Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Performance,Egg Quality,Tissue Zinc Content,Bone Parameters,and Antioxidative Status in Laying Hens

The objective of this study was to observe the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on performance, egg quality, tissue Zn content, bone parameters, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content in laying hens. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments, 6 replicates, with 12 birds each. Experimental diets included the based diet (without Zn supplementation), and basal diet supplemented with 40, 80, and 120 mg Zn/kg from ZnO-NPs. Feed intake and egg mass were significantly higher in the 40 and 80 ZnO-NPs groups than the other groups. The birds in the 80 ZnO-NPs group had significantly higher egg product than the 120 ZnO-NPs and control groups. Egg shell thickness and shell strength significantly increased in the 40 and 80 ZnO-NPs groups. Moreover, Haugh unit significantly improved in the groups supplemented with ZnO-NPs, compared to the control group. Bone-breaking strength was significantly greater in the 80 ZnO-NPs group than the 120 ZnO-NPs and control groups. Also, ash weight was significantly greater in the 40 and 80 ZnO-NPs groups than the control group. There were significant differences among the groups in the Zn content in plasma, tibia, liver, pancreas, and egg. Relative to the control group, ZnO-NPs supplementation significantly increased the activities of SOD in the liver, pancreas, and plasma. The MDA content in egg was significantly reduced in the groups supplemented with ZnO-NPs. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ZnO-NPs as dietary supplementation can improve the performance of laying hens, and levels of 40 to 80 ZnO-NPs are the optimal concentrations.

     

Effects of Chromium Propionate on Egg Production,Egg Quality,Plasma Biochemical Parameters,and Egg Chromium Deposition in Late-Phase Laying Hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium propionate on egg production, egg quality, plasma biochemical parameters and egg chromium deposition in late-phase laying hens. Four hundred thirty-two 60-weeks old laying hens were divided into four groups of 108 birds per group according to egg production. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet adding with 0, 200, 400, and 600 μg/kg chromium as chromium propionate. All laying hens were given feed and water ad libitum for 8 weeks. The addition of 400 μg/kg Cr as chromium propionate increased egg production (P?<?0.01) during the later 4 weeks, but decreased albumen height, yolk color score, and Haugh unit of eggs. Six hundred micrograms per kilogram Cr as chromium propionate supplementation improved shell thickness (P?<?0.05). 200 μg/kg Cr as chromium propionate supplementation decreased the uric acid concentration by 31 % (P?<?0.05). However, supplemental Cr did not affect the egg chromium deposition of hens (P?>?0.05). These data indicated that feeding of late-phase laying hens with chromium propionate could improve egg production, increase eggshell thickness, but do not result in abnormal levels of chromium deposition in eggs.     

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 Can Effectively Improve Laying Performance and Egg Quality Via Enhancing Immunity and Regulating Reproductive Hormones of Laying Hens

In this study, we sought to evaluate the effects of dietary Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (B. amyloliquefaciens) BLCC1-0238 supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant enzyme activities, reproductive hormone, and immunity of laying hens. A total of 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (28 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups, and three replicates per group (n = 20 per replicate). The control group was fed a standard basal diet, and the three treatment groups were provided the basal diet supplemented with either 0.01%, 0.03%, or 0.06% B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g), respectively. Hens were allowed 2 weeks to acclimate prior to initiation of the 8-week experiment. It was observed that dietary supplementation with 0.01% or 0.03% B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 significantly increased egg production and egg mass. However, no significant differences in feed intake, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio among the four groups were observed. Different levels of B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 supplementation also significantly increased egg shell strength and thickness. With respect to the levels of reproductive hormones in the hens, B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 supplementation significantly reduced serum adrenal cortical hormone (ACTH) levels, while increasing estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in the treatment groups compared to the control group. Relative to the control group, supplementation with 0.03% and 0.06% B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 was observed to significantly increase serum glutathione S-transferase (GST) concentration, and supplementation significantly reduced serum IL-1 and IL-6 levels, whereas IL-4 levels increased for all concentrations tested. In conclusion, supplementation of a basal chicken diet with B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 can improve laying performance and egg quality through the reduction of stress responses, up-regulation of growth hormones, and supporting immunity in laying hens.

     

麦麸替代玉米对蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的影响

本试验旨在研究用部分麦麸替代基础日粮中的玉米对蛋鸡生产性能的影响。选取24周龄的海兰褐蛋鸡600只,随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每个重复20只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组分别饲喂麦麸替代基础日粮中玉米的5%,10%,15%,20%的试验日粮,预饲期7 d,正式试验期35 d。结果表明:麦麸替代玉米提高了平均日采食量、平均蛋重、产蛋率、料蛋比、蛋比重和哈夫单位(P<0.05)。试验表明,麦麸替代玉米,可以提高蛋鸡生产性能,改善蛋品质,且替代10%的玉米效果最佳。     

Effects of Excess Dietary Fluoride on Serum Biochemical Indices,Egg Quality,and Concentrations of Fluoride in Soft Organs,Eggs, and Serum of Laying Hens

According to undiscovered toxicity and safety of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) in isolated pancreatic islet cells, this study was designed to examine the effects of its various concentrations on a time-course basis on the oxidative stress, viability, and function of isolated islets of rat’s pancreas. Pancreatic islets were isolated and exposed to different MgO NP (<100 nm) concentrations within three different time points. After that, oxidative stress biomarkers were investigated and the best exposure time was selected. Then, safety of MgO NPs was investigated by flow cytometry and fluorescent staining, and levels of insulin secretion and caspase activity were measured. The results illustrated a considerable decrease in oxidative stress markers such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of pancreatic islets which were treated by MgO NPs for 24 h. Also, in that time of exposure, cell apoptosis investigation by flow cytometry and insulin test showed that MgO NPs, in a concentration of 100 μg/ml, decreased the rate of apoptotic cells via inhibiting caspase-9 activity and made a significant increase in the level of insulin secretion. Data of function and apoptosis biomarkers correlated with each other. It is concluded that the use of MgO NPs in concentration of as low as 100 μg/ml can induce antiapoptotic, antioxidative, and antidiabetic effects in rat pancreatic islets, which support its possible benefit in islet transplantation procedures.     

Performance,Egg Quality Traits,and Serum Metabolite Concentrations of Laying Hens Affected by Dietary Supplemental Chromium Picolinate and Vitamin C Under a Heat-Stress Condition

A 3?×?2 factorial experiment consisting three levels (0, 200, and 400 μg/kg) of chromium (chromium picolinate) and two levels (0 and 250 mg/kg) of vitamin C was employed to evaluate the effects of these dietary supplements on performance, egg quality traits, and serum biochemical parameters of heat-stressed laying hens (Lohmann LSL-Lite) from 66 to 74 weeks of age. Feed intake increased when birds were given either 400 μg/kg chromium or 250 mg/kg vitamin C (P?<?0.05), but the birds that received both chromium and vitamin C consumed feed similar to those that received only chromium. Dietary treatments had no effect on egg production, egg mass, egg volume, feed conversion ratio, and body mass (P?>?0.05). The birds that fed on diet with chromium or vitamin C produced eggs with higher shell mass and thickness compared to the control. Both eggshell mass and thickness decreased when vitamin C and chromium were supplemented simultaneously, and birds given the diet supplemented with 400 μg/kg chromium and 250 mg/kg vitamin C had eggshell mass and thickness similar to those of the control group. The serum concentration of chromium increased due to increasing level of dietary chromium (P?<?0.05). The birds that received diet with chromium and vitamin C had higher serum concentrations of chromium compared to those that received only chromium (P?<?0.05). Similarly, the hens that received chromium and vitamin C had higher serum concentrations of calcium and phosphorus compared to the hens fed with other treatments (P?<?0.05). The birds given with supplemental chromium exhibited lower serum glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations but higher serum albumin and total protein concentrations compared to the other groups (P?<?0.05).     

A Combination of Zinc and Pyridoxine Supplementation to the Diet of Laying Hens Improves Performance and Egg Quality

The objective of this study was to investigate whether zinc, along with pyridoxine, is effective in improving performance and egg quality of laying hens. One hundred and twenty, 28-week-old Hy-Line laying hens were assigned to four treatment groups, 30 hens each. The birds were fed a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 30 mg of zinc/kg of diet, 8 mg of pyridoxine/kg of diet, or 30 mg of zinc plus 8 mg of pyridoxine/kg of diet. Feed conversion (P < 0.01) and egg production (P < 0.01) improved most when both zinc and pyridoxine were supplemented to the diet. Eggshell weights were also greatest (P < 0.01) when the diet was supplemented with both pyridoxine and zinc. Egg-shape index was, however, greatest with zinc-supplemented diet (P < 0.004). Haugh unit was greatest in eggs of hens fed a diet supplemented with both zinc and pyridoxine (P < 0.01). Dietary zinc and pyridoxine supplementations together increased plasma calcium and phosphorous concentrations (P < 0.002). The results of the present study suggested that zinc (30 ppm) and pyridoxine (8 ppm) supplements, when used together, are recommended in terms of a better performance and egg quality in laying hens.     

Effects of the Use of a Combination of Two Bacillus Species on Performance,Egg Quality,Small Intestinal Mucosal Morphology,and Cecal Microbiota Profile in Aging Laying Hens

Sixty-week-old Hy-Line brown laying hens were randomly divided into five groups and fed different diets over a period of 84 days. Experimental treatments included a basal diet (control); the basal diet supplemented with 1.0 × 10⁶B. licheniformis yb-214245; the basal diet supplemented with 1.0 × 10⁶B. subtilis yb-114246; a combination of both strains in a 2:1 ratio (6.6 × 10⁵:3.3 × 10⁵B. licheniformis yb-214245:B. subtilis yb-114246); and the latter, added with 5 mg/kg flavomycin. Basal diet supplementation with the combined Bacillus species improved egg-laying performance in aging hens significantly (P < 0.05). Eggshell strength improved significantly with this treatment, compared to the control or the antibiotic-supplemented groups (P < 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in egg yolk declined significantly more in the Bacillus-treated group than in the control or the antibiotic-supplemented groups (P < 0.01). Small intestinal morphology was better in the hens treated with the Bacillus combination than in the hens in the control group (P < 0.05). The total number of aerobic bacteria (Bacillus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium) in the cecum was significantly higher in all the Bacillus-supplemented hens than either in the control or the antibiotic-supplemented hens (P < 0.01); additionally, the number of E. coli and Salmonella was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, diet supplementation with the combination of Bacillus species used here for aging laying hens improved their growth performance, cecal bacterial composition, egg quality, and small intestine morphology.

     

Effects of Increasing Supplementation of Magnesium in Diets on Productive Performance and Eggshell Quality of Aged Laying Hens

Magnesium (Mg) concentrations in diets have been associated with performance and eggshell quality of laying hens, but the results have been inconclusive. In this experiment, the effects of increasing concentrations of dietary Mg on productive performance and eggshell quality of aged laying hens were evaluated. A total of 640 Hy-Line Brown laying hens of 72 weeks of age were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. A commercial-type basal diet containing 1.6 g/kg Mg was prepared, and three additional diets were prepared to contain 2.3, 2.6, or 3.0 g/kg Mg in diets by adding 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 g of MgO to the basal diet. The diets were fed to hens ad libitum for 5 weeks. Results indicated that Mg concentrations in eggshells were increased (linear, P?<?0.01) with increasing concentrations of Mg in diets. Increasing concentrations of Mg in diets decreased (linear and quadratic, P?<?0.01) broken and shell-less egg production, but improved (linear, P?<?0.05) eggshell strength. Feed intake was decreased (linear, P?<?0.05) with the concentrations of Mg in diets, but hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, and Haugh unit were not affected by increasing concentrations of Mg in diets. Hunter L* and a* values of eggshell were decreased (linear, P?<?0.05) as the concentrations of Mg in diets increased. In conclusion, feeding aged laying hens with diets containing increasing concentrations of Mg up to 3.0 g/kg improves eggshell strength, but has no detrimental effects on laying performance.     

Impact of Dietary Organic Mineral Supplementation on Reproductive Performance,Egg Quality Characteristics,Lipid Oxidation,Ovarian Follicular Development,and Immune Response in Laying Hens Under High Ambient Temperature

Biological Trace Element Research - The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of dietary organic mineral mixture (manganese, zinc, and copper) supplementation on reproductive...     

Effect of Diets Supplemented with Different Levels of Manganese,Zinc, and Copper from their Organic or Inorganic Sources on Egg Production and Quality Characteristics in Laying Hens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc, manganese, and copper sources (inorganic vs. organic) in the diet on laying performance and eggshell quality characteristics. One hundred and eighty Hy-Line W-36 layers at 38 weeks of age were allocated to 36-layer cages of five hens each. Each six cages were randomly assigned to one of the six experimental diets fed from 38 to 53 week of age. In three experimental treatments, the basal diet was supplemented with 65–75–7 or 65–75–7 or 40–40–7 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively, from their oxide or sulfate sources. Three other groups were fed diets supplemented with 20–20–3.5 or 40–40–7.5 or 60–60–10.5 mg/kg of organic forms of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively. Dietary treatments significantly did affect feed intake (P < 0.001), feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001) and percentage of broken eggs (P < 0.05). Substitution of Zn and Mn oxides (65 and 75 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) with equal amounts of their sulfate forms significantly improved feed intake, feed conversion ratio, percentage of broken eggs, and Haugh Unit (P < 0.05). In addition, laying hens maintained their performance when substitution of Zn and Mn oxides and Cu sulfate (65, 75, and 7 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) reduced up to 20, 20, and 3.5 mg kg⁻¹ by amino acid complexes of the microelements. The results showed that a corn–soybean diet supplemented with the organic forms of Zn, Mn, and Cu at a dosage 50% to 75% lower than NRC recommendation is sufficient to maintain laying performance and can improve eggshell and albumen qualities of the egg in laying hens.     

Effects of Dietary Different Levels of Nano,Organic and Inorganic Zinc Sources on Performance,Eggshell Quality,Bone Mechanical Parameters and Mineral Contents of the Tibia,Liver, Serum and Excreta in Laying Hens

Biological Trace Element Research - This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary zinc (Zn) sources and their levels on the performance, egg quality, tissue mineral concentrations and...     

Plasma Corticosteroid Levels in Laying Hens

Corticosteroids were measured in blood samples collected from 10 hens in two series with a time interval of nine days. In the first series blood was collected by venipuncture (wing vein), in the second by cardiac puncture. In each series, sampling took place immediately before (control), and 5 min as well as 18 h after intentional rough handling. Only samples obtained by cardiac puncture 5 min after rough handling showed markedly elevated hormone levels. Corticosteroids were also measured in blood collected from two other groups of hens, each including 10 birds. Samples were taken at 0 (control), 1, 5 and 40 min, one group being sampled by venipuncture, the other by cardiac puncture, None of the groups were subjected to rough handling. The hormone levels in samples obtained were significantly higher (P < 0.005) than the levels in the corresponding samples obtained by venipuncture.     

Effect of Feeding and Withdrawal of Vanadium and Vitamin C on Egg Quality and Vanadium Residual Over Time in Laying Hens

The primary objective of the current study was to assess the influence of early high-fat feeding on tissue trace element content in young male Wistar rats. Twenty weanling male Wistar rats were divided into two groups fed standard (STD) or high-fat diet (HFD) containing 10 and 31.6 % of total calories from fat, respectively, for 1 month. Serum lipid spectrum, apolipoproteins, glucose, insulin, adiponectin, and leptin levels were assessed. The level of trace elements was estimated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. High-fat feeding significantly increased epidydimal (EDAT) and retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT), as well as total adipose tissue mass by 34, 103, and 59 %, respectively. Serum leptin levels in HFD animals were twofold higher than those in the control rats. No significant difference in serum lipid spectrum, apolipoproteins, glucose, adiponectin, and insulin was detected between the groups. HFD significantly altered tissue trace element content. In particular, HFD-fed animals were characterized by significantly lower levels of Cu, I, Mn, Se, and Zn in the liver; Cr, V, Co, Cu, Fe, and I content of EDAT; Co, Cu, I, Cr, V, Fe, and Zn concentration in RPAT samples. At the same time, only serum Cu was significantly depressed in HFD-fed animals as compared to the control ones. Hair Co, Mn, Si, and V levels were significantly increased in comparison to the control values, whereas Se and I content was decreased. HFD feeding induced excessive adiposity and altered tissue trace element content in rats without insulin resistance, adiponectin deficiency, and proatherogenic state. Hypothetically, trace element disbalance may precede obesity-associated metabolic disturbances.     

Laying the foundations for a bio-economy

Biological technologies are becoming an important part of the economy. Biotechnology already contributes at least 1% of US GDP, with revenues growing as much as 20% annually. The introduction of composable biological parts will enable an engineering discipline similar to the ones that resulted in modern aviation and information technology. As the sophistication of biological engineering increases, it will provide new goods and services at lower costs and higher efficiencies. Broad access to foundational engineering technologies is seen by some as a threat to physical and economic security. However, regulation of access will serve to suppress the innovation required to produce new vaccines and other countermeasures as well as limiting general economic growth.