유기황의 수준별 급여가 산란계의 생산성, 계란품질 및 세포성 면역능에 미치는 영향

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the dietary effect of organic sulfur (OS) supplementation on performance, egg quality and serum constituents in laying hens. A total of 360 Lohmann brown laying hens at the age of 31 weeks were distributed into four treatments having five replicates of 18 hens each until 54 weeks. The hens were fed four levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4%) of OS with basal diet. The number of eggs was investigated daily, and egg quality was confirmed every 8 weeks. Sulfur content in eggs, interleukin 2 (IL-2), T help cells (CD4+) and cytotoxicity cells (CD8+) were measured at the termination of the experiment. The result of the study showed that egg production tended to increase with 0.4% OS in diet after 39 weeks of age and, there was a significant effect (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) from 47 to 54 weeks of age. Egg quality traits of albumen height and haugh unit increased significantly (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) owing to the addition of OS to the diet. The polyunsaturated fatty acids in yolk were gradually increased while saturated fatty acids were decreased with increasing levels in OS (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Total sulfur concentration in the eggs increased significantly (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) in treatments fed OS. Moreover, albumin, AST and HDL cholesterol levels in serum improved significantly (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) owing to the addition of OS. The IL-2 concentration and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ in blood were generally higher (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) at 0.4% OS. Therefore, it can be recommended that supplementary OS diet affected the performance, egg quality and stimulated immune response in laying hens.