Improved Egg Production Research Articles

Levels of substitution of inorganic mineral to amino acids complexed minerals on old laying hens

This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the impact of replacing inorganic mineral sources (IM) with amino acid complexed minerals (AACM) in laying hens’ diets on performance, egg quality, bone, and intestinal health. The effects of 4 different diets with varying levels of AACM substitution were evaluated on 400 Lohmann White hens aged 78–98 weeks. The control diet contained only IM sources at levels of 60, 60, 7, 40, 0.2, and 2 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Se, and I, respectively. The other treatments were made by a total substitution of IM with AACM, as follows: AACM70–70% of IM levels; AACM50–50% of IM levels; and AACM40–40% of IM levels. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts and Dunnett’s test were used to determine their impact (P < 0.05). The treatment AACM40 improved egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Hens that received AACM40 also produced the thickest eggshells and better tibial bone density (P < 0.01). Histomorphometry analyses demonstrated significant effects of AACM treatments. The optimal supplementation levels of 24, 24, 2.8, 16, 0.08, and 0.8 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Se, and I, respectively.

Growth and Laying Performance of Local Guinea Fowl on Different Dietary Protein and Energy Levels

Constraints to Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) production include poor growth and low laying performance. However, the lack of standard nutritional requirements significantly hinders commercial indigenous Guinea fowl production in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the proper levels of crude protein (14, 16, and 18%) and metabolizable energy (2.65, 2.75, and 2.85 Mcal/kg) in the diets of native Guinea fowl in Nigeria. The dietary protein (PL) and energy (EL) levels for the fowl were evaluated in a completely randomized 3 (PL) × 3 (EL) factorial design with three replicates of 10 birds each. Thus, 270 birds with 20 weeks of age were allocated randomly to nine dietary treatments (18P:2.65E, 18P:2.75E, 18P:2.85E, 16P:2.65E, 16P:2.75E, 16P:2.85E, 14P:2.65E, 14P:2.75E and 14P:2.85E). The PL × EL interaction affected Guinea fowl's DFI, DWG, and WWG (p&amp;lt;0.05), while WFI and FCR remained unaffected. The 16:2.85E diet increased the DFI of the birds compared to other diets (p˂0.05). The DFI of the 18:2.65, 18:2.75, and 16:2.75E Guinea fowls was higher than those of 18:2.85E, 14:2.65E, 14:2.75E, and 14:2.85 birds (p˂0.05). The DWG of fowls improved by the 16:2.85E diet compared to other diets, except for the 18P:2.65E and 16P:2.75E diets (p˂0.05). The interaction had a significant impact on the EN, EYH, and EM of the Guinea fowl egg while FCR remained unaffected. The 18P:2.85E diet improved the EN and EM of the birds compared to other diets (p˂0.05), The 18P:2.85E also improved the FCR for laying except for 14P:2.85E and 18P:2.75E. The 18P:2.85E diet influenced the YW of the birds compared to other diets (p˂0.05), whereas the EW of fowls improved by the 16:2.85E diet compared to other diets except for the 16P:2.65E diet (p˂0.05). In conclusion, feeding guinea fowls with a diet comprising 18% protein and 2.85 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy significantly improved egg production and quality.

Production, purification and characterization of phytase from Pichia kudriavevii FSMP-Y17and its application in layers feed.

Phytase, recognized for its ability to enhance the nutritional value of phytate-rich foods, has has gained significant prominence. The production of this enzyme has been significantly boosted while preserving economic efficiency by utilizing natural substrates and optimizing essential factors. This study focuses on optimizing phytase production through solid-state fermentation and evaluating its effectiveness in enhancing nutrient utilization in chicken diets. The objective is to optimize phytase production via solid-state fermentation, characterize purified phytase properties, and assess its impact on nutrient utilization in chicken diets. Through these objectives, we aim to deepen understanding of phytase's role in poultry nutrition and contribute to more efficient feed formulations for improved agricultural outcomes. We utilized solid-state fermentation with Pichia kudriavzevii FSMP-Y17 yeast on orange peel substrate, optimizing variables like temperature, pH, incubation time, and supplementing with glucose and ammonium sulfate. Following fermentation, we purified the phytase enzyme using standard techniques, characterizing its properties, including molecular weight, optimal temperature and pH, substrate affinity, and kinetic parameters. The optimized conditions yielded a remarkable phytase yield of 7.0 U/gds. Following purification, the enzyme exhibited a molecular weight of 64kDa and displayed optimal activity at 55°C and pH 5.5, with kinetic parameters (Km = 3.39 × 10-3M and a Vmax of 7.092mM/min) indicating efficient substrate affinity. The addition of purified phytase to chicken diets resulted in significant improvements in nutrient utilization and overall performance, including increased feed intake, improved feed conversion ratio, enhanced bird growth, better phosphorus retention, and improved egg production and quality. By addressing challenges associated with phytate-rich diets, such as reduced nutrient availability and environmental pollution, phytase utilization promotes animal welfare and sustainability in poultry production.

Histological Characteristics of Follicles, Reproductive Hormones and Transcriptomic Analysis of White King Pigeon Illuminated with Red Light.

Red light (RL) has been observed to enhance egg production in pigeons, yet the underlying histological characteristics and molecular mechanisms remain less understood. This study included fifty-four pigeons to assess follicular histology, reproductive hormones, and ovarian transcriptomics on the third day of the laying interval under RL and white light (WL). The results showed that the granulosa cell layer was significantly thicker under RL (p < 0.05), whereas the theca cell and connective tissue layers showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Higher plasma estradiol (E2) levels were recorded in the RL group (p < 0.05), as well as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), although progesterone (P4) levels were higher under WL (p < 0.05). Moreover, P4 concentrations in follicle yolk significantly decreased under RL (p < 0.01), with higher FSH and E2 levels in F1 yolk and similar increases in SF1 yolk (p < 0.01). Transcriptomic analysis revealed 4991 differentially expressed genes in the pigeon ovary. The protein-protein interaction network highlighted genes like HSD11B1, VEGFD, WNT6, SMAD6, and LGR5 as potential contributors to hierarchical follicle selection under RL. This research provides new insights into the molecular basis by which RL may promote hierarchical follicle selection and improve egg production in pigeons.

Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis

Daidzein (Da), an isoflavone, resembles natural oestrogen in structure and activity. We investigated the effects of dietary Da on the reproductive performance, egg quality, and bone mineralisation of hens in the pre-peak laying period. A total of 432 laying hens (110 days) were randomly allocated to control (CON) or Da-supplemented diet (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg). Each treatment had six replicates of 18 birds/replicate, and the feeding trial lasted 8 weeks. Supplementation of dietary Da significantly improved laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, and feed-to-egg ratio (p < 0.05). Likewise, dietary Da significantly improved albumen quality (Haugh unit, thick albumen fraction, and albumen proportion) and eggshell quality (eggshell; strength, eggshell thickness, gloss, and colour) (p < 0.05). Dietary Da exerted a notable significant increase (p < 0.05) on magnum weight, follicle numbers, serum levels of growth hormones, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), reproductive hormone (oestrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone), and mRNA expression of related genes (ESR1, FSHR1, PRL1, GNHR1). Also, Da significantly increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the Da groups showed enhanced tibia strength, length, phosphorus, and bone mineral content (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary Da enhanced early onset of lay and improved albumen, eggshell, and bone quality in laying hens during the pre-peak period. Positive outcomes may be due to the efficient metabolism of Da and the safety level of inclusion. The enhancement of reproductive hormones, related genes, and antioxidant enzymes may explain daidzein’s effects on laying hens. Highlights Daidzein improved egg production significantly. Albumen, eggshell and tibia quality were enhanced. Optimal inclusion level at 25 or 50 mg/kg was safe.

Transcriptome Analysis of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis Reveals circRNAs Related to Egg Production of Bian Chicken.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis plays a pivotal role in the regulation of egg production in chickens. In addition to the traditional understanding of the HPO axis, emerging research highlights the significant role of circRNAs in modulating the functions of this axis. In the study, we collected hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian tissues from low-yielding and high-yielding Bian chickens for transcriptome sequencing. We identified 339, 339, and 287 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs with p_value < 0.05 and |log2 (fold change)| ≥ 1 in hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian tissues. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis for the source genes of DE circRNAs has yielded multiple biological process (BP) entries related to cell development, the nervous system, and proteins, including cellular component morphogenesis, cell morphogenesis, nervous system development, neurogenesis, protein modification process, and protein metabolic process. In the top 30 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, we observed the enrichment of the GnRH signaling pathway in both the hypothalamus and the pituitary, solely identified the GnRH secretion pathway in the pituitary, and discovered the pathway of oocyte meiosis in the ovary. Furthermore, given that circRNA primarily functions through the ceRNA mechanism, we constructed ceRNA regulatory networks with DE circRNAs originating from the GnRH signaling pathway, GnRH secretion, ovarian steroidogenesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and the estrogen signaling pathway. Finally, several important ceRNA regulatory networks related to reproduction were discovered, such as novel_circ_003662-gga-let-7b/miR-148a-3p/miR-146a-5p/miR-146b-5p and novel_circ_003538-gga-miR-7464-3p-SLC19A1. This study will contribute to advancements in understanding the involvement of circRNAs in the HPO axis, potentially leading to innovations in improving egg production and poultry health.

Dietary supplementation with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 regulates productive performance, lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in aged laying ducks

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) on productive performance, lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in aged laying ducks. A total of 432 healthy Longyan ducks at 60-week of age were randomly allotted to 6 groups, each with 6 replicates of 12 ducks. Ducks were given a basal diet (without added 25(OH)D3) or that diet supplemented with 800, 1600, 2400, 3200, or 4000 IU/kg 25(OH)D3 for a total of 16 wk. Dietary supplementation with 25(OH)D3 improved egg production, egg mass and average daily feed intake, and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of ducks during the whole trial period (linear, quadratic; P < 0.05). Supplementation with 25(OH)D3 decreased very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) content in yolk (P = 0.008), decreased high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) content in plasma (P = 0.002). Hepatic index, VLDL, LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol content in liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver activity score of liver and alanine aminotransferase content in plasma were decreased with supplementation of 25(OH)D3 (linear or quadratic; P < 0.05). The decreased hepatic apolipoprotein B 100 and lipoprotein lipase expression, and increased hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 expression resulted from 25(OH)D3 supplementation (linear, quadratic; P < 0.05). Moreover, 25(OH)D3 supplementation increased the villus/crypt ratio (linear, quadratic; P < 0.05) and expression of zonula occludens protein 1 and nuclear factor-κ-gene binding in duodenum (P < 0.05). The supplementation of 25(OH)D3 reduced the abundance of Wittenberg polluted soil-2 bacteria, Synergistota, Bacteroidales, Colidextribacter, Eggerthellaceae, Oscillospira, Oscillibacter, UCG-009, Barnesiellaceae and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010 in cecal contents (P < 0.05). Dietary requirements for 25(OH)D3 for ducks (60 to 76 wk), were estimated to be 3377 IU/kg for egg production, 3434 IU/kg for egg mass, and 3256 IU/kg for FCR. In summary, dietary 25(OH)D3 supplementation improved productive performance and influenced liver and plasma lipid homeostasis in aged laying ducks, which may be associated with the reduction of bacteria involved in carbohydrate metabolism in the cecum. Supplementing the basal diet with 3250 to 3450 IU/kg 25(OH)D3 is recommended for aged laying ducks (60 to 76 wk).

The effect of hydroxy-selenomethionine on the productive and reproductive performance of old broiler breeders.

Selenium (Se) is a rare essential element that plays a vital role in the health and performance of animals. By interfering in the production of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase and methionine sulfoxide, Se plays a role in reducing the effects of oxidative stress and animal performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) in the diet of broiler breeder and old broiler breeder roosters on productive performance, reproduction and sperm quality parameters. For this purpose, 260 broiler breeders of the Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications (13 hens and one rooster in each replication). Experimental treatments included: (1) a basal diet without OH-SeMet (T1:control), (2) a broiler breeder diet without OH-SeMet and a rooster diet containing 0.1mg/kg OH-SeMet (T2), (3) broiler breeder diet containing 0.1mg/kg OH-SeMet and rooster diet without OH-SeMet (T3) and (4) broiler breeder and rooster diet contained 0.1mg/kg OH-SeMet (T4). The results showed that T3 and T4 treatments improved egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control treatment (p<0.05). The fertility and hatchability percentages of T4 and T2 treatments increased compared to T1 and T3 treatments (p<0.05). The rate of embryonic losses in T1 was higher than in other treatments. However, grade one chickens were higher in T4 than in other treatments (p<0.05). Total motility and viability of sperms were significantly higher in T2 and T4 treatments than in T1 and T3 treatments. The sperm abnormality percentage and sperm MDA concentration decreased in T2 and T4 treatments. Therefore, using OH-SeMet may be a practical approach to help old broiler breeders' production and reproduction performance.

Effects of Yeast Culture on Laying Performance, Antioxidant Properties, Intestinal Morphology, and Intestinal Flora of Laying Hens.

Yeast culture (YC) plays a significant role in enhancing the performance and health of poultry breeding. This study investigated the impact of different YC supplementation concentrations (basal diet with 1.0 g/kg and 2.0 g/kg of YC, YC1.0, and YC2.0) on egg production performance, egg quality, antioxidant properties, intestinal mucosal structure, and intestinal flora of laying hens. Both YC1.0 and YC2.0 groups significantly enhanced the egg protein height, Haugh unit, and crude protein content of egg yolks compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The supplementation with YC2.0 notably increased the egg production rate, reduced feed-to-egg ratio, and decreased the broken egg rate compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, YC supplementation enhanced serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.05). Moreover, YC supplementation promoted duodenal villus height and villus ratio in the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05). Analysis of cecal microorganisms indicated a decrease in Simpson and Shannon indices with YC supplementation (p < 0.05). YC1.0 reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria, while YC2.0 increased the abundance of Bacteroidales (p < 0.05). Overall, supplementation with YC improved egg production, quality, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbial composition in laying hens, with significant benefits observed at the 2.0 g/kg supplementation level.

Positive effects and mechanism of mulberry leaf extract on alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in laying hens

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) on alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in laying hens. The 576 Jing Fen laying hens of 56 weeks of age with good health and similar weights (1.76 ± 0.17 kg) were randomly divided into 6 groups, with 8 replicates in each group and 12 chickens in each replicate. The experiment lasted 56 d. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal diet. The FLHS group was fed a high energy-low protein (HELP) diet, and the other four experimental groups were fed HELP diets supplemented with 0.04, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.20% MLE, respectively. The results showed that HELP treatment significantly induced liver injury, which indicated that the FLHS model was successfully established. MLE supplementation could alleviate the FLHS by reducing the liver index, abdominal fat percentage, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the serum (P < 0.05), and subsequently increase the egg production rate (P < 0.05). The laying hens fed 0.8% MLE exhibited the greatest production performance (P < 0.05) and could improve serum lipid levels. In addition, the genes associated with fatty acid synthesis (ACC, HMGR and SREBP-1C) were downregulated (P < 0.05), and genes related to fatty acid oxidation (CPT1A, AMPK, and ATGL) were found to be upregulated (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 1.2% MLE significantly reduced the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Desulfurized Bacillus (P < 0.05) and significantly increased the relative abundance of Fecal Bacillus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MLE may regulate the mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related genes through the AMPK signaling pathway and improve cecal microbiota balance and serum lipid levels to alleviate FLHS in laying hens and subsequently improve egg production performance.

Characterization of chicken Relaxin3 gene: mRNA expression and response to reproductive hormone treatment in ovarian granulosa cells, and single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with egg laying traits in hens

As a protein structurally similar to insulin, relaxin3 (RLN3) plays a role in promoting arousal, suppressing depressive or anxious behaviors. Two studies revealed the increase of RLN3 expression during chicken follicle selection. In this study, by real-time quantitative PCR and luciferase assay, mRNA expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of chicken RLN3 were investigated. The mRNA expression of chicken RLN3 was higher in the granulosa cell of hierarchal follicles (Post-GCs) than that of pre-hierarchal follicles (Pre-GCs). In Pre-GCs, the mRNA expression of chicken RLN3 was stimulated by FSH and progesterone; in Post-GCs, it was stimulated by higher concentration of estrogen and FSH, however, was inhibited by progesterone. Four SNPs including g.-655G > C, g-592G > A, g.-372T > A and g.-282G > C were identified in the critical promoter region from −1291 bp to −207 bp of chicken RLN3, among which g.-655G > C, and g-592G > A were associated with age at first laying and clutch size, respectively, in Zaozhuang Sunzhi chickens. At g.-655G > C and g-592G > A, allele C and allele A had higher transcriptional activity, respectively. These data suggest that RLN3 plays an important role in chicken follicle development and SNPs in its promoter region are potential DNA markers for improving egg production traits.

Dietary Aronia melanocarpa supplementation inhibit the oxidative stress caused by aging in ovary of late laying hens from 59 to 67 weeks of age

The ageing of laying hens’ ovaries in the late laying period leads to oxidative stress, which ultimately results in the decrease of laying performance. Thus, we investigated Aronia melanocarpa (AM) as a potent antioxidant to improve ovarian senescence in the late laying hens through antioxidant pathway, thereby improving egg production performance. A total of 480 Hy-line brown laying hens aged 59 wks (60–67 wks) were randomly divided into CON, LAM, MAM and HAM groups and fed 0, 1, 4 and 7% AM, respectively. The results showed that compared with the CON group, the MAM group could significantly improve the laying rate and reduce the feed egg ratio at 64–67 weeks of age (p < 0.05). The AM groups increased the eggshell thickness, while HAM group significantly reduced yolk colour (p < 0.05). The MAM and HAM groups significantly increased egg white weight (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the ovarian index in MAM group was increased, and the proteins related to proliferation and anti-apoptosis of ovarian cells (PCNA and Bcl2/Bax) were enhanced in all AM groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, all AM groups could significantly reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of ovary and yolk, and increase the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in yolk. LAM and MAM groups significantly increased ovarian GSH-Px activity, but only the MAM group significantly increased ovarian T-SOD activity. The expression levels of Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) genes and proteins were significantly increased in all AM groups, while the expression levels of kelch ECH – associated protein 1 (Keap1) genes and proteins were decreased. The expressions of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) genes were significantly increased in all AM groups, but the expression of SOD1 protein was significantly increased in MAM group and NQO1 protein was significantly increased in HAM group. Antioxidant enzyme protein expressions in the ovary showed positive associations with antioxidant enzyme activity. Furthermore, the expression of Nrf2 protein in the ovary was inversely connected with Keap1 protein expression and favourably correlated with antioxidant protein expressions. In summary, dietary AM supplementation activates the Keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant pathway to inhibit the oxidative stress caused by ageing in ovary of late laying hens. Taken together, the results of the study suggest that the inclusion of 4% AM was able to better improve the laying performance and antioxidant capacity of laying hens in the late laying period.

Can the Culture Density of the Marine Copepod Pseudodiaptomus nihonkaiensis be Improved by Installing an Artificial Substrate?

The understanding of the increasing population density of copepods in culture tanks contributes to establish their stable cultures at high productions for aquaculture industry, which are preferred live feeds for fish larvae. In the present study, the semi-benthic copepod Pseudodiaptomus nihonkaiensis were used as target species. This genus is often found from brackish water and its tolerance to a wide range of salinity and water quality has attracted attention as a potential commercial live feed for aquaculture. Population growth and egg production in the semi-benthic copepod P. nihonkaiensis are investigated. Copepods were cultured in tanks without mesh, with mesh lining tank walls, and with 2, 4 or 8 mesh partitions in each tank to identify the effect of substratum surface area on copepod population density. Linear regression revealed peaks in nauplius, copepodite, adult and total densities, and the cumulative number of eggs for all sampling events to correlate positively with substratum surface area (p&lt;0.01). Greater substratum area within a culture tank may improve egg production by increasing habitat for ovigerous females. The simple installation of inexpensive artificial substrata in existing copepod culture tanks might improve the feasibility of using copepods as a live food in commercial-scale aquaculture.

The Impact of Pediococcus acidilactici BK01 Supplementation on Production Performance and Quality of Japanese Quail Eggs

Probiotic supplementation in feed is currently under extensive research and development, particularly to improve egg production performance and enhance the quality of quail eggs. This study aimed to determine the effects of Pediococcus acidilactici BK01 supplementation on production performance, weight, fat, and cholesterol content of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs. This study used four treatments and probiotic supplementation was performed using drinking water at four different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3%). The supplementation of Pediococcus acidilactici BK01 demonstrated a significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in both egg production and cholesterol content, yet did not yield a significant difference (P&gt;0.05) in egg weight and lipid content. Pediococcus acidilactici BK01 supplementation at concentrations of 2% and 3% resulted in an increase in egg production from 60.85% to 84.52% and led to a reduction in cholesterol content by more than 50% (from 215.43 to 98.57 mg/dL) compared to the control group. Consequently, the administration of the probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici BK01 up to a concentration of 3% influenced on egg production and egg cholesterol content in Japanese quail.

Diet enrichment with omega-3 fatty acids: effect on productive performance, egg quality traits, yolk fatty acid profiles, oxidative stability, blood biochemistry and immune system

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to examine the effects of enriching the diet with Omega-3 fatty acids on the productive performance, yolk fatty acid profiles, oxidative stability, blood biochemistry, and immune system of laying hens. Enriching the diet with Omega-3 improved egg production and FCR (P < 0.05). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total omega-3 fatty acids in the yolk increased linearly with Salomega level (P < 0.05). Serum cholesterol and triglyceride decreased, but HDL content increased parallel to the Salomega level in the diet (P < 0.05). The MDA level in the yolk of bird eggs of the 3 or 4% Salomega treatment was higher than the MDA level of the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the enrichment of laying hens’ diet with 3 and 4% salomega can enhance egg production, elevate the levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, and decrease the oxidative stability of yolk lipids.

Effects of Liquid Whey Supplementation with Water on Egg Production and Egg Quality in Layer Chickens

Background: Liquid whey is a milk by-product and contains good quality protein and minerals. Due to lack of proper knowledge and sufficient technology it remains unutilized and thrown away as a waste. So, keeping in view of its profitable utilization, a study was planned to include liquid whey as feed supplement to layer poultry. Methods: A study was conducted by supplementation of liquid whey to layer chickens to study the effect on egg production and egg quality. A total of 120 layer birds (indicate the age) were supplemented with liquid whey ad libitum in the drinking water @ 0, 5, 10 and 15% up to 90 days. The data were collected with respect to egg production and egg quality parameters. Result: Supplementation of liquid whey in drinking water improved egg production and egg quality in laying chickens. It may be concluded that liquid whey can be supplemented with drinking water at the rate of 5% (v/v) for better egg production in layers and for production of premium quality of bigger size and weight of eggs, supplementation of whey up to 15% (v/v) can be recommended.

CYP24A1 and TRPC3 Gene Expression in Kidneys and Their Involvement in Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism in Laying Hens.

Ca and P homeostasis across the egg-laying cycle is a complex process involving absorption in the small intestine, reabsorption/excretion in the kidneys, and eggshell gland secretion. Diets with inadequate calcium and phosphorus can interfere with their absorption and digestibility, resulting in eggshell quality losses and reduced productive life, affecting egg production and welfare. A better understanding of gene expression profiles in the kidneys of laying hens during the late egg-laying period could clarify the renal role in mineral metabolism at this late stage. Therefore, the performance, egg quality and bone integrity-related traits, and expression profiles of kidney candidate genes were evaluated in 73-week-old laying hens receiving different Ca and P ratios in their diet: a high Ca/P ratio (HR, 22.43), a low ratio (LR, 6.71), and a medium ratio (MR, 11.43). The laying hens receiving the HR diet had improved egg production and eggshell quality traits compared to the other two groups. Humerus length was shorter in the HR than in the other groups. The CYP24A1 and TRPC3 genes were differentially expressed (p.adj ≤ 0.05) among the groups. Therefore, their expression profiles could be involved in calcium and phosphate transcellular transport in 73-week-old laying hens as a way to keep mineral absorption at adequate levels.

Calcium-carbonate and phytoelements to improve egg production in backyard laying hens under heat stress

Calcium-carbonate and phytoelements to improve egg production in backyard laying hens under heat stress

Effects of Long-Term Coated Sodium Butyrate Supplementation on the Intestinal Health and Colonization of Cecal Salmonella of Laying Hens Infected with Salmonella enteritidis.

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is widely found in chickens and eggs, and it can potentially induce human illness. The investigation in this study centers on the impacts of long-term dietary supplementation with coated sodium butyrate (CSB) on intestinal well-being and the colonization of cecum Salmonella in laying hens infected with S. Enteritidis. We segregated a total of 120 Lohmann laying hens aged 51 weeks into four treatment categories: 0 (CON), 300 (CSB1), 500 (CSB2), and 800 (CSB3) mg/kg of CSB, supplemented with CSB from the first day of the experiment. A 24-week observation process was carried out for each laying hen. The S. Enteritidis was orally administered to all chickens on the morning of the first and third days of week 22 of the trial. After the S. Enteritidis challenge, egg production decreased the most in the CON group. Compared to the CON group, the three doses of CSB significantly improved egg production after the S. Enteritidis challenge (PANOVA < 0.05). S. Enteritidis challenge increased plasma DAO activity, but CSB supplementation reduced plasma DAO activity (Plinear < 0.05). The S. Enteritidis challenge disrupted intestinal villi morphology; compared to the CON group, the three dosages of CSB resulted in an increase in villus height (VH) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (V/C) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of infected laying hens (Plinear < 0.05), with a significant increase in jejunal villus height (PANOVA < 0.05). A decrease in ileal crypt depth was also observed (Plinear < 0.05). CSB2 and CSB3 markedly increased the content of butyric acid in the cecum (PANOVA < 0.05). Additionally, in contrast to those in the CON group, the propionic acid content in the CSB supplementation group increased (Plinear < 0.05). Compared with those in the CON group, mRNA relative expression of the IL-6 and IL-1β in jejunum (Plinear < 0.05) and mRNA relative expression of the IL-1β in ileum (PANOVA < 0.05) were significantly lower, and mRNA relative expression of the IL-10 in ileum (Plinear < 0.05) were significantly higher in the CSB group. In addition, in contrast to the CON group, the CSB supplementation group significantly upregulated mRNA relative expression of the ZO-1 and CLDN1 (PANOVA < 0.05). Additionally, CSB supplementation reduced the number of Salmonella and increased the number of Lactobacilli in the cecum (Plinear < 0.05) and tended to increase the total bacteria count (Plinear = 0.069) and reduce the E. coli count (Plinear = 0.081). In conclusion, long-term dietary supplementation with coated sodium butyrate can alleviate intestinal injury and the colonization of cecum Salmonella in laying hens infected with S. Enteritidis.

Influence of Dietary Probiotic and Alpha-Monolaurin on Performance, Egg Quality, Blood Constituents, and Egg Fatty Acids' Profile in Laying Hens.

This work was designed to evaluate the advantages of using multi-strain probiotics feed (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Clostridium butyricum) (PRO) and alpha-monolaurin (AML) on laying performance, criteria of egg quality, blood parameters, and yolk fatty acids' profile in laying hens. One hundred forty of Bovans brown laying hens at 45 weeks old (25th week of egg production) were randomly allocated into four groups, with seven replicates of five birds each in a complete randomized design. The first group was fed a basal diet without feed additives (0g/kg diet), and the second, third, and fourth groups received diets containing 1g PRO, 1g AML, and 1g PRO + 1g AML/kg diet, respectively. No significant impacts of PRO, AML, or their mixture on body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), or egg weight. Egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were enhanced by 1g PRO/kg and /or 1g AML/kg supplementation in laying hen diets. Furthermore, egg shape index, eggshell thickness, and yolk color were statistically higher by PRO and AML supplementation at 55 weeks. However, oviduct, infundibulum, and uterus weights were significantly decreased by 1g PRO or/and 1g AML. Additionally, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels were decreased by PRO and AML supplementation. In conclusion, it seems that dietary inclusion with 1g PRO/kg, 1g of AML/kg, and 1g PRO + 1g AML improved egg production, egg mass, FCR, and yolk fatty acids profile and lowered total cholesterol and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in laying hens.