Yolk Color Score Research Articles

Hens ranked as highly feed efficient have an improved albumen quality profile and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids in the yolk1

The shelf life of eggs that contain elevated levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is compromised due to the relative instability and therefore greater potential for lipid peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids (FA). Poultry that is highly feed efficiency (HFE) exhibits higher systemic levels of antioxidant enzymes and therefore may produce eggs with improved albumen quality and favorable FA profiles that are stable over time. We tested the hypothesis that HFE-laying hens produce eggs with improved internal egg quality and a favorable yolk FA profile prior to and following storage. Following an initial screening phase (7 wk) using 140 Isa Brown layers (28 wk old), the 10 most efficient (FCR < 1.99 ± 0.05) and the 10 least efficient (FCR > 2.30 ± 0.05) hens were identified and designated as HFE and low feed efficiency (LFE) groups, respectively. Internal quality and composition were determined on eggs (n = 10 per group) stored at 15 °C for 0, 14, and 28 d. At 0, 14, and 28 d, the albumen weight, albumen height, Haugh unit (HU), and albumen:yolk ratio of eggs from the HFE group were significantly higher (P < 0.01), whereas the eggs from the LFE group had heavier (P < 0.01) yolk than the HFE group. After 28-d storage, the yolk color score of the LFE group was lower (paler; P < 0.05) compared with that of the HFE group. The relative proportions of total PUFA and the ratio of total PUFA and total saturated fatty acids (SFA) were higher (P < 0.05) in HFE group of eggs. The LFE group of eggs contained higher (P < 0.05) levels of lipid peroxidation marker (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TBARS) values both in fresh and in stored eggs. The results suggest that HFE hens produce eggs with greater albumen quality and higher levels of yolk PUFA both at lay and after storage.

Performances of Nageswari duck of Bangladesh under intensive management condition

The present study was conducted to know the production and reproduction potentials, and egg quality characteristics of Nageswari duck under intensive management condition. Data were collected from a nucleus flock of Nageswari ducks that have been maintained from day old to 72 weeks of age at AI center, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, from May 2015 to October 2016. Irrespective of sex, the average live weight of ducklings at day old, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7thand 9thweeks of age were observed to be 38.85±1.40, 99.06±2.93, 373.29±8.73, 650.31±11.26, 867.74±11.79 and 1076.11±16.34 g, respectively. There was a steady increasing trend observed in live weights for both drakes and ducks from 17thto 72 weeks of age. The average age of sexual maturity and weight were found 130±1.83 days and 1400.84±12.68g respectively. The average egg weight and annual egg production were 58.20±1.50g and 204.23±14.19 no’s, respectively. Hen day egg production was found 55.67±2.74% while the peak production was observed at 26th week of age. The estimated mean egg mass production (g/b/day), feed intake(g) during laying, feed conversion efficiency and performance efficiency index of Nageswari duck were 32.40±2.29, 154.85±2.27, 4.63±0.21 and 20.92±1.37, respectively in Nageswari duck. The external egg quality characteristics like shape index, egg breaking strength, shell thickness and membrane thickness were observed to be 74.59±0.61, 2.00±0.03 kg/cm2, 3.99±0.06 mm and 0.50 ± 0.02 mm respectively whereas, internal quality attributes such as albumen index, yolk index, yolk color score and Haugh unit were 8.89±0.29, 34.36±0.61, 8.42±0.28 and 86.29±1.06, respectively. In conclusion, the studied parameters of Nageswari duck provided some breed specific baseline information and year round actual production potentials of this genetic resource under intensive management condition that could be utilized for future conservation and breeding programs in Bangladesh.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (3): 198-205

Evaluating the nutritional value of date pits and demonstrating their application in laying hen diets.

This experiment was carried out to study the feeding value of ground date pits (DP) (Phoenix dactylifera L.) with and without enzyme supplementation on laying hens' performance. Apparent metabolizable energy value of DP was determined by the total collection method using 10 adult Leghorn cockerels. After that, a total number of 144 Lohmann 50-week-old LSL-Lite hens were randomly allocated into six groups consisting of four replicates of six birds, based on a 3×2 factorial arrangement of the treatments. Six iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets including I-corn-soya bean meal-based control, II-corn-soya bean meal oil-based control and III- corn-soya bean meal-based diet (180g/kg DP) were formulated. Each of the diets was supplemented with two levels of an enzyme (0.0 and 0.07g/kg Natozim Plus). The experiment lasted 10weeks after 7days of adaptation. The results revealed that there was no significant difference in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg mass, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness and Haugh unit among the treatments. Dietary inclusion of DP significantly decreased body weight gain (BWG), egg weight and yolk colour score. On the other hand, corn-soya bean meal-based control diet with vegetable oil significantly increased egg weight and BWG of birds in comparison with other treatments. The serum biochemical metabolites were not affected by DP and enzyme supplementation. Thus, DP can be used as alternative feedstuff in laying hen diets, up to 18% of the diet with little effect on the performance of hens, including egg weight, and also, it had an adverse effect on yolk colour. Eventually, in terms of performance, the results failed to demonstrate any positive effect of Natozim Plus on either the controls or 18% DP diets.

Egg production and egg quality in free-range laying hens housed at different outdoor stocking densities

Free-range laying hen systems are increasing in number within Australia. Variation in outdoor stocking densities has led to development of a national information standard on free-range egg labeling, including setting a maximum density of 10,000 hens per hectare. However, there are few data on the impacts of differing outdoor densities on production and egg quality. ISA Brown hens in small (150 hens) flocks were housed in identical indoor pens, each with access (from 21 weeks) to different sized ranges simulating one of three outdoor stocking densities (2 replicates each: 2,000 hens/hectare (ha), 10,000 hens/ha, 20,000 hens/ha). Hen-day production was tracked from 21 through 35 weeks with eggs visually graded daily for external deformities. All eggs laid on one day were weighed each week. Eggs were collected from each pen at 25, 30, and 36 weeks and analyzed for egg quality. There were no effects of outdoor stocking density on average hen-day percentage production (P = 0.67), egg weight (P = 0.09), percentages of deformed eggs (P = 0.30), shell reflectivity (P = 0.74), shell breaking strength (P = 0.07), shell deformation (P = 0.83), or shell thickness (P = 0.24). Eggs from hens in the highest density had the highest percentage shell weight (P = 0.004) and eggs from the lowest density had the highest yolk color score (P < 0.001). The amount of cuticle present did not differ between densities (P = 0.95) but some aspects of shell colors (P ≤ 0.01) and location of protoporphyrin IX (P = 0.046) varied. Hen age affected the majority of measurements. Stocking density differences may be related to hen diet as previous radio-frequency identification tracking of individual hens in these flocks showed birds used the range for longer in the lowest density and the least in the highest density, including depleting the range of vegetation sooner in the smaller ranges. An additional study assessing the relationship between individual hen range use, nutrition, and egg quality is warranted.

Optimization of dietary zinc for egg production and antioxidant capacity in Chinese egg-laying ducks fed a diet based on corn-wheat bran and soybean meal

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on productive performance and antioxidant status in laying ducks. Five-hundred-four laying ducks were divided into 7 treatments, each containing 6 replicates of 12 ducks. The ducks were caged individually and fed a corn-soybean meal and wheat bran basal diet (37 mg Zn/kg) or the basal diet supplemented with 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 mg Zn/kg (as zinc sulfate). During the early laying period of 10 d (daily egg production <80%), egg production, daily egg mass, and FCR increased quadratically with increasing dietary Zn levels (P < 0.05). The highest egg production and daily egg weight were obtained when 30 or 45 mg Zn/kg diet was supplemented, with lowest FCR. Similarly, the highest egg production and daily egg mass were observed in the group supplemented with 30 or 45 mg Zn/kg during the peak laying period of the subsequent 120 d (daily egg production >80%). Average egg weight and feed intake did not differ among the groups of graded Zn supplementation.The egg quality was not affected by dietary Zn, including the egg shape index, Haugh unit, yolk color score, egg composition, and shell thickness. The activities of plasma activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) increased in a quadratic manner (P < 0.001) with increasing supplemental Zn. Plasma concentration of Zn increased quadratically (P < 0.05) as dietary Zn increased. The hepatic activity of Cu/Zn-SOD and GSH-PX increased quadratically (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary Zn. Plasma Zn concentrations were positively correlated with activities of T-SOD (P < 0.05), and positively with plasma Cu. Plasma concentration of reduced glutathione was correlated with plasma Cu. In conclusion, supplementation of Zn at 30 or 45 mg/kg to a corn-wheat bran and soybean basal diet may improve the productive performance and enhance the antioxidant capacity.

Apparent metabolizable energy value of whole date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and its possible use as a feedstuff for aged laying hens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of whole date palm (WDP) with and without enzyme supplementation on aged laying hen's performance. Apparent metabolizable energy value of WDP was determined by the total collection method using ten adult leghorn cockerels. WDP was substituted with a corn-soybean meal basal diet at 40% level, and then the metabolizable energy of this experimental diet and basal diet was determined. After that, a total number of 256 Bovanz 95-week-old hens were randomly allocated into eight groups consisting of four replicates of eight birds each, based on a 4×2 factorial arrangement of the treatments. Eight iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets including one corn-soybean meal-based control diet and two, three, and four corn-soybean meal-based diets included 70, 140, and 210g/kg ground WDP, respectively. Each of the diets supplemented with two levels of an enzyme (0.0 and 0.07g/kg Natozim Plus). There was no significant difference in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and Haugh unit among the treatments (P>0.05). However, yolk color score significantly decreased as dietary WDP level increased. The serum biochemical metabolites were not significantly affected by WDP and enzyme supplementation (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the relative weight of different organs except for abdominal fat. Our findings show that using WDP up to 21% of the diet was more economic and had no adverse effect on productive performance and serum metabolites of laying hens. However, WDP had an adverse effect on yolk color which can be ameliorated by carotenoid supplementation.

Effect of biochar, zeolite and bentonite feed supplements on egg yield and excreta attributes

Bond Brown Layer (BBL) pullets (n = 200, 18 weeks old) were randomly assigned to 10 dietary treatments involving biochar, zeolite and bentonite at nil, 1%, 2%, and 4% w/w supplementation of commercial layer feed. Each treatment was applied to four cages, with five birds per cage, a total of 20 birds per treatment. Birds were maintained on these diets for 25 weeks. Feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (P = 0.001) with biochar-supplemented feed compared with the control and other treatments. Average egg weight was also significantly improved in the treatment groups compared with the control; however, shell weight, shell breaking strength, shell thickness, shell deformation and shell reflectivity, and internal egg-quality traits of albumen height and Haugh unit were not consistently different (P &gt; 0.05). Yolk colour score was decreased significantly (P = 0.001) with the use of increased rate of additives. Intestinal villi height and crypt depth were increased on amended diets. Egg yield was decreased when birds were placed on a fungal contaminated feed. The feed amendments ameliorated this effect, with the best result achieved on a 2% biochar diet. Improved egg production was also noted under commercial certified organic production conditions trialling 2% biochar feed supplementation compared with the control. Thus, supplementation of feed with biochar, zeolite and bentonite improved production performance traits of egg yield and feed conversion ratio, with these additives potentially acting as detoxifiers or inhibiting growth of microbial pathogens, slowing digestion or altering the gut anatomy and microbiota to improve feed conversion ratio.

Estimation of dietary arginine requirements for Longyan laying ducks

This study aimed to establish the arginine requirements of Longyan ducks from 17 to 31 wk of age based on egg production, egg quality, plasma, and ovarian indices, as well as the expression of vitellogenesis-related genes. In total, 660 Longyan ducks with similar body weight at 15 wk of age were assigned randomly to 5 treatments, each with 6 replicates of 22 birds, and fed a corn-corn gluten meal basal diet (0.66% arginine) supplemented with either 0, 0.20%, 0.40%, 0.60%, or 0.80% arginine. Dietary arginine did not affect egg production by laying ducks, but it increased (linear, P < 0.01) the egg weight at 22 to 31 and 17 to 31 wk of age. Dietary arginine increased the yolk color score (linearly, P < 0.05) and the yolk percentage (quadratic, P < 0.05), where the maximum values were obtained with 1.26% arginine. Dietary arginine affected the total shell percentage and shell thickness, with the highest values using 1.46% arginine (P < 0.01). The weight and number of small yellow follicles (SYFs) increased (quadratic, P < 0.05) with the dietary arginine level and there was a quadratic response (P < 0.05) in terms of the SYFs weight/ovarian weight; the highest values were obtained in ducks fed 1.26% arginine. The plasma arginine concentration exhibited a quadratic (P < 0.05) response to dietary arginine. The plasma progesterone concentration decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as dietary arginine increased. The mRNA abundance of the very low density lipoprotein receptor-b increased in the second large yellow follicle membranes (quadratic, P < 0.05) with the dietary arginine level, where the highest value occurred with 1.26% arginine. According to the regression model, the dietary arginine requirements for Longyan laying ducks aged 17 to 31 wk are 1.06%, 1.13%, 1.22%, and 1.11% to obtain the maximum yolk percentage, SYFs number, SYFs weight, and SYFs weight/ovarian weight, respectively.

Comparative Study on the Breeding Performance of Red Jungle Fowl versus Native Roosters under Confinement System

This study was conducted to determine the production performance of red jungle fowls and native roosters mated with native hens under confinement system. A total of two red jungle fowl roosters, two native roosters and eight native hens were randomly assigned to two treatments with two replications. Each replicate was composed of one rooster and two hens that were randomly laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Egg weight showed a highly significant difference at t&lt;0.05 and revealed heavier weight (39.5 g). Comparable results were obtained in % egg production, %fertility, % hatchability rates, yolk and shell weight, egg length and width, egg shape index and yolk color score. The performance of RJF regarding production potential and egg quality traits were comparable with the native chicken.

Egg production performance, egg yolk antioxidant profile and excreta concentration of corticosterone in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) fed diets containing different levels of green vegetables.

In order to study the effect of feeding graded levels of green vegetables on egg production performance and egg yolk antioxidant status, 27 female golden pheasants (GP) were randomly distributed into three groups of nine each in an experiment based on completely randomized design. The diets of the birds in groups T1 , T2 and T3 contained 1.4%, 2.7% and 5.0% of green vegetables respectively. Feeding of experimental diets started on 12th February (day 1) and was continued till 30 June 2012. Average number of eggs laid and egg mass produced by the hens in group T3 was higher (p<0.004) than those of T1 and T2 . Hen day egg production was lowest (p<0.001) in group T1 . Roche yolk colour score was highest (p<0.01) in T3 followed by T2 and was lowest in T1 . Other external and internal egg quality parameters were similar among the groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of egg yolk was higher (p<0.04) in group T3 as compared to other two groups. Egg yolk concentration of total carotenoids, β-carotene, total sulfhydryl, protein-bound sulfhydryl and non-protein-bound sulfhydryl was higher (p<0.05), whereas concentration of malondialdehyde was lower (p<0.024) in group T3 as compared to other two groups. Excreta concentration of corticosterone washighest (p<0.012) in T1 , followed by T2 , and was lowest in T3 . Egg yolk concentration of TAC and TSH was positively and that of malondialdehyde was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. It was concluded that incorporation of green vegetables in the diet at 5% on dry matter basis would improve egg production, egg yolk antioxidant status and the ability of the captive GP to combat stress.

Effects of particle sizes and physical form of the diet on performance, egg quality and size of the digestive organs in laying hens

Summary The influence of feed form (mash, crumble and pellet) and screen size (5 mm and 8 mm) on laying performance, egg quality, digestive organ measurements and gizzard pH was examined in laying hens using a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Lohmann LSL-Classic white egg layers (n = 864) at 28 weeks of age were randomly divided into 6 dietary treatments, each with 6 replicates of 24 birds over the following 24 weeks period. Significant ( P < 0.05) interactions between feed form and screen size were observed for egg mass output. Grinding ingredients through a screen size of 5 mm instead of 8 mm, as well as further processing of the feed mixture as mash and crumble increased egg mass, whereas a contrasting pattern was observed in the case of feeding on pellets. Egg production rate, egg weight, and cracked-broken egg rate were not affected by either particle size or form of the feed. Administering the diet in the form of pellet and crumble decreased feed intake of hens compared to mash ( P < 0.01). The feed conversion ratio of hens fed on crumbled and pelleted diets was significantly lower ( P < 0.01) than for those receiving a mash diet ( P < 0.01). Egg quality characteristics were barely affected by either screen size or feed form. However, the consumption of feed in the crumbled and pelleted forms decreased the yolk colour score by 4% ( P < 0.05). Screen size and feed form had no effects on the percentage weight of liver, gizzard, length of small intestine and gizzard pH. However, lowering screen size from 8 to 5 mm increased pancreas weight ( P < 0.01). The overall results of this experiment suggest that feed form (mash vs. crumbles or pellets) had a greater effect on the FI and FCR of laying hens than dietary ingredient particle size, with the best efficiency of feed conversion being obtained from pellet-fed birds. The effect of particle size was pronounced for eggshell mineralisation and pancreatic functions.

Potential Natural Egg Colourant in Laying Chickens

A six-week study involving two hundred and fifty (250) Harco Black layer birds at point of lay was carried out to investigate the effects of potential natural colorant on performance and egg quality traits. The birds were assigned to five (5) dietary treatments, each containing supplements either of control, Baobab Leaf (BL), Waterleaf (WL), Red Pepper (RP), Canthaxanthin (CTX) at 40 g/kg feed and 50mg/kg feed of natural and commercial colorants, respectively. Performance records shows no significant (p>0.05) difference in feed intake across supplements of Red pepper, Water leaf, Canthaxanthin and control diet, however Baobab leaf treatment had a significantly lower (p 0.05) by the dietary treatments, though Baobab leaf supplement had lowest mean HDP of 48.80%, Red pepper and Water leaf supplement averaging 52.79%. There was no significant effect (p > 0.05) of colorants on egg external traits, compared with the control; Canthaxanthin treatment had higher mean egg weight (51.79g), egg length (4.55g), egg breadth (3.29 g); Red pepper treatment had highest mean shell thickness (0.29g), however these differences were not significant (p>0.05). Yolk height, Albumen height, Yolk index, and Haugh unit were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) across treatments. Yolk width was lowest (p 0.05) different from the control (2.73cm). Yolk colour score was significantly highest (p < 0.05) in Red pepper treatment (7.50); Water leaf, Baobab leaf and Canthaxanthin ranged between 2.25- 3.31 on the DSM yolk colour fan, Control treatment had the lowest yolk colour score (p < 0.05) of 1.31. The study showed Red pepper as a worthy alternative to commercial yolk colorant. Water leaf and baobab are not good substitutes for canthaxanthin as a yolk colourant. Key words : Egg colourant, Chickens, Livestock.

Effects of water supplemented with Saccharicterpenin and photosynthetic bacteria on egg production, egg quality, serum immunoglobulins, and digestive enzyme activities of ducks

We investigated the effects of water supplemented with Saccharicterpenin and photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) on egg production, egg quality, serum immunoglobulins, and digestive enzyme activities of Jinyun ducks. A total of 400 healthy Jinyun ducks (all aged 58 wk) were randomly allotted to five treatments, with four replicates per treatment and 20 ducks in each replicate. The animals were fed a standard diet for 15 d and the experimental diet for 55 d. Experimental design is as follows: negative-control group C1 was given no supplementation, and control group 2 was given pool water (PW) with added PSB but not Saccharicterpenin. Test groups T1, T2, and T3 were given the same amount of PSB in the PW and varying levels of Saccharicterpenin in drinking water. Results suggest that PSB combined with Saccharicterpenin had beneficial effects on the average egg weight, feed to egg ratio, laying rate, and amylase activity, but some bad effects on the yolk color score. Additionally, PSB alone can increase the average egg weight.

Regulation of egg quality and lipids metabolism by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

This investigation was designed to explore the effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NP) on egg quality and the mechanism of decreasing of yolk lipids. Different concentration of ZnO NP and ZnSO4 were used to treat hens for 24 weeks. The body weight and egg laying frequency were recorded and analyzed. Albumen height, Haugh unit, and yolk color score were analyzed by an Egg Multi Tester. Breaking strength was determined by an Egg Force Reader. Egg shell thickness was measured using an Egg Shell Thickness Gouge. Shell color was detected by a spectrophotometer. Egg shape index was measured by Egg Form Coefficient Measuring Instrument. Albumen and yolk protein was determined by the Kjeldahl method. Amino acids were determined by an amino acids analyzer. Trace elements Zn, Fe, Cu, and P (mg/kg wet mass) were determined in digested solutions using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. TC and TG were measured using commercial analytical kits. Yolk triglyceride, total cholesterol, pancreatic lipase, and phospholipids were determined by appropriate kits. β-carotene was determined by spectrophotometry. Lipid metabolism was also investigated with liver, plasma, and ovary samples. ZnO NP did not change the body weight of hens during the treatment period. ZnO NP slowed down egg laying frequency at the beginning of egg laying period but not at later time. ZnO NP did not affect egg protein or water contents, slightly decreased egg physical parameters (12 to 30%) and trace elements (20 to 35%) after 24 weeks treatment. However, yolk lipids content were significantly decreased by ZnO NP (20 to 35%). The mechanism of Zinc oxide nanoparticles decreasing yolk lipids was that they decreased the synthesis of lipids and increased lipid digestion. These data suggested ZnO NP affected egg quality and specifically regulated lipids metabolism in hens through altering the function of hen's ovary and liver.

Effectivity of BS4 enzyme complex on the performance of laying hens fed with different ingredients

&lt;p class="abstrak2"&gt;An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effectivity of an enzyme complex produced by Eupenicilium javanicum BS4 on the performance of laying hens fed with different feed ingredients. Three diets were formulated with similar nutrients (protein, ME, digestible amino acids, Ca and available P) value to meet the nutrient requirement of laying hens. Diets were formulated based on maize, palm kernel cake (PKC) or rice bran. The diets were either supplemented or not with BS4 enzyme complex and fed to Isa Brown pullet from 19 to 37 weeks old. Each diet was fed to 24 birds and the performances were recorded. Data were analysed statistically with 2 X 3 factorial design with six replicates. Results showed that supplementation of BS4 enzyme into laying hens diet did not influence body weight change, feed intake, mortalities, egg weight and egg shell thickness but significantly increased egg production (P&amp;lt;0.05) and the FCR (P&amp;lt;0.01) in any feedstuff tested. It also improved egg yolk colour score on diet contained 20% PKC. Laying hens fed 20% PKC produced more eggs than those fed maize or rice bran. The egg shell of laying hens fed rice bran were thicker than those fed with maize or PKC. It is concluded that BS4 enzyme complex is effective when supplemented into laying hens diet.&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of cage and barn rearing system on early laying performance of pullet

The present experiment was conducted with 144 Shaver 579 egg laying pullets to compare their performances reared on barn and in cages for a period of 16 weeks from 25 to 40 weeks of age. Feed consumption, feed conversion (FC) and egg weight were significantly higher when reared on barn than in cages. However, hen day egg production (HDEP), egg mass, body weight, livability, albumen index, Haugh unit (HU), yolk index, shape index and egg shell thickness did not differ (P&gt;0.05) between pullets under two different rearing systems. Soiled eggs (p&lt;0.01) and shell breaking strength (P&lt;0.05) were higher for the pullets reared on barn than in cages. In contrast, yolk color score (YCS) was higher (P&lt;0.05) in eggs collected from the cage-reared pullets when compared with the eggs of pullets reared on barn. It is concluded that egg laying pullets can be reared either on barn or in cages successfully in Bangladesh condition without any adverse effect on egg production.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2015. 44 (3):151-156

Breeding Performance and Egg Quality of Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus L.) Under Confinement System

This study was conducted to assess the breeding performance, and egg quality traits of Red Jungle Fowl in selected areas of Leyte mated to native hens under confinement system. A total of six Red Jungle Fowl and two native roosters, and 16 native hens were randomly assigned to four treatments and eight replications. Each replicate was composed of one rooster and two hens that were randomly laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The result on egg weight showed a highly significant difference at p value &lt;0.01 and revealed heaviest weight (39.0 g)and lightest weight (35.75 g) on Native x Native and Baybay Red JungleFowl x Native, respectively. A comparable number of eggs per clutch, fertility and hatchability rates, yolk and albumen weights, shell weight, egg length and width, egg shape index and yolk color score were recorded.

Substitution of Soybean Meal with Indigofera zollingeriana Top Leaf Meal on Egg Quality of Cortunix cortunix japonica

This research aimed to study the substitution of soybean meal (SBM) with Indigofera zollingeriana top leaf meal (ILM) in the diet on egg quality of Japanese quails. The experiment used a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications (ten quails of each replication). The dietary treatment contained five combination of SBM and ILM, R0= diets contained 18% SBM without ILM, R1= diet contained 16.2% SBM and 2.66% ILM, R2= diet contained 14.4% SBM and 5.32% ILM, R3= diet contained 12.6% SBM and 7.98% ILM, R4= diet contained 9% SBM and 13.3% ILM. The results showed that the use of 13.3% ILM (R4) significantly (P<0.05) increased feed consumption, egg weight, yolk colour score, egg cholesterol, and reduced malondialdehyde level. The conclusion of this study was I. zollingeriana top leaf meal could be used as much as 13.3% in the diets. The use of I. zollingeriana top leaf meal could improve the quality of eggs physically and chemically. Key words: eggs quality, Indigofera zollingeriana, soybean meal, quail

Egg Production and Physical Quality in Cortunix cortunix japonica Fed Diet Containing Piperine as Phytogenic Feed Additive

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of piperine as a phytogenic feed additive on quail performances and egg quality. The experiment used a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications and used ten quails with one week of age in each replication. The piperine was added to the diets at concentrations of 0 (T0), 15 (T1), 30 (T2), 45 (T3), and 60 mg/kg body weight (T4) for 8 consecutive weeks. The results showed that addition of 60 mg/kg body weight (T4) of piperine significantly (P<0.05) reduced feed consumption, egg production, egg mass, income over feed cost (IOFC), and increased water consumption as compared to the other treatments. The addition of 15-60 mg piperine/kg body weight significantly (P<0.05) reduced eggshell weight and increased egg yolk color score. The conclusion of this experiment was that the addition of piperine at 15-45 mg/kg body weight could be used as phytogenic feed additive to improve performance, IOFC, haugh unit, and yolk color. Key words: egg, feed additive, phytogenic, piperine, quail

EFFECTS OF FEEDING HIGH-NUTRIENT-DENSITY DIETS ON PERFORMANCE OF BOVANS WHITE HENS REARED UNDER SUMMER CONDITIONS IN EGYPT

The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of feeding diets containing high nutrient concentrations on laying performance and egg quality of Bovans White laying hens during the summer season in Egypt. Two hundred hens were randomly distributed into five equal experimental groups, each composed of five replications. Hens were maintained at community cages (8 birds/cage) and subjected to similar hygienic and managerial conditions.A corn-soybean meal-based diet, containing 17.40% crude protein, 2880 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy, 4.35% calcium, 0.43% nonphytate phosphorus, 0.84% lysine, 0.41% methionine, and 0.70% methionine plus cysteine, was formulated in mash form and used as a control. The concentration of nutrients was increased to be 102.5, 105, 107.5 and 110% of those present in the control diet through some dietary manipulations, thus five mash experimental diets were formulated and fed to hens. The laying performance was evaluated in terms of egg production rate, egg weight, daily egg mass, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio during three 28-day periods, from 44 to 56 weeks of age. An egg quality test was also performed to determine the effects of feeding the high-nutrient-density diets on egg components and some exterior and interior parameters of egg quality at the last week of study. At the first 4-week period, feeding the high-nutrient-density diets had no significant effect on laying performance of hens but daily feed intake was inconsistently affected.At the second period, hens fed high-nutrient-density diets achieved significantly higher egg production rate (EPR) and daily egg mass (DEM) compared with the control group while egg weight (EW), daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected. At the third period, hens fed 105 and 107.5% diets consumed significantly more feed and displayed higher EPR and DEM than those of other dietary treatments but EW and FCR were not affected. Feeding the high nutrient density diets produced significant improvements in egg weight, yolk index and Haugh units compared with their control counterparts while percentages of egg components, shell weight per unit surface area (SWUSA), egg shape index and yolk color score were not affected. It is concluded that increasing dietary nutrient density up to 110% of the recommended requirements of Bovans White laying hens can positively affect some egg quality traits but had inconsistent effect on their productive performance under Egyptian summer conditions.