Dose-dependent effect of dietary zeolite on laying hens’ performance

Identification of Haplotypes in Promoter of Prolactin Gene and Their Effect on Egg Production and Quality Traits in Layer Chicken

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of age of broiler breeder (30 and 45 weeks), storage period (2, 4, 6 and 8 days) and their interactions on egg quality traits of the Ross-308 broiler breeder eggs. The experiment included the measurements of the egg quality characteristics in the research laboratory. Results from this study were summarizing as: age of broiler breeder had significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on some quality traits of the eggs such as: egg weight, albumin weight, yolk weight, Haugh unit, yolk height, yolk index, Storage period had significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on egg weight, albumin weight, Haugh unit, yolk index.

The aim of this study was to investigated the effects of the egg shape index on egg quality characteristics in Guinea fowl. For this, the eggs were classified in terms of egg shape index, as ≤ 75, < 76 -77 > and ≥ 78. A total of 100 Guinea fowl eggs were evaluated to determine the egg quality traits ( egg weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell surface area, eggshell weight per unit surface area, eggshell ratio, albumen index, albumen ratio, yolk index, yolk ratio, yolk/albumen ratio, haugh unit and egg volume). In this study, eggshell thickness, eggshell weight per unit surface area, eggshell ratio, albumen index, albumen ratio, yolk index, yolk ratio, yolk/albumen ratio and haugh unit were not significantly affected by egg shape index groups. Whereas egg weight, eggshell surface area and egg volume were significantly affected by egg shape index groups. At the same time, there were found significant relationship between the egg shape index and egg quality traits. Egg shape index was found to be an important factor affecting the egg quality characteristics.

Citrullus lanatus essential oils inclusion in diets elicit nutraceutical effects on egg production, egg quality, and physiological characteristics in layer hens

External and internal egg quality traits are the primary selection objectives of breeders to maximize the return of saleable eggs. In order to help for developing an effective improvement program for egg quality traits, performances of F3 and backcrosses generations, derived from crossing Gimmizah with Bandarah developed strains, were used to estimate the components of genetic variability of egg quality traits in this experiment. The current results revealed that the differences between genetic groups were highly significant for all traits studied. Also the variations between F3 and backcrosses were highly significant differences for egg weight, shell weight, yolk weight, albumin weight and yolk index, while shell thickness, egg shape index and Haugh unit were not differ significantly in the same trend. Moreover, the results revealed that most of egg quality characteristics had negative estimates of additive iƒ³²A and dominance σ²d genetic variations. This may be due to the parental strains were closely related, what caused presence of many deleterious recessive genes, were expressed largely and resulted a very little genetic variations in egg quality traits. The degree of dominance (A¥) was varied from no dominance in shell weight to complete dominance of the low parent in yolk index and from complete dominance of the high parent in albumin weight and egg weight to over dominance of the low parent in Haugh unit. Contrarily, over dominance of the high parent was found in shell thickness, egg shape index and yolk weight, respectively. Key words: Backcross generations, no dominance, parental strains, additive genetic variance, egg quality, egg weight.

A total of 270 pedigreed-hatched day old chicks of three strains of Japanese quail generated from a base population of 36 adultswere used in a randomized complete block design to estimate the influence of sire on the internal egg quality and linear body traits of the birds. Parameters measured were internal egg quality traits - albumen height, yolk height, albumen weight, yolk weight, albumen diameter, albumen length, yolk width, yolk length, yolk index, and haugh unit, and growth traits - body weight, thigh length, breast length, body length, keel length, wing length, and shank length. Results showed that linear bodyparameters were significant (P<0.05) except body weight at week 9. Panda white x Cinnamon brown (PWxCB) progenies out-performed the progenies of the other strains mainly at week 9. The PWxCB strain had the highest values in the following: body weight (159.30), thigh length (4.76), breast width (7.40), body length (11.94), keel length (6.77), and shank length (3.44). The haugh unit value was significantly (P< 0.05) different among the three strains mainly at week 8 with CBxCB strain having higher value of (89.07) followed by PWxCB strain (89.03). The phenotypic correlations between the linear body parameters andinternal egg quality traits in Cinnamon brown x Cinnamon brown (CBxCB) strain were significant (P<0.01) in keel length and yolk weight (0.534) and between shank length and yolk weight (0.473) at week 9. For PWxCB strain, high significant (P<0.01) correlation were seen between shank lengthand albumen length (0.631) at week 8, body weight and yolk index at week 9. Silver brown x Cinnamon brown (SBxCB) strain also showed high positive significant (P<0.01) correlation between shank length and yolk weight (0.541), breast width and albumen weight (0.537) and between body length and albumen weight (0.625) at week 9.These positive correlations imply that by direct selection for any linear body trait for increased meat production, there will be a remarkable genetic improvement in the internal egg quality trait. It can be concluded that PWxCB is a strain of choice for improved growth and internal egg quality characteristics.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of rearing quails in different rearing systems on egg production, egg quality characteristics, and incubation results. The 360 quails were distributed equally to 3 different rearing groups (cage, enriched cage, and floor) in a male:female mixed at the age of 3 weeks. The eggs were individually weighed and recorded one by one daily (5487 eggs) for 3 months. To determine egg quality and incubation characteristics, 750 eggs were broken, and 3284 eggs were incubated, respectively. The results showed that female quail in the floor group have lower body weight at 6 weeks old (177.19 g), and they reached sexual maturity (age of first egg laying) later (65.36 day, P<0.01), The lowest egg production (61.14%) occurred in the floor group during the 3-month egg production period (P<0.05). The lowest average egg weight (9.07 g) was determined in the floor group (P<0.05). It was determined that the eggs of quails raised in the enriched group had a rounder shape index because they have larger widths (P<0.01). While the highest average yolk height (11.24 mm) was determined in the enriched cage group (P<0.01), the highest averages of albumen length (72.41 mm) and lowest averages of yolk index (48.43%) were determined in the cage group (P<0.01). The lowest average values (113.17) in Haugh unit were detected in the floor group (P<0.05). The highest fertility rate (98.44%) was in Floor♂:Cage♀, the highest hatchability of fertile egg rate (94.67%) was obtained from Enriched♂:Cage♀, and the highest hatchability (89.10%) was obtained from Floor♂:Cage♀ pairing (P<0.05). The lowest fertility rate (88.00%) was obtained from the Enriched♂:Floor♀, the lowest hatchability of fertile egg rate (86.01%) was obtained from the Enriched♂:Enriched♀, and the lowest hatchability (75.62%) was obtained from the Enriched♂: Enriched♀ groups. As a result, it has been revealed that the effect of various rearing systems is different on egg production, egg quality traits, and hatching results in quails. Thus, it has been shown that different programs at the rearing period to be applied to the male and female quails can achieve better incubation results and reproductive success.

The Experiment was designed to compare the internal and external egg quality traits of three phenotypes of village chickens. The study was carried out at Modibbo Adama University, poultry farm, Yola.The research lasted for a period of eight months. Three phenotypes of Sixteen (16) hens and Two (2) Cockerels each (48 breeder Hens and 6 Cocks) were purchased and assigned randomly for the study. A total of two hundred and seventy fertile eggs were collected for the study. Digital electric balance, Micrometer screw gauge and Varnier caliper were used to determine the parameters. Egg width, albumin height and width significantly (p<0.001) differ among the phenotypes. Egg weight, yolk height, yolk index and haugh unit had a significant (p<0.01) effect on all the phenotype. Egg length, egg index and shell weight had significant (p<0.05) effect on the phenotype. The egg quality traits were significantly affected by the type of phenotypes except yolk width and shell thickness. Frizzle feathered consistently produced heavier, longer, wider egg and albumin and heavier shell. Similarly frizzle naked neck produced higher albumin and yolk height and haugh unit. Furthermore naked neck produced higher egg width, egg and yolk index and yolk height. Frizzle and Smooth feathered chickens and its associate produced significant positive and negative correlations in egg quality traits. Naked neck and it crosses produced significant positive correlation in all the egg quality traits studied. It could therefore be concluded that crossing between Frizzle and naked neck feathered chicken produced better egg quality traits required. I, recommend Frizzle Naked neck chickens to be considered for table eggs.

The study was carryout to show the effects of layer age at (30, 34 and 38 weeks), egg storage period (2, 4, and 6 days) and their interactions on egg quality traits of the hy-line layer eggs. The experiment included the measurements of the egg quality characteristics in laboratory. Results from this study were summarizing as: age of layers had significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on some quality traits of the eggs such as: egg weight, albumin weight, yolk weight, Haugh unit and yolk height; Also, storage period had significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on egg weight, albumin weight, Haugh unit, yolk height.

The study aimed to determine the effect of limestone or extruded eggshells on the egg and eggshell quality of laying hens. A total of 240 and 60 eggs were collected from diets D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (limestone) and D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (extruded eggshells), respectively, with two levels of calcium source (L): L&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (4% limestone or eggshells) and L&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (8% limestone or eggshells) at 44, 52, 60, 68, and 72 weeks of age. These eggs were obtained from an ongoing project to measure egg quality and dry matter content. Diet D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1 &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;showed higher albumen width and height, Haugh unit, and a lower egg yolk height than D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (p&amp;lt;0.05). However, the percentage of albumen and yolk weight, as well as the yolk index, tended to be higher in D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; than in D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;. Other egg quality traits were similar between diets (p&amp;gt;0.05). The L&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; was superior to L&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; in both diets for egg quality traits (p&amp;lt;0.01), and the L&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; in the extruded eggshell diet performed better than L&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; in limestone diet. The egg, albumen, yolk, and eggshell weight, albumen width, and yolk height were increased but the eggshell strength, yolk color, albumen height, eggshell thickness, and membrane thickness were decreased with advancing the birds&amp;apos; age. Egg, albumen, yolk, and eggshell weight, as well as albumen width and yolk height, increased with the advancing age of the birds, whereas eggshell strength, yolk color, albumen height, eggshell thickness, and membrane thickness decreased. Egg, albumen, and eggshell with membrane weight were influenced by the diet × L interaction, while diet × age interaction affected other traits. Egg quality traits were influenced by L x A interaction, but were not affected by D x L x A interaction. The dry matter content of an egg was similar between diets, but moisture content was higher in D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; than in D&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;. The dry matter content of albumen was influenced by diet x age interaction. Therefore, the 8% extruded eggshell appears to be the most suitable diet for improving egg and eggshell quality.

The present paper aims to predict egg weight from some egg quality characteristics (egg weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, shell thickness, shell weight, shape index, albumen index, yolk index, yolk scale, and Haugh unit) in Japanese quails and to classify 94 eggs collected in regards to their shell colors. In the present study, CART and MARS data mining algorithms were assessed in the prediction of egg weight of the quails with the content of detecting egg quality standards of the studied quail genotypes for breeding and marketing strategies. In the classification of the collected quail eggs on their shell colors, classification performances of CART, CHAID, exhaustive CHAID, and QUEST algorithms were measured. Among those, CART was selected as the best classification algorithm according to eggshell color. The highest significant correlations were obtained for egg weight-yolk weight (0.740) and egg weight-albumen weight (0.735), respectively, in considering egg internal and external quality traits in quails. CART algorithm more accurately classified all eggshell colors compared with other algorithms. MARS showed much better predictive performance than CART that produced 0.850 Rsq and 0.728 cross-validation Rsq for prediction of egg weight in quails. In conclusion, the obtained results revealed that data mining algorithms may be useful references in practice for quail breeders in the development of new selection strategies and characterization of the studied animal materials.

2 Abstract: A study was conducted to determine egg quality characteristics, phenotypic correlations and prediction of egg weight from egg quality parameters in three varieties (naked neck, frizzled feather and normal feathered) of local chickens in Akwa Ibom State, Southeastern Nigeria. A total of 600 eggs (200 each of naked neck, frizzled feather and normal feathered varieties) were collected. External and internal defects were computed and expressed as percentage of total egg production and summed up to obtain the total defects score for each variety. Egg quality parameters were compared between varieties using Multivariate General Linear Model of SPSS version 17.0 for ANOVA. Means were tested using Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Phenotypic correlations of egg quality parameters and prediction of egg weight using yolk weight, yolk width and albumen weight was done. Lowest total defects score (11.00%) was recorded for frizzled feather, 11.63% for naked neck and the highest (12.65%) for normal feathered. Egg weight differed significantly (p 0.05). Mean highest value of 82.49% for haugh unit by naked neck was significantly different (p<0.05) from 77.57% by normal feathered and 77.01% by frizzled feather. Naked neck had best egg quality characteristics, followed by normal feathered and lastly the frizzled feather. In the normal feathered variety, strong, positive and significant (p<0.01) correlations were observed between egg weight and yolk weight (0.773) and albumen weight (0.797); yolk weight and albumen weight (0.567); yolk index and yolk height (0.715); haugh unit and albumen height (0.954) and albumen index (0.863). In the naked neck, strong, positive and significant (p<0.01) correlations were observed between egg weight and yolk weight (0.611) and albumen weight (0.768); haugh unit and albumen height (0.934). In the frizzled feather, strong, positive and significant (p<0.01) correlations were observed between egg weight and yolk weight (0.567) and albumen weight (0.680); haugh unit and albumen height (0.883) and albumen index (0.856). These parameters would give rapid improvements if selected together in the respective varieties. Egg weight was predictable from albumen weight with sufficient Reliability (R) of 0.77. 0.77 and 0.68 for normal feathered, naked neck and frizzled feather varieties respectively. Although many egg quality characteristics have strong genetic basis, it is necessary to implement a total quality management programme to maintain consistently good quality throughout the egg production cycle.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of substituting soybean meal (SBM) with Moringa stenopetala leaf (MSL) on egg production and egg quality in hens from 21 to 41 wk of age. Diets were formulated to contain MSL at a rate of 0 (MSL0), 3 (MSL3), 8 (MSL8), and 13% (MSL13) by replacing SBM. Each of the four treatments was assigned to four replicate pens with ten hens each. Hen-housed egg production (HHEP), daily egg mass (DEM), and feed conversion ratio (FCR, g feed/g DEM) were computed. Egg quality traits were determined at 25, 29, 33, 37, and 41 wk. Replacement of SBM with MSL increased (P < 0.05) HHEP, DEM, and ADFI. The HHEP for MSL8 and MSL13 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of MSL0 and MSL3. The highest DEM was observed in MSL8 and MSL13 and differed (P < 0.05) from MSL3 and MSL0. A linear effect was found for HHEP, DEM, and ADFI (P < 0.001). A significant interaction of age by dietary level was detected for shell thickness and internal egg qualities. At 25, 33, and 41 wk, shell thicknesses of MSL3, MSL8, and MSL13 groups was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control. Egg length, breadth and shell weight increased from wk 25 to 41 (P < 0.05). At 41 wk, albumen height and Haugh unit (HU) were higher (P < 0.05) in MSL3, MSL8, and MSL13 groups compared to MSL0. At 33 and 37 wk, yolk height was higher (P < 0.01) for MSL13 than others. Yolk index was greater (P < 0.01) for MSL13 than other groups at 33, 37, and 41 wks. The deepest yolk colour was observed in MSL13 group, followed by MSL8 and MSL3 across ages (P < 0.001). From wk 25 to 41, albumen height, HU, yolk height, and index decreased (P < 0.05). Yolk height, index, and colour linearly increased across substitution levels (P < 0.001). In conclusion, replacing SBM with MSL positively influenced egg production and quality, and MSL can be included in layer hen diets.

The local breeds of animals in Nigeria deserve improvement in their genetic profile and physiological status. A total of 78 day-old Random-bred Nigeria local turkey poults were used as parent stock to generate another 232 day-old poults (F 1) to evaluate the Nigerian local turkey phenotypes based on egg quality parameters. Three phenotypic classes (black, white and spotted) were obtained as base population and used to generate F1 progeny for the study. Experimental design for the experiment was a Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with phenotypic class as major factor of interest and hatches as block. The egg quality characteristics, namely egg weight, egg length, egg width, egg shape index were the external egg quality characteristics while the internal egg quality characteristics include the albumen weight, yolk weight, yolk height, yolk width and Haugh Unit. These egg parameters were significantly (p&lt;0.05) highest in the black variety. Shell thickness, albumen height and yolk index were not significantly different (p&gt;0.05) in the three local turkey phenotypes. Generally, the black varieties had highest values internal egg quality traits. It is therefore, concluded that for rapid improvement of these traits, the black variety could be used to enhance egg quality and reproduction of Nigerian local turkeys in the study area. The present findings could assist in the design of long-term genetic improvement programmes for turkey production in Nigeria.

This study was conducted to reveal the differences among the internal quality characteristics of brown and white shell table eggs and to examine the relationship between quality characteristics. A total of 235 eggs from brown and white laying hens (Nick-chick; 95 wk of age) were used in this study. Internal egg quality characteristics including egg weight, albumen height, Haugh Unit, yolk height, yolk index, albumen pH, yolk pH, yolk color were determined. The Haugh unit (P<0.001), Albumen height (P<0.001), yolk L* (P<0.001) and yolk b* (P<0.05) values of white shell eggs were higher than that of brown shell eggs. On the contrary, the yolk a*(P<0.01), yolk height (P<0.01) and yolk index (P<0.01) values of white shell eggs were lower than that of brown shell eggs. There were no significant differences were found between white and brown shell eggs for egg weight, albumen and yolk pH values. Significant (P<0.001) positive correlations were found between albumen height and Haugh unit (r= 0.97), yolk height and yolk index (r=0.91), albumen pH and yolk pH (r=0.95) in internal egg quality of white shell eggs. Similarly, there were significant (P<0.001) positive correlations between albumen height and Haugh unit (r= 0.97), yolk height and yolk index (r=0.88), egg weight and albumen height (r=0.39), albumen height and yolk height (r=0.35), Haugh unit and yolk index (r=0.36) in internal egg quality of brown shell eggs. Significant (P<0.001) negative correlation were found between yolk L* and yolk a* (r=-0.41) in white shell eggs, and yolk L* and yolk a* (r=-0.56) in brown shell eggs. No significant relationships were observed among others internal egg quality criteria.