Influence of dietary osteolathyrogenson the eggshell quality of laying hens

1. Laying hens were fed osteolathyrogens, either semicarbazide hydrochloride at 0.3 or 0.4 g/kg or β-aminopropionitrile fumarate at 0.5 or 0.6 g/kg diet to examine their effects on eggshell quality. 2. Shell quality characteristics considered for evaluation were shell surface area, shell thickness, shell weight, percentage shell, shape index and the specific gravity of eggs. Measurement of shell quality traits revealed that the hens fed osteolathyrogens laid eggs with significantly lower specific gravities and proportion of shell by weight. These differences were not explained by differences in shell thickness or weight or the shape index of eggs. 3. It was concluded that osteolathyrogens cause hens to lay eggs with poor shell quality and such eggs are weak and fragile.     

Dietary oregano essential oil supplementation improves intestinal functions and alters gut microbiota in latephase laying hensOA

Background: Dietary essential oil(EO) supplementation can exert favorable effects on gut health in broilers. However,it is unknown whether EO could improve intestinal functions, consequently beneficial for egg performance and quality in late-phase laying hens. This study was aimed to investigate the potential effects of EO on production performance,egg quality, intestinal health and ileal microbiota of hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 60-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens wer...     

Dietary supplementation of porcine bile acids improves laying performance,serum lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in latephase laying hens

Due to the exceptional laying performance of hens, the demand on lipid metabolism and oxidation in vivo is vigorous, resulting in excessive lipid accumulation in late-phase hens, which lowers the production performance. Bile acids regulate lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in humans and animals.However, the effect of porcine bile acids on lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in laying hens in the late phase is still unclear. A total of 360 healthy 45-week-old laying hens were chosen for a 24-...     

Effects of commercial enzyme preparations on egg and eggshell quality in laying hens

1. Four different commercial enzyme products were added to standard commercial layer diets, based on barley, wheat or triticale. 2. Diets were fed to 4 different strains of commercial laying hen: ISA Brown, Hy-Line CB, Tegel SB2 and Tegel HiSex. 3. Diets were given for 5 weeks prior to measurements of egg and eggshell quality. 4. The inclusion of commercial enzyme products in the diets had no effect on egg weight. 5. Positive effects of the enzymes were: improved eggshell breaking strength, shell weight, percentage shell and shell thickness for the barley-based diet and increased eggshell breaking strength for two of the enzymes with the wheat-based diets. 6. Negative effects of the enzyme products were slightly lighter coloured eggshells and reduced albumen quality for the barley-based diet and for two enzymes with the wheat-based diet. 7. The addition of commercial enzyme preparations had no main effect on egg and eggshell quality for the triticale-based diet, except for effects on yolk colour. 8. Yolk colour was lower than control for enzyme 3 in all diets and for enzyme 4 with the barley- and wheat-based diets. 9. Further investigation is required to elucidate the specific enzyme components that influence egg quality.     

Dietary L-citrulline supplementation modulates nitric oxide synthesis and anti-oxidant status of laying hens during summer season

Background:L-citrulline (L-Cit), a non-protein amino acid, has been implicated in several physiological functions including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, a...     

Stress-induced oviposition delays in laying hens: duration and consequences for eggshell quality

1. This study investigated relationships between the timing of stress, duration of oviposition delays and consequences for eggshell quality, in 2 experiments with ISA Brown hens. 2. Periods of up to 6 h of environmental stress (relocation from an individual cage to a larger one containing 3 unfamiliar hens), commencing up to 4.5 h before predicted oviposition time, reliably induced oviposition delays. Many hens still retained their egg when stress ended. 3. Ovipositions that occurred during stress were never delayed for more than 3.0 h beyond the expected time. Ovipositions that occurred after the period of stress ended usually did so after <1 h if the delay at the end of stress was less than about 2.4 h. Delays that ended either during stress or <2 h after stress ended were classified as short-term. 4. If an oviposition delay was more than about 2.4 h when stress ended, the egg concerned was usually laid much later, after a delay of 7 to 15 h. Delays that ended >5 h after stress ended were classified as long-term. 5. Eggs delayed long-term were white-banded and the subsequent egg was slab-sided, or occasionally soft-shelled. Short-term delays often caused eggshell dusting with varying amounts of superficial calcification. Hence, duration of oviposition delay affects both the number of abnormal eggshells and the degree of abnormality. 6. The present findings are of potential importance to both the egg industry and breeders, because abnormal eggshells cause downgrading and can impair embryonic development. Also, numbers of abnormal eggshells and degree of abnormality can be used as indicators of environmental stress.     

The effect of dietary calcium source, concentration and particle size on calcium retention, eggshell quality and overall calcium requirement in laying hens

1. Four different sources of calcium in isonitrogenous and isoenergeric diets were fed to laying hens for 2 weeks when they were 56 and 57 weeks old. The calcium source blends were as follows: 29% fine limestone (LF)+71% large limestone (LG), 32% LF+68% eggshell, 32% LF+68% oyster shell, 50% LF+50% LG. The contents of these blends of calcium in the diets were as follows: 103.3, 93.3, 93.3 and 93.3 g/kg, respectively. 2. The coefficients of calcium retention were significantly higher in 50:50 LF:LG (0.578) and 32:68 LF:eggshell (0.576). The midnight feeding significantly improved the coefficient of calcium retention in all mixtures except 50:50 LF:LG. 3. In the mixtures 29:71 LF:LG and 32:68 LF:oyster shell, there were significantly greater eggshell quality, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness and eggshell strength. Midnight feeding had no significant effect on eggshell quality. 4. In the ration with oyster shells, 96.5% of the retained calcium was deposited in the eggshell, but in rations 32:68 LF:eggshell and 50:50 LF:LG the utilisation was only 73.9 and 78.6%, respectively. 5. To ensure good quality eggshells in the last third of production, the recommendation for calcium is 4.1 g/kg (900 g/kg dry matter, feed intake 110 g/d). As a source of calcium in this stage of production, a feed mixture containing two-thirds large particles should be used (limestone grit or oyster shell).     

有机酸和益生元对蛋鸡生产性能和蛋壳质量的影响

文章旨在评估不同钙磷水平日粮中添加有机酸和益生元对蛋鸡产蛋量和蛋壳品质的影响。试验选择504只罗曼褐壳蛋鸡,根据产蛋率一致的原则随机分为14个组,每组36只鸡,采用蛋鸡单笼饲养。试验日粮采用2×7因子设计,即两个钙和磷水平(正常组和低水平组)以及不添加、添加0.8%的菊粉和低聚糖、0.5%挥发性脂肪酸中链脂肪酸、0.25%挥发性脂肪酸+0.25%中链脂肪酸、0.4%菊粉+0.25%中链脂肪酸,试验从26w开始到70w结束。试验结果发现,各处理组对产蛋率、采食量、饲料转化率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。低钙磷日粮显著降低了蛋壳百分率、蛋壳厚度、蛋壳密度和蛋壳强度(P<0.05)。日粮添加益生元和有机酸能显著改善46、58和70w蛋壳质量,其中菊粉和中链脂肪酸对蛋壳质量的改善最为显著(P<0.05)。日粮钙、磷水平与益生元和有机酸对各指标的影响无显著交互作用(P>0.05)。结果表明,日粮添加有机酸可以降低饲料pH,同时益生元可以调控肠道功能,从而对高龄高产蛋鸡蛋壳品质有改善作用。     

日粮添加碳酸氢钠对蛋鸡肠道菌群多样性的影响

900羽21周龄海兰褐蛋鸡随机分成5组,每组6个重复,每个重复30羽。分别在基础日粮中添加0、0．1％、0．5％、2．5％、5％NaHCO3,持续10周。结果显示,与对照组相比,0．1％组蛋鸡盲肠乳酸菌数量增加,大肠杆菌数量降低,菌群多样性指数提高（P〉0．05）。0．5％组蛋鸡粪便pH值显著提高（P〈0．05）,乳酸菌数量增加,菌群多样性指数提高（P〉0．05）。2．5％、5％组蛋鸡粪便pH值、水分含量极显著高于其他组（P〈0．01）。同时,2．5％、5％组盲肠乳酸杆菌数量降低（P〉0．05或P〈0.05）,大肠杆菌数量增高（P〉0．05或P〈0．05）,5％组菌群多样性指数亦显著降低前3组（P〈0．05）。结果表明,日粮添加NaHCO3超过2．5％,蛋鸡腹泻严重,肠道菌群平衡严重破坏。而当NaHCO3的添加量低于0．5％时,肠道有益菌数量和菌群多样性指数呈增加趋势,蛋鸡生产性能维持正常。因此,本试验提示蛋鸡生产中饲料添加剂NaHCO3最高耐受量为0．5％。     

Effects of carbohydrase enzyme supplementation on performance,eggshell quality,and bone parameters of laying hens fed on maize- and wheat-based diets

1. This study was conducted to determine the effects of enzyme supplementation of maize/wheat-based diets on the performance, egg quality, and serum and bone parameters of laying hens.

2. During the 12-week experimental period, a total of 72 laying hens aged 52 weeks were randomly distributed among 6 experimental groups. Each experimental group contained 4 replicates, each with three birds. The experiment was a randomised design consisting of a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three levels of wheat substitution and two levels of enzyme (xylanase: 1500.00 U/kg, β-glucanase: 100 000 U/kg, cellulase: 1 000 000 U/kg, α-amylase: 160 000 U/kg) inclusion in the diet. Wheat replaced 0, 50, or 100% of maize with or without 1.0 g/kg enzyme supplementation in iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric experimental diets.

3. Body weight, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and the feed conversion ratio were adversely affected by the wheat-based diet. The eggshell quality parameters decreased with enzyme supplementation to the diet.

4. Wheat-based diets adversely affected calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the tibia, but the addition of the enzymes to the wheat-based diet prevented the negative effects of wheat-based diets on tibia mineralisation in laying hens. The wheat-based diets tended to reduce plasma mineral contents, and the addition of enzymes tended to affect plasma minerals and biomechanical properties of the tibia positively in laying hens.

5. These results indicate that wheat-based diets in aged laying hens adversely affected the mineral metabolism compared with maize-based diets, and the negative effects of wheat on bone mineralisation can be prevented by enzyme supplementation to the diets in laying hens.     

低营养水平饲粮中添加植酸酶、纤维素复合酶对蛋鸡产蛋性能及蛋壳质量的影响

试验以正常营养水平饲粮为对照,研究在营养水平降低6%的低营养水平饲粮中,添加植酸酶、纤维素复合酶对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋壳质量影响。试验用27周龄海兰灰蛋鸡576只设4个处理,每处理4个重复,每重复36只,处理1为不加酶的正常营养水平饲粮(T1),处理2为不加酶低营养水平饲粮(T2),处理3为T2+200g/t植酸酶(25000FYT/g)(T3),处理4为T2+200g/t纤维素复合酶(T4)。处理3的产蛋率、采食量、料蛋比及破蛋率、脏蛋率与处理1、处理2为差异不显著(P>0.05),但料蛋比、破蛋率、脏蛋率都低于处理2,Ca、TP、植酸磷的利用率极显著高于处理2(P<0.01),CP利用率与处理2差异不显著(P>0.05)。处理4的产蛋率、料蛋比及破蛋率与处理1、处理2差异不显著(P>0.05),但产蛋率接近处理1,料蛋比、破蛋率都低于处理2,采食量极显著高于处理2(P<0.01),脏蛋率极显著低于处理2、处理1(P<0.01),Ca、TP、植酸磷的利用率与处理2差异不显著(P>0.05),CP利用率极显著高于处理2(P<0.01),结果表明:在非常规原料比例较高的低营养水平日粮中,200g/t植酸酶添加量可能不足以水解植酸,添加200g/t纤维素复合酶,蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋壳质量能达到正常营养水平饲粮的效果。     

高峰产蛋鸡发生传染性喉气管炎的诊治

邳州市一蛋鸡专业户饲养4000只产蛋高峰期的蛋鸡于今年3月份发生了传染性喉气管炎,畜主认为是慢性呼吸道感染,用阿奇霉素进行治疗,连用4d不见效果,反而病情加重并出现死     

合生素对蛋鸡生产性能及蛋品质的影响

在我国传统养殖生产中,抗生素一直被用作饲料添加剂来控制畜禽疾病和提高生产性能。但随着抗生素的大量使用,其带来的负面影响日趋严重。药物残留和耐药菌株的产生及畜禽产品质量的下降,已对畜牧业可持续发展和人类健康带来严重的影响。研制开发无公害和无残留的饲料添加剂替代     

Influence of dietary calcium and phosphorus on metabolism and production in laying hens

1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of calcium (24 to 56.9 g/kg) and phosphorus (4.5 to 14.2 g/kg) on production and some aspects of metabolism were studied in laying hens.

2. Treatments did not affect egg numbers, food consumption, conversion efficiency of food to egg, bodyweight gain or mortality.

3. Increasing dietary calcium (Ca) significantly increased plasma Ca and inorganic phosphorus (P), breaking strength at the radius and egg specific gravity and significantly decreased plasma alkaline phosphatase and egg weight.

4. Increasing dietary phosphorus increased plasma P and decreased egg specific gravity significantly.

5. Plasma Ca, P and alkaline phosphatase and radius breaking strength were suitable indices of the Ca status of the hens.     

绿色中药添加剂"禽蛋多"对产蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质影响的研究

在日粮中添加不同比例的中草药饲料添加剂。研究其对蛋鸡的生产性能、蛋品质指标的影响．并对其机理作初步探讨；确定中草药添加剂“禽蛋多”在生产中适宜的添加量，为其应用提供理论和实际依据。试验证明，添加不同比例“禽蛋多”对蛋鸡的生产性能有不同程度的改善．产蛋率比对照组分别提高了2．91％-4．89％．产蛋量分别提高了4．22％～9．57％．试验组与对照组之间差异极显著（P〈0．01），采食量变化不显著，料蛋比呈降低趋势，蛋黄中胆同醇的含量随着添加比例的增加呈现降低趋势．经济效益提高幅度十分显著。     

Dietary supplementation with carnosine improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of finishing pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary carnosine (β‐alanyl‐l ‐histidine) supplementation on antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs. 72 pigs approximately 60 kg were fed a corn‐ and soybean meal‐based diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg carnosine per kg diet for 8 weeks. Carnosine supplementation did not affect growth performance and carcass traits of pigs. However, the addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased pH value of muscle at 45 min, 24 h and 48 h postmortem. It also decreased drip loss at 48 h postmortem and increased redness value of muscle at 45 min postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet enhanced glycogen concentration and Ca‐ATPase activity at 24 and 48 h postmortem, and reduced malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein complexes concentrations in muscle at 24 h postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in plasma, liver or muscle, as well as SOD and GSH‐Px genes expression in muscle (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings indicate that carnosine supplementation improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs.     

日粮中添加发酵木薯渣对蛋鸡生产性能及蛋品质的影响

试验旨在探讨发酵木薯渣对海兰褐蛋鸡生产性能及蛋品质的影响.选取39周龄240只健康海兰蛋鸡,随机分成4组,每组设5个重复,每个重复12只.第1组为对照组,饲喂基础日粮,第2组、第3组、第4组为试验组,分别饲喂添加5％、10％、15％发酵木薯渣的试验饲粮.试验期28天.结果显示:①各组平均蛋重差异不显著;第2组与第1组生...     

The calcium and phosphorus requirements of laying hens

Two experiments were carried out with a modern hybrid laying strain to establish the calcium requirement for maximum egg production. The first experiment, with three calcium concentrations of 1.7, 2.8 and 3.9 per cent indicated that with 0.55 Per cent dietary phosphorus the requirement for calcium was between 1.7 per cent and 2.8 per cent. Dietary phosphorus supplements added to the mixed cereal diets containing 0.55 per cent phosphorus were without effect on production or the conclusions reached. In a subsequent experiment with four dietary calcium concentrations between 2.3 and 3.3 per cent there was no significant improvement in egg production above 2.6 per cent calcium.

In both experiments the lower production at the lower levels of calcium concentration was associated with reduced food intake. Measurements made in the first experiment showed an increasing shell thickness round the equator of the egg with increasing dietary calcium. In this experiment also a small practical test concerned with cracking of the egg shell in boiling water, indicated that incidence of cracks did not alter as the laying cycle progressed and that resistance to cracking was greatest at the highest dietary calcium concentration.     

The effects of phytase and xylanase supplementation on performance and egg quality in laying hens

ABSTRACT

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phytase and xylanase and their interaction on laying hen performance, egg quality, phosphorus (P) digestibility, phytate breakdown, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and peptide YY concentration.

2. Two hundred and forty hens were allocated to cages at 22 weeks of age based on a 3 × 2 arrangement with phytase (0, 300 or 1500 FTU/kg) and xylanase (0 or 12 000 BXU/kg) as factors.

3. Phytase increased hen-day production (P < 0.05), daily egg mass (P < 0.05) and P digestibility with increasing levels of phytase (P < 0.001). Phytase fed at 1500 FTU/kg reduced IP6 and IP5 and increased myo-inositol concentration in gizzard digesta (P < 0.05). Phytase fed at 300 FTU/kg reduced IP6 in ileal digesta (P < 0.05); however, IP6 and IP5 were further reduced and myo-inositol increased when phytase was added at 1500 FTU/kg (P < 0.05).

4. Xylanase improved feed efficiency when phytase was fed at 300 FTU/kg (P < 0.05). In the absence of phytase, xylanase reduced dry matter and Ca digestibilities (P < 0.05).

5. Neither phytase nor xylanase had an effect on peptide YY or caecal VFA concentrations.