of dietary fat source and copper supplementation on broiler performance, fatty acid profile of meat and depot fat, and on cholesterol content in meat

1. Three hundred and twenty d-old chickens were fed on a wheat/maize-soyabean meal diet supplemented with (i) 50 g/kg lard, (ii) 25 g/kg lard and 25 g/kg rapeseed oil, (iii) 50 g/kg rapeseed oil, and (iv) 50 g/kg rapeseed oil and 200 mg copper per kg as copper sulphate pentahydrate. 2. Final weights at 39 d of age in chickens receiving rapeseed oil were lower by 9% than in those fed on the diet containing only lard (P<0.05). The fatty acids profiles of lipids extracted from the tissues of 10 chickens per group reflected those of the diets. 3. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of breast muscles and abdominal fat (expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids) was increased and the ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids was decreased by the substitution of lard by rapeseed oil (P<0.001). These changes were more pronounced for the adipose tissue than for breast muscles. 4. Copper sulphate supplementation increased the final body weight of chickens by 4.3% (P<0.05), reduced the saturated fatty acid (SFA) proportion (P<0.05) in abdominal fat and increased the PUFA:SFA ratio (P<0.05). The magnitude of improvement, however, was small. 5. The substitution of rapeseed oil for lard decreased the concentration of cholesterol in breast muscles by 13%. Copper supplementation further reduced the cholesterol content by 25%. Both effects were significant (P<0.001).