This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of Spirulina platensis (SP) on laying performance, immune response, serum fatty acid profile of laying hens and SP's in vitro antioxidant capacity. About 160 hens were assigned to four dietary treatments: control (0) and SP-supplemented diets (1.5, 3, and 4.5g/kg diet). Supplementation with SP showed notable, significant positive effects on laying rate (92.9-94.5%), egg weight (62.2-67.1g), egg mass, yolk color, shell quality traits, and feed conversion ratio compared to the control group (P < 0.05). SP supplementation also enhanced the humoral immune response, as shown by increased Newcastle disease antibody titers, particularly at 1.5 and 3g/kg during the first 60 days. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of serum fatty acid profile revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in beneficial unsaturated fatty acids and a marked reduction in cholesterol levels in SP-fed hens. In vitro evaluations showed that SP extract had potent antioxidant activity with 2, 2-azino-bis-3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity comparable to vitamins C and E, particularly at high concentrations (3 and 4.5g/kg). These results highlight the promising potential of Spirulina platensis as a functional, natural feed additive to improve the laying performance, egg quality, immune response, yolk fat and provide potent antioxidant protection in poultry production systems.

The study investigated the effects of partially replacing soybean meal with fermented water hyacinth meal (FWHM) on oviduct morphometry and egg quality in Hy-Line hens. Ninety-six eighteen-week-old hens were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 0% (Control), 2.5%, or 5% FWHM. Following a 2-week dietary adaption period, hens were fed the experimental diets for twelve weeks. Internal egg quality, and eggshell traits were measured at regular intervals during the feeding trial, with freshly laid eggs stored at 4°C (39.2°F) under approximately 70-80% relative humidity and equilibrated at room temperature (21-25°C) for one hour prior to analysis to minimize condensation and thermal shock effects. Oviduct morphometric measurements were obtained at the end of the study, to evaluate dietary effects. Most oviduct morphometric parameters were unaffected by FWHM supplementation (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Notable exceptions were higher infundibulum weight in the 5% FWHM group (1.65 ± 0.46 g) compared to the 2.5% group (1.10 + 0.34 g; P &amp;lt; 0.05), and lower magnum weight in the 5% FWHM group (27.84 ± 7.24 g) relative to Control (38.28 ± 7.01 g; P &amp;lt; 0.05). Internal egg quality and eggshell characteristic traits: yolk and albumen weights, Haugh unit and eggshell thickness were largely unchanged. Yolk pH was lower in the 2.5% (6.63 ± 0.09) and 5% (6.60 ± 0.10) FWHM groups versus Control (6.70 ± 0.13; P &amp;lt; 0.05), while yolk diameter slightly decreased in FWHM-fed hens. These findings indicate that FWHM can be included in laying hen diets at levels up to 5% without adversely effecting reproductive tract development or core egg quality, while modulating yolk traits that may enhance egg shelf life.

Egg Quality and Hen Health Benefit from Dietary Inclusion of Hempseed Presscake or Oil in the Diets of Lohmann LSL-Lite White Laying Hens Housed in an Enriched Single-Tier Housing System

Extending laying hens' productive lifespan by molting: a pilot on-farm study and test of assessment methods with focus on functional traits and keel bone health.

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of incorporating 10% (w/w) Alfalfa-based deshydrated Silage Pellets (ABSP) into a commercial control diet on the production performance of Novogen Brown light layers. Twenty-one-week-old hens were divided into two groups (control-C and treatment-T) using a randomized block design, and the experiment lasted for 4weeks. Feed intake, live weight and egg parameters were measured weekly. Weight gain was slightly lower in the T group, whereas the feed conversion ratio was improved (p<0.05). Laying rate was similar in both groups. Yolk colour intensity was significantly increased (p<0.001), along with an improvement in the yolk's fatty acid profile, showing lower SFA, higher ω-3 PUFA and an increased ω-6 to ω-3 ratio (p<0.001). Gut microbial communities were analysed through 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that bacterial diversity was significantly lower at the genus level (p<0.01) in the T group. Positive effects were observed on beneficial bacteria abundance, especially Lactobacillus spp., and with a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria. These findings suggest that ABSP can replace at least 10% of feed in organic layer diet without compromising production parameters and with positive effects on yolk quality and gut microbial communities.

Comprehensive characterization of transcriptional regulation during HCG-induced follicle maturation in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi): Insights from transcriptomics.

Effects of dietary Phellinus linteus polysaccharides supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant status, immune function, cecal microbiota, jejunal morphology, and metabolism in laying hens under lipopolysaccharide challenge.

Broodstock nutrition is a key determinant of reproductive output in marine fishes because lipids support yolk formation, embryonic development, and early larval viability. However, the allocation of lipid classes between fertilized eggs and the egg envelope (chorion) remains poorly characterized for many tropical species. In this study, we performed a comparative lipidomic analysis of dechorionated fertilized egg contents and isolated chorion from three tropical marine fishes (Trachinotus ovatus, Platax teira, and Plectropomus leopardus) using UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS. Multivariate analyses revealed clear tissue- and species-specific lipid patterns. Dechorionated eggs were enriched in energy-storage lipids, dominated by triacylglycerols and essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas chorion tissues contained higher levels of structural and signaling lipids, including phosphatidylinositols and sphingolipids. Each species exhibited a distinct lipid signature, with T. ovatus characterized by higher secosteroids and free fatty acids, P. teira by glycerophosphoethanolamines and phosphoinositols, and P. leopardus by abundant triradylglycerols. Pathway enrichment highlighted glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid signaling as prominent processes during early development. These findings clarify lipid partitioning between dechorionated fertilized egg contents and the chorion and provide a biochemical rationale for optimizing species-specific broodstock diets to enhance egg quality in tropical marine aquaculture.

Prepubertal exposure to gonadotoxic chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide (CY), poses a significant risk to long-term fertility by depleting ovarian reserve and impairing oocyte quality. Such treatments are commonly administered to young girls with cancer, and when these individuals later seek assisted reproductive technologies (ART), concerns arise regarding the developmental competence and cryo-tolerance of resulting embryos. Using a mouse model, this study evaluated the impact of prepubertal CY exposure (2 successive weekly doses of 75 mg/kg body weight at 2 weeks of age) on the cryo-susceptibility of embryos derived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) at their reproductive phase. Oocytes were collected from superovulated females six weeks post-CY treatment, fertilized in vitro, and the resulting cleavage stage embryos were subjected to vitrification-warming. Embryo survival and quality were assessed by blastocyst formation, inner cell mass (ICM) proliferation in vitro, and the expression of key pluripotency markers (Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog). Results showed no significant differences between CY-exposed and control groups in terms of post-warming survival or marker expression. These findings suggest that maternal CY exposure during the prepubertal period does not adversely affect the cryo-resilience of IVF-derived embryos, offering reassurance for childhood cancer survivors seeking ART treatment. Chemotherapy given during childhood can harm future fertility, especially in girls who have not yet gone through puberty. One common chemotherapy drug, cyclophosphamide (CY), may reduce the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries. Cancer survivors may be more likely to need IVF (in vitro fertilization) or other fertility treatments, given the impact of the treatment on their fertility. In this study, a mouse model was used to understand whether early-life exposure to CY affects the ability of embryos (created through IVF) to survive freezing and thawing, a common part of IVF treatments. The study found that embryos from mice exposed to CY before puberty survived the freezing process just as well as those from unexposed mice. The quality and health of these embryos, measured by their development and important growth markers, were also similar. These findings provide hopeful news for young girls who receive certain types of chemotherapy, who may still have the option to use IVF in the future without increased risk of embryo damage during freezing.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves (ZBL) are a phytogenic feed resource, but their energy value and functional effects in laying hens are not well defined. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 96 healthy 38-week-old Roman Pink laying hens were allotted to either a control diet or a diet containing 5% ZBL (eight replicates, six hens per replicate) to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) using an indicator method (7 d adaptation, 3 d collection). The AME and nitrogen-corrected AME of ZBL were 5.46 and 5.33 MJ/kg, respectively. In Exp. 2, 832 healthy 41-week-old hens were randomly assigned to diets supplemented with 0, 1%, 2%, or 3% ZBL (8 replicates, 26 hens per replicate) for 8 weeks after 1 week adaptation. Dietary ZBL at 1% to 3% did not affect production performance (p > 0.05), but increased albumen height linearly (p < 0.05) and improved yolk color at 2% and 3% (p < 0.05). ZBL increased serum albumin (p < 0.05) with a linear tendency (p = 0.065), and elevated serum IgA and IgM linearly (p < 0.05). Serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase were increased (p < 0.05) with significant linear and quadratic responses (p < 0.05), while serum malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). In the liver, 3% ZBL increased total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05), hepatic catalase activity was decreased in all ZBL groups (p < 0.05), and hepatic malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). Cecal acetate increased linearly (p < 0.05), and propionate and butyrate increased with both linear and quadratic dose responses (p < 0.05). ZBL improved small intestinal morphology, especially duodenal villus height (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota was remodeled, with a marked reduction in norank_o__WCHB1-41 and increases in Ruminococcus, Pseudoflavonifractor, and several Coriobacteriales and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae taxa. Overall, ZBL provides usable energy and, at 2-3% inclusion, enhances egg quality, antioxidant status, humoral immunity, short-chain-fatty-acid production, and intestinal health without compromising laying performance.

The conventional method for detecting protein content in egg albumen is the Kjeldahl method, but this method cannot be applied in practical production due to cost limitations. Therefore, we developed albumen density (AD), which had certain potential application value in low-cost and efficient evaluation of albumen protein content. We calculated the heritability of AD in White Leghorn (WL) chickens and its correlation with average albumen protein quantity (AAP), total albumen protein quantity (TAP), albumen weight (AW), albumen volume (AV), egg weight (EW), albumen height (AH), haugh unit (HU), and yolk color (YC). It is worth noting that albumen protein content was measured in a small subset of samples. The average value of AD in eggs was 0.97 and its heritability was less than 0.1. The average value of AAP in eggs was 10.1%, and the average value of TAP in eggs was 2.95 g. There were significant positive correlations between AAP, TAP, AW, AV, AD, and EW, and there were strong positive genetic and phenotypic correlations between EW, AW, AV, and AD. The results of this study indicated that AD might have potential value as a supplementary tool for albumen protein trait selection in breeding.

This study explores how varying dietary phosphorus levels, particularly through dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), influence egg production performance and bone quality in aging laying hens, along with tibia bone gene expression. A total of 576 laying hens were randomly assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design (two phosphorus sources × four levels), with six replicates per treatment (12 hens each). Hens were housed under controlled environmental conditions. The study employed two-way analysis of variance to analyze 18 parameters related to production, egg quality, serum biochemistry, and bone traits, with post hoc Tukey tests for multiple comparisons. Egg and bone parameters were analyzed separately. Pearson's correlation assessed relationships while controlling for phosphorus level and hen age. Hens fed TCP had higher egg production and improved feed conversion ratio compared to DCP. Serum inorganic phosphorus was higher in DCP-fed hens. TCP also enhanced bone quality, with greater bone breaking strength, bone mineral density, and bone mineral content (BMC). Gene expression analysis revealed upregulated osteogenic markers (OPG and RANKL; P < 0.05) in TCP, while DCP elevated FGF23 expression (6.88). RANKL showed significant correlation with production traits: 43% with egg production (P < 0.001) and 32.1% with feed conversion (P < 0.01). These findings highlight that TCP supports bone health and calcium regulation, whereas DCP promotes bone resorption, ultimately reducing production longevity. TCP boosts productivity and bone health in aging hens by upregulating OPG/RANKL signaling, optimizing bone remodeling. Future studies should investigate long-term gene expression changes and alternative pathways. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

ABSTRACTThe study aimed to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera powder (MOP) on the production performance and egg quality of Hyline hens. A total of 48 twenty‐six‐week‐old Hyline commercial hens were randomly allocated to two treatments of 24 birds each, housed in six cages in a completely randomized design with cage as the experimental unit (n = 4). The treatments comprised of a control diet, T1 (16.02% CP, 12.61 MEMJ/kg, 0% MOP) and a basal diet plus 6% MOP in T2 (16.08% CP, 12.5 MEMJ/kg, 6% MOP). The birds on the MOP diet showed higher (p < 0.05) weight gain, laying rate (LR), average daily feed intake (ADFI), egg weight (EW), egg shape index (ESI) and shell weight (SW), with lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control diet. The MOP diet significantly influenced yolk weight (YW), albumen weight (AW) and cholesterol content (p < 0.05) of eggs. The EW, ESI and SW increased with age, while (p < 0.05) egg surface area (ESA), egg volume (EV) and shell thickness (ST) decreased. As the birds grew older, the YW and AW increased, while the yolk index (YI) decreased (p < 0.05). An interaction between diet and age was observed for the cholesterol content (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that MOP improves egg parameters in laying hens and reduces the cholesterol content of eggs.

Background and Aim: Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid known for its antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties. Many studies have assessed its effects on laying hen performance, egg quality, blood metabolites, and oxidative status; however, the results have been inconsistent, mainly due to differences in dosage, duration, hen age, and quercetin form. This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively synthesize the available evidence and examine the dose–response relationships of dietary quercetin supplementation on productive performance, egg quality traits, blood metabolites, and antioxidant defenses in laying hens. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of Scopus and Web of Science identified 27 eligible studies published in English. Effect sizes were calculated as mean differences (MDs) using a restricted maximum likelihood random-effects model. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to evaluate how quercetin dose, treatment duration, initial hen age, and quercetin form (extract vs. plant powder) influenced the outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic, and publication bias was examined using funnel plots and Egger’s regression test. Results: Dietary quercetin significantly improved laying rate (LR) (MD = 2.82%), egg weight (MD = 1.21 g), Haugh unit (MD = 1.84%), shell thickness (MD = 0.014 mm), and yolk color (MD = 0.53), while reducing the feed-to-egg ratio (FER) (MD = −0.15) (p &lt; 0.05). Quercetin supplementation also decreased serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glucose, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde levels, while increasing high-density lipoprotein and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations (p &lt; 0.05). Meta-regression revealed linear dose-dependent reductions in SGPT, glucose, and total cholesterol, whereas LR, FER, and SOD activity showed quadratic responses. Optimal responses occurred at quercetin doses of approximately 400–600 mg/kg. Treatment duration, hen age, and quercetin form further influenced several outcomes. Conclusion: Dietary quercetin effectively boosts productivity, egg quality, metabolic health, and antioxidant defense in laying hens in a dose-dependent way. Supplementing at 400–600 mg/kg seems optimal for maximizing laying performance and antioxidant levels, supporting quercetin as a promising phytogenic feed additive for sustainable poultry farming. Keywords: antioxidant defense, egg quality, laying hens, meta-analysis, oxidative stress, phytogenic feed additive, poultry performance, quercetin supplementation.

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe nutrient requirements of laying hens are not static but dynamic, changing throughout the day in response to the cyclic nature of egg formation.ObjectivesThe current study aimed to evaluate the impact of the AM/PM feeding regimen (AM/PM‐FR), which involved higher levels of protein, amino acids and available phosphorus, and lower levels of Ca in the morning diet, with the converse in the afternoon diet, on aged laying hens.MethodsA total of 300, 74‐week‐old Hy‐Line W36 laying hens were randomly assigned to a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 6 replicates, and 10 hens per replicate. Experimental treatments included offering AM/PM‐FR at 0% (control), 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% changing nutrient levels (CNL) between the morning (5:00 AM–2:00 PM) and evening (2:00 PM–5:00 AM) diets. The exposure program consisted of continuous lighting from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM and darkness from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.ResultsThe feed conversion ratio (FCR) and economic profit, income minus feed cost (IMFC), improved with a quadratic trend in response to increased CNL of AM/PM‐FR. Throughout the entire experimental period, birds fed AM/PM‐FR at 30% CNL showed improvements of 4.57% in FCR and 17.55% in IMFC compared to the control group. A lower incidence of egg fractures and a higher yolk crude protein concentration were observed with a linear trend in response to increased CNL of AM/PM‐FR. By increasing CNL of AM/PM‐FR, the total tract apparent mineral (Ca and phosphorus) and ether extract retention improved with quadratic and linear trends, respectively. Non‐significant effects of the treatments were noted on egg quality, blood metabolites, bone mechanical properties and mineral contents.ConclusionsIt was concluded that the use of AM/PM‐FR at 30% CNL in aged laying hens may facilitate the precision nutrition and thus improve production and economic performance.

Impact of organic and nano selenium on sexual maturation, egg, and offspring quality of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) broodstock

In this study, we examined the influence of dietary PFS powder supplementation on production performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid profile in laying hens. A total of 192 Hy-Line® Brown hens, 30 weeks of age, were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments containing 0, 30, 60, and 90 g/kg of PFS powder, administered over a 12-week period. No significant differences were observed in egg weight, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio among the treatment groups (p > 0.05). However, supplementation with 60 and 90 g/kg PFS significantly enhanced egg production and total egg mass (p < 0.05), particularly during weeks 41-44. Egg quality parameters-including albumen height, Haugh unit, yolk color, shell thickness, and shell strength-remained unaffected across treatments (p > 0.05). Serum analyses revealed that PFS supplementation significantly reduced levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, and yolk total cholesterol compared with the control diet (p < 0.05). Moreover, yolk fatty acid composition was notably altered: total PUFAs and n-3 PUFAs increased (p < 0.05), whereas total monounsaturated fatty acids and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio decreased (p < 0.05) with rising PFS inclusion. In conclusion, dietary PFS powder improved laying performance and favorably modulated yolk fatty acid composition, without compromising egg quality in laying hens.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism through which small peptides regulate the productive performance and egg quality of laying hens during the late-laying period. A total of 200 Lohmann Pink laying hens, aged 400 days, were randomly assigned into a control treatment (CON) and a small peptide treatment (SP) for a 120-day treating period. Productive performance, egg quality, serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, microbial community, and hepatic gene expressions were measured. Results showed that SP supplementation significantly increased eggshell strength and albumen height, while reducing the rate of abnormal eggs (p < 0.05). SP notably enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hepatic lipase (p < 0.05). Additionally, SP supplementation significantly increased microbial α-diversity (p < 0.05) and elevated the relative abundances of Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium (p < 0.05). Hepatic transcriptomic analysis revealed that up-regulated genes in the SP treatment were primarily enriched in steroid biosynthesis, while down-regulated genes were mainly associated with the Yersinia infection pathway. In conclusion, small peptide supplementation efficiently improved eggshell strength and albumen height while reducing the rate of abnormal eggs by modulating the interactions between gut microbiota and hepatic gene expressions. Our findings may provide an effective option for enhancing egg quality in the late-laying period.

Dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera: Impacts on egg production, egg quality with fatty acid, amino acid profiling and serum immunity of laying hens.

Background: The demand for sustainable, natural feed additives in the poultry industry is gradually increasing to make production more efficient and increase the quality of the products, especially in spent laying hens. Aim: This study examined the benefits of dietary dried lemon citrus peel (DLCP) supplementation on egg performance and egg quality in aged laying hens at the end of their production life. Methods: Eighty Lohmann hens at 64 weeks postmolt age and 2700 ± 75 g average body weight were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups: basal diet (control, T1), basal diet + 10 g/kg DLCP (T2), basal diet + 15 g/kg DLCP (T3), and basal diet + 20 g/kg DLCP (T4). The experiment lasted for 4 weeks with four replicates of five hens for each treatment. The productivity performance and internal and external egg quality traits were evaluated. Results: The egg production rates were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) in T3 and T4 than in T1 and T2 (mean egg obtained = 27.75 and 26.75 eggs, respectively). In all tested groups, feed intake increased step by step throughout the weeks, whereas the maximum feed intake (112.60 g) was noted in T4. T3 showed only a marginal difference after T4 but had a similar trend. Feed conversion ratios were also improved in the T3 (2.59) and T4 (2.60) groups compared with the control group (3.30), whereas egg mass values were increased in the T3 (47.10 g) and T4 (49.90 g) groups. In T4, external egg quality traits: egg weight (69.05 g), shell thickness (3.00 mm), and shell weight (9.00 g) were maximized. Conclusion: Similarly, T4 showed better results for the internal quality attributes such as yolk height, width, and weight. The T4 group showed a higher egg production of about 15% than the control group, indicating a clear improvement in laying performance. Based on this finding, a diet containing 20 g/kg DLCP will enhance production and egg quality and can sustainably facilitate the use of agricultural residues for layer feeding.