Protein and energy self-selection by turkey hens: reproductive performance

1. The influence of protein and energy self-selection on the reproductive performance of turkey hens was investigated. Large White turkey hens were fed on either a complete diet (185 g CP/kg, 11.30 MJ ME/kg) or were provided with a choice between a high protein-low energy diet (348 g CP/kg, 7.74 MJ ME/kg) and a high energy-low protein diet (81 g CP/kg, 13.39 MJ ME/kg). 2. Egg production, egg weight, and the fertility and hatchability of eggs produced were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments (P greater than 0.05). 3. While energy intake was not significantly different between groups, protein consumption decreased by approximately 40% (P less than or equal to 0.001) among self-selecting hens compared to hens fed on the complete diet. This resulted in a 10% (P less than or equal to 0.05) reduction in the food intake in the self-selecting birds.     

Effects on health and blood plasma parameters of laying hens by pure nivalenol in the diet

The effects of trichothecene nivalenol (NIV) on the health and production of laying hens were determined in a feeding study. White Leghorn hens, 55 weeks old, were fed diets containing 0, 1, 3 and 5 mg NIV/kg during 50 days. Feed intake was reduced by NIV, but there were no effects on body weight, egg production and egg quality. Traces of unaltered NIV were found in liver and bile. Alkaline phosphatase in the blood plasma increased in the hens fed 0, 1 and 3 mg NIV/kg diet but decreased in the birds fed 5 mg NIV/kg feed. Total protein and glucose were slightly reduced in hens fed 5 mg NIV/kg diet. Pathological examination revealed that 40-75% of hens fed NIV (3 and 5 mg/kg) supplemented diet showed gizzard lesions, haemorrhages in the duodenum and swollen cloaca and oviducts with immature eggs while certain birds in the 1 mg NIV group showed light and fragile livers. NIV and the metabolite de-epoxy-NIV in faeces were found to constitute up to 10% of ingested NIV.     

Strain Response of Laying Hens to Varying Dietary Energy Levels With and Without Avizyme Supplementation

The response of 4 strains of laying hens fed diets varying in ME with and without Avizyme 1500 (AVI) supplementation was evaluated in a factorial arrangement study. The strains of laying hens (Hy-Line W-36, Hy-Line Brown, Babcock B300, and Shaver White) were fed 3 diets: moderate ME (2,900 kcal/kg), low ME (2,810 kcal/kg), and low ME with AVI for 28 wk commencing at 22 wk of age. No significant effects of diet, strain, or their interaction on feed intake and BW change were observed. Lack of an effect on feed intake was surprising given the different levels of ME. It is hypothesized that the reduced dietary ME was not low enough to elicit a response. Of course, dietary level of ME did change caloric intake among hens, with hens fed moderate ME consuming more calories than those fed low ME with or without AVI. There was an interesting dietary ME × strain interaction effect on egg production (EP). Babcock B300 hens fed moderate ME and low ME with AVI had greater EP compared with the B300 hens fed low ME, whereas the Shaver White hens had a greater EP when fed a low-ME diet compared with feeding a moderate-ME diet or low-ME diet with AVI. Egg weight and egg mass were significantly affected by strain but not by diet ME. Hy-Line Brown and Babcock B300 hens laid eggs with greater weight and mass in contrast to Hy-Line W-36 or Shaver White. Hy-Line Brown eggs were the largest, whereas Shaver White had greatest egg-specific gravity. Strain significantly affected proportions of albumen vs. yolk in the egg. Across all strains, Hy-Line Brown had more albumen percentage, whereas Hy-Line W-36 had higher wet yolk and yolk solids percentages. The low-ME level fed to laying hens may have been too high to evoke an enzyme response to improve energy utilization by birds. This is important, because to obtain an economic benefit, producers would need to know the proper ME level to feed with the supplemental enzymes.     

Effects of dietary cottonseed meal and iron-treated cottonseed meal in different laying hen genotypes

The effects of dietary screw-pressed cottonseed meal (CSM) and iron-treated CSM on laying performance and discolourations in eggs were examined in a range of hen genotypes. In experiment 1, six genotypes, obtained at point-of-lay from various sources, were fed on a non-CSM diet, a diet with 300 g CSM/kg, and a diet containing iron-treated CSM at 300 g/kg. In experiment 2, two of these genotypes were reared together from day-old and were fed from 10 to 18 weeks on a non-CSM diet or a diet containing iron-treated CSM at 250 g/kg. They were then fed on a non-CSM layer diet or a diet containing iron-treated CSM at 300 g/kg, in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design that also examined the effects of the rearing diet. 2. The effects on food intakes and egg production of including CSM and iron-treated CSM in layer diets depended on the genotype of the hens. The strongest interaction between breed and diet was on food intake, the breed Hubbard Golden Comet (HGC) being the least tolerant of CSM and iron-treated CSM. 3. Inclusion of iron-treated CSM in the rearer diet to supply approximately 70% of the dietary protein had no adverse effects on growth or age at first egg. Food intake and egg production between 18 and 26 weeks were affected by the iron-treated CSM layer diet, but there were no carry-over effects attributable to the rearing diets. 4. Genotype was not a factor in the development of the gossypol-related brown yolk discolouration in fresh or warm-stored eggs of hens fed on a CSM-based diet containing 197 mg free gossypol/kg and 52 mg cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA)/kg (experiment 1). 5. In both experiments, the susceptibility of eggs to the CPFA-related cold storage effects depended on the genotype of the hen, eggs from hens of the HCG breed being more affected than those of ISA hens. 6. Treatment of CSM with crystalline ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, at a 4:1 weight ratio of iron to free gossypol, prevented brown yolk discolourations in all genotypes tested, as assessed by subjecting egg yolks to atmospheres of ammonia, and cold storage of eggs.     

The effects on egg production and egg composition of adding supplements of amino acids and/or urea or dried auto‐claved poultry manure to a low‐protein layer diet

Thirty‐five laying hens of a medium‐weight hybrid strain, aged 10 months, were given a basal diet containing 11.5% protein or the same diet supplemented with 1.54% essential amino acids and/or with two sources of nitrogen for the synthesis of non‐essential amino acids (1.15% urea or 9.7% dried autoclaved poultry manure) for an 8‐week period.

Egg production, food intake, food conversion efficiency, the gross efficiency of nitrogen conversion and the ability of hens to maintain body weight were improved by supplementation with essential amino acids (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Supplementation with dried autoclaved poultry manure raised food intake, total egg mass and mean egg weight (P < 0.05), but supplementation with urea alone did not result in significantly higher egg production, perhaps because it failed to increase food intake. Supplementation with essential amino acids and urea to give the equivalent of 16% protein did not result in significantly higher egg production than that obtained with urea alone. The smallest eggs were produced by hens fed on the diet supplemented with urea, and the largest by those fed on the diet supplemented with dried manure (P < 0.001).

The gross composition of eggs was not influenced significantly by dietary treatment but albumen quality was significantly lower on the basal diet and higher on the supplemented diets (P < 0.001). It was highest in eggs from hens fed on the diet supplemented with urea alone.     

酶制剂、益生素对杂粕饲粮品质改善效果的研究

采用单因素完全随机设计,研究杂粕日粮中添加0.015%的酶制剂和0.15%的益生素与豆粕日粮饲喂蛋鸡的效果差异。结果表明,与豆粕相比,加酶或加益生素的杂粕日粮降低蛋鸡产蛋率、产蛋量、蛋重和蛋鸡采食量;通过添加益生素或酶制剂,杂粕日粮在饲料转化率上与豆粕日粮效果相当;与豆粕日粮相比,加酶或加益生素的杂粕日粮不影响蛋壳厚度和软破蛋率,也不影响能量和蛋白质代谢率,但显著降低排泄物中蛋白质含量。可见,一定程度上加酶或加益生素能可提高杂粕的利用率,但其实用效果与豆粕日粮还有一定差距。     

Dietary levels of chia: influence on hen weight,egg production and sensory quality,for two strains of hens

1. Laying hens, 225 white and 225 brown, were fed for 90 d to compare a control diet with diets containing 70, 140, 210 and 280 g/kg chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed. 2. Hen weight was not significantly affected by diet; however, manure production was less for the hens fed on chia. 3. Egg weight and production, yolk weight, and yolk percentage were determined at d 0, 30, 43, 58, 72 and 90. 4. A sensory evaluation was conducted on eggs produced during the last week of the trial. 5. No significant differences in egg production were found among treatments for the brown hens. 6. With the 280 g/kg chia diet, the white hens produced fewer and lighter eggs than did the hens fed on the control diet. 7. No significant differences were detected in yolk weight until d 90. 8. On this date the yolks produced by the white hens fed on the 70 g/kg chia diet were significantly lighter in weight, whereas the brown hens produced significantly heavier yolks, compared with the hens fed on the control diet. 9. Yolk weight as a percentage of egg weight was lower for white hens throughout the trial except on d 58 with the 140 g/kg chia diet. Significant differences, however, were detected only with the 70 g/ kg chia diet on d 90 and with the 210 g/kg chia diet on d 58, 72 and 90. 10. No significant differences in taste preference or flavour were found among any of the chia treatments and the control.     

Sand intake by laying hens and its effect on egg production parameters

Soil intake may be the most prominent source of environmental contaminants for free range and organic hens, but there are no quantitative data concerning soil intake by domestic hens. Consumption of soil of 14–32 g a day can be estimated from literature, but such a dilution of nutrient intake seems incompatible with high productivity. In this study laying hens were fed pelleted diets with 0%, 10%, 20%, 25% and 30% of sand addition to determine its effect on productivity. Feed intake, feed and nutrient (feed minus sand) conversion ratio, egg production, egg weight and body weight gain were measured over a 4-week period. Acid insoluble ash concentration in the faeces was measured to determine the accuracy of estimating the soil ingestion by the soil-ingestion equation for wildlife as a way to determine soil ingestion of free range and organic hens under practical circumstances. The hens were able to compensate the dilution of the diet with 20%, 25% and 30% of sand by increasing their feed intake. Feed intake increased significantly and feed to egg conversion ratio decreased significantly with increasing sand levels in the diet. The nutrient to egg conversion ratio of the diet without sand tended to be worse than for the diets with sand, presumably due to the total absence of coarse material in the diet. There were no differences in egg production and egg weight between hens fed the different diets but body weight gain was significantly lower for the hens fed the diets with 20%, 25% and 30% of sand. Estimation of sand ingestion was done by the soil-ingestion equation for wildlife. Provided that the actual dry matter digestibility coefficient of the nutrient part of the diet is taken into account, estimating the soil ingestion according to the soil-ingestion equation for wildlife seems an appropriate way to determine soil ingestion for free range and organic hens under practical circumstances.     

Nitrogen retention and performance of brown laying hens on diets with different protein content and constant concentration of amino acids and energy.

1. The aim of this study was to determine the nitrogen balance and the performance of laying hens fed on diets with a protein content lower than the diets currently used in commercial practice but with adequate concentrations of lysine, sulphur amino acids, tryptophan and threonine. 2. Ninety-six Hy-Line Brown hens, 24 weeks old, were divided into 3 groups of 8 replicates and received, for 16 weeks, diets formulated to have 3 different protein concentrations: 170 (control), 150 and 130 g/kg CP and the same energy content. For each protein concentration, the contents of lysine, methionine, methionine+cystine, tryptophan and threonine were maintained at minimum requirement concentrations by supplying synthetic amino acids. 3. In the first half of the trial, egg production and egg weight were similar in all groups. From the 9th week onwards group 150 CP laid heavier eggs and had a slightly lower egg deposition and total mass. Food conversion ratio was best in the control group. 4. Nitrogen intake was related to the protein concentration of the diet, the food intake being almost the same in the 3 experimental groups. Faecal nitrogen content significantly and linearly decreased with reduction in dietary protein content and was about 50% of the intake. Considering the nitrogen faecal/intake ratio, the 150 CP group showed better nitrogen utilisation at each sampling time.     

Effect of dietary defatted diatom biomass on egg production and quality of laying hens

Background： This study was to determine if feeding laying hens with defatted diatom microalgal biomass （DFA） from biofuel production affected their egg production and health status. Methods： Five replicates of 5 individually caged ISA Babcock White leghorn hens were fed 4 diets, including a corn-soybean meal control diet, a diet containing 7.5% DFA substituting for soybean meal, and diets containing 7.5% or 15% DFA substituting for corn and soybean meal. Body weights, feed intake, feed conversion ratio （FCR）, rate of egg production, egg size, egg mass, and several characteristics of eggs were determined at 4 and 8 wk. Venous blood was sampled at 4 and 8 wk for measurement of 5 biomarkers of health. Results： The15% DFA diet decreased （P 〈 0.05） feed intake, egg production, and plasma uric acid concentrations as compared with the control diet, but increased （P 〈 0.05） egg albumen weight and height compared with the 7.5% DFA diets. The two levels of DFA produced dose-dependent （P 〈 0.05） changes in three color measures of egg yolk, without affecting four hen plasma biochemical indicators of health. Conclusions： Feeding laying hens with 7.5% DFA in the corn-soybean meal diet for 8 wk had no adverse effect on their health, egg production, or egg quality, but 15% inclusion reduced feed intake, egg production, and efficiency of feed utilization.     

副干酪乳杆菌KL1制剂对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及鸡蛋中胆固醇含量的影响研究

旨在利用从藏灵菇中筛选的可显著降低血清胆固醇和耐受胃肠道逆环境的副干酪乳杆菌KL1菌株制备微生态制剂,探讨该制剂在低胆固醇鸡蛋生产中对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及鸡蛋中胆固醇含量的影响。本试验将120只30周龄健康状态良好且产蛋率接近的农大3号矮小蛋鸡随机分为低、中、高剂量试验组和对照组,每组5个重复,每个重复6只蛋鸡,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加10⁵、10⁶、10⁷ CFU·（只·d）^-1副干酪乳杆菌KL1微生态制剂,对照组饲喂基础饲粮,连续饲喂10周。对蛋鸡的生产性能、蛋品质和鸡蛋中的胆固醇进行测定和计算。结果表明：1）中剂量组的蛋鸡饲养日产蛋率与对照组相比有显著提高（P<0.05）;2）与对照组相比,中、高剂量组的蛋壳强度、蛋壳厚度和血清钙水平有显著提高（P<0.05）,蛋黄相对重有极显著提高（P<0.01）;3）低、中、高剂量组的蛋黄胆固醇含量及血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）含量均极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）;高剂量组的血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）含量分别极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）和显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。在饲粮中添加副干酪乳杆菌KL1微生态制剂可显著提高蛋鸡生产能力和蛋壳品质,降低鸡蛋中胆固醇含量,总体来看,以10⁶ CFU·（只·d）^-1作为最终添加剂量效果最佳,在低胆固醇鸡蛋的生产中具有良好的应用价值。     

Biotin requirements of broiler breeders fed diets of different protein content and effect of insufficient biotin on the viability of progeny

Production of eggs or normal chicks was depressed when practical diets containing 168 g or 137 g of crude protein (CP)/kg were not supplemented with synthetic biotin. Overall egg production and hatchability of fertile eggs was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher with the diets containing 137 g CP/kg. Biotin requirement was higher with the diet containing 168 g CP/kg and was estimated to be about 100 micrograms of available biotin/kg, equivalent to a daily intake of 16 micrograms for food-restricted hens. Biotin concentrations in egg yolk and chick plasma were related to maternal intake and increased with maternal age. The minimum yolk biotin concentration indicative of adequate maternal status was about 550 micrograms/g. Chicks from young hens fed insufficient biotin had the poorest biotin status at hatching and their growth potential and viability were reduced.     

The influence of dietary boron supplementation on egg quality and serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in laying hens

This study was performed to investigate the influence of dietary boron (B) supplementation on egg production, interior and exterior egg quality and serum parameters related to egg formation in laying hens. Two hundred and twenty four, 18 week old, Hyline Brown 98 strain hens were assigned to 7 groups with 4 replicates. After 10 days of adaptation the hens were fed for 8 weeks on diets supplemented with 0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (diet) B (H(3)BO(3)). Live weight, feed consumption and egg production were reduced in the 400 mg/kg B supplemented group. Increases were determined in serum Ca, inorganic P and Mg levels and serum ALP activity was not influenced by supplemental B. Boron changed the interior and exterior quality of eggs. In particular, high level of B supplementation reduced live weight, feed consumption and egg production and changed some blood metabolites.     

Effects of main cereal type and feed form on production performance,egg quality and egg sanitary indices of laying hens

ABSTRACT

1. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of cereal types (maize or wheat) and feed forms (pelleted or mash feed) on production performance, egg quality and egg sanitary indices in laying hens.

2. Three hundred and sixty hens (Jinghong No. 1) at 18 weeks of age were randomly assigned to four treatments with six replicates of 15 hens per replicate according to a 2 × 2 factorial design with two cereal types (maize or wheat) and two feed forms (pelleted or mash feed).

3. Compared with the wheat-based diet, the maize-based diet improved (P < 0.05) average egg weight of laying hens. Yolk colour of hens fed with the maize-based diet was higher (P < 0.05) in comparison to those fed the wheat-based diet, while Haugh units were lower (P < 0.05) for the maize-based treatment. Egg mass and average daily feed intake of hens fed the pelleted diet were higher (P < 0.05) than of those fed the mash diet. However, the mash diet improved (P < 0.05) yolk colour compared with the pelleted diet. The percentage of dirty eggs for the wheat-based diet was higher (P < 0.05) than for the maize-based diet. The percentage of dirty eggs was higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed the pelleted diet compared with those fed the mash diet. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between cereal type and feed form, with regard to average egg weight and shell thickness.

4. In conclusion, dietary cereal type affected average egg weight, yolk colour and Haugh units in eggs, while feed form influenced egg mass, average daily feed intake and yolk colour.     

饲料中添加发酵中草药对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、血清生化指标和脂代谢的影响

试验旨在研究发酵中草药对京红蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、血清生化指标和脂代谢的影响。选取体重相近、饲养管理水平一致的54周龄京红蛋鸡480只,随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复60只蛋鸡。对照组蛋鸡饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中添加4 g/kg发酵中草药。预试期10 d,正式试验期56 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,试验组蛋鸡产蛋率显著提高(P<0.05),蛋黄比例及蛋壳强度极显著升高(P<0.01),蛋白比例及蛋黄胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01)。与对照组相比,试验组蛋鸡血清总蛋白、白蛋白、球蛋白及钙含量极显著升高(P<0.01),血清总胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01),肝脏总胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01),低密度脂蛋白、甘油三酯含量及肝脏指数显著降低(P<0.05),肝脏高密度脂蛋白含量极显著升高(P<0.01)。试验表明,京红蛋鸡产蛋后期饲粮中添加4 g/kg发酵中草药可以提高京红蛋鸡产蛋后期的产蛋率,改善蛋品质和脂代谢能力。     

The influence of graded levels of atmospheric ammonia on chickens

Studies have been carried out to ascertain the effects of ammonia on the performance of White Leghorn hens housed in various environments of defined temperature and humidity. At 18° C. and 67 per cent relative humidity, the use of atmospheres containing 105 p.p.m. of ammonia by volume, significantly reduced egg production after 10 weeks’ exposure. No effects were observed on egg quality. However voluntary food intake was reduced in ammoniated atmospheres and live‐weight gain was lower. No recovery in production occurred when the treated groups were maintained for a further 12 weeks in an atmosphere free of ammonia.

When White Leghorn hens were housed at an environmental temperature of 28° C., body weight declined. The decrease in live‐weight was greatest at the high ammonia concentration of 102 p.p.m., and was significant after only 1 week's exposure to ammonia. Food intake of the controls was approximately 25 per cent lower at 28° C. than at 18° C., whilst 100 p.p.m. of ammonia further reduced food intake by more than 10 per cent. In one experiment at 28° C., egg production was significantly reduced after 7 weeks' exposure to ammonia.

In a subsequent trial, a high protein, vitamin and mineral diet prevented the onset of any deleterious effects of ammonia on egg production, even though food consumption fell to 75 g./bird/day at 29° C., 43 per cent relative humidity and 104 p.p.m. of ammonia. When a diet low in energy level was fed to hens subjected to high concentrations of ammonia, their voluntary food intake did not increase, and their production deteriorated rapidly.     

Effects of food intake regulation on the energy metabolism of hens and cockerels of a layer strain

1. Indirect calorimetry was used to study the effects on the energy metabolism of cockerels and hens after peak lay of a hybrid layer strain of regulating food or energy intake to 80% of ad libitum for an extended period of time. 2. Regulation of food intake decreased fasting and fed heat productions per bird and per unit metabolic body weight (kg0.75). 3. Maintenance energy requirements (per kg0.75) of both sexes were reduced about 20% by regulation; maintenance requirements of cockerels were about 30% lower per kg0.75 than hens on the same treatments. 4. Reducing the intake of all nutrients by 20% had the same effect on the energy metabolism of cockerels as restricting energy alone by the same amount. 5. Gross efficiency of egg production, in terms of both mass and energy, was higher when intake was regulated. During weeks 21 to 52 of restriction, daily egg mass output was significantly higher in hens fed ad libitum. 6. After 52 weeks of food regulation, restricted hens weighed 20% less and their total carcass energy was 36% less than hens fed ad libitum; similar effects were found in the cockerels.     

The influence of dietary boron supplementation on egg quality and serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in laying hens

This study was performed to investigate the influence of dietary boron (B) supplementation on egg production, interior and exterior egg quality and serum parameters related to egg formation in laying hens. Two hundred and twenty four, 18 week old, Hyline Brown 98 strain hens were assigned to 7 groups with 4 replicates. After 10 days of adaptation the hens were fed for 8 weeks on diets supplemented with 0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (diet) B (H₃BO₃). Live weight, feed consumption and egg production were reduced in the 400 mg/kg B supplemented group. Increases were determined in serum Ca, inorganic P and Mg levels and serum ALP activity was not influenced by supplemental B. Boron changed the interior and exterior quality of eggs. In particular, high level of B supplementation reduced live weight, feed consumption and egg production and changed some blood metabolites.     

腐植酸对蛋鸡产蛋后期产蛋性能、抗氧化及促产蛋激素分泌的影响

试验旨在探究天然腐植酸和合成腐植酸对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、蛋品质、血清生化指标、抗氧化指标和激素水平的影响。选取52周龄体重、产蛋率相近的海兰白蛋鸡405羽,随机分成3个组,每组9个重复,每个重复15羽。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(CON组),试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加1 000 mg/kg的天然腐植酸A(HAA组)和合成腐植酸B(HAB组),预试期2周,正试期8周。结果表明:与CON组相比,添加腐植酸均可提高平均蛋重(P<0.05),降低不合格蛋率(P<0.05)和料蛋比(P<0.01),其中HAA组产蛋率极显著提高,HAA组的料蛋比低于HAB组(P<0.01);饲粮添加腐植酸对蛋品质无显著影响;与CON组相比,HAA组血清中白蛋白含量降低(P<0.05),HAB组乳酸脱氢酶活性提高(P<0.05),HAA组与HAB组血清中甘油三酯含量均降低(P<0.01);相比于CON组,添加HAB可提高谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性(P<0.05);与CON组相比,饲粮中添加腐植酸提高了血清中促黄体素水平(P<0.01),对促卵泡素水平有升高趋势(P=0.060),且HAA组中促卵泡素水平高于HAB组(P<0.01)。结果提示,腐植酸可促进机体促性腺激素分泌,改善机体抗氧化水平,显著提高产蛋后期蛋鸡的生产性能,且天然提取的腐植酸作用效果更佳。     

Tomato powder in laying hen diets: effects on concentrations of yolk carotenoids and lipid peroxidation

1. The effects of tomato powder supplementation on performance, egg quality, serum and egg yolk carotenoids, vitamins and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in were investigated in laying hens in mid-lay.

2. A total of 90 laying hens, 49 weeks old, were divided into 3 groups consisting of 6 replicate cages, 5 birds per cage. Birds were randomly fed on one of three diets: basal diet and basal diet added with 5 or 10?g tomato powder per kg diet.

3. As tomato powder concentration increased, there were linear increases in feed intake, egg production, egg weight and yolk colour and a linear decrease in feed conversion. Shell weight, shell thickness and Haugh unit remained unchanged in response to dietary treatments.

4. Concentrations of serum and egg yolk lycopene, β-carotene, lutein and vitamin A increased for both diets including tomato powder, whereas MDA decreased linearly with increasing supplemental tomato powder concentration.

5. Tomato powder supplementation increased egg production persistency and increased carotenoids and vitamin A contents in egg yolk, accompanied by reduced yolk lipid peroxidation.