Effect of Ligustrum lucidum and Schisandra chinensis on the egg production, antioxidant status and immunity of laying hens during heat stress

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two plants belonging to Chinese herbal medicines, Ligustrum lucidum (LL) and Schisandra chinensis (SC), on the laying performance, antioxidant status and immunity of hens during heat stress. The results showed that diets supplement with 1% of either LL or SC had beneficial effects on egg production and FCR of hens during heat stress (p < 0.05), compared with the control group. Either LL or SC significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of heart, liver, sera and egg yolk. In addition, glutathione reductase (GR) activity of tissues and sera of the birds was significantly elevated by supplementation LL or SC. Furthermore, LL or SC supplementation significantly elevated lymphoblastogenese of the birds and the antibody values against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The results suggest that diets supplement with 1% of either LL or SC may enhance egg production, immune function, and antioxidant status of hens during heat stress.     

Influence of mannan oligosaccharide,Ligustrum lucidum and Schisandra chinensis on parameters of antioxidative and immunological status of broilers

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary supplementation with Ligustrum lucidum (LL, 10 g/kg), Schisandra chinensis (SC, 10 g/kg), LL (10 g/kg) + mannan oligosaccharides (MOS, 50 mg/kg), or SC (10 g/kg) + MOS (50 mg/kg) on growth performance and parameters of antioxidative and immunological status of broilers. The results showed that feeding LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS had no significant effect on growth performance of broilers relative to the control. However, compared to the control, LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS significantly decreased malondialdehyde concentration in serum, thigh, and heart of broilers. In addition, glutathione reductase activity of heart and sera of the birds were significantly elevated by supplementation LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS. Furthermore, LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS significantly improved antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus and lymphocyte proliferation of broilers (p < 0.05). Whereas, no cooperating effect between LL (or SC) and MOS on antioxidant status and immunity of broilers were found.     

Influence of mannan oligosaccharide, Ligustrum lucidum and Schisandra chinensis on parameters of antioxidative and immunological status of broilers

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary supplementation with Ligustrum lucidum (LL, 10 g/kg), Schisandra chinensis (SC, 10 g/kg), LL (10 g/kg) + mannan oligosaccharides (MOS, 50 mg/kg), or SC (10 g/kg) + MOS (50 mg/kg) on growth performance and parameters of antioxidative and immunological status of broilers. The results showed that feeding LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS had no significant effect on growth performance of broilers relative to the control. However, compared to the control, LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS significantly decreased malondialdehyde concentration in serum, thigh, and heart of broilers. In addition, glutathione reductase activity of heart and sera of the birds were significantly elevated by supplementation LL, SC, LK + MOS, or SC + MOS. Furthermore, LL, SC, LL + MOS, or SC + MOS significantly improved antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus and lymphocyte proliferation of broilers (p < 0.05). Whereas, no cooperating effect between LL (or SC) and MOS on antioxidant status and immunity of broilers were found.     

Untersuchungen über die Wirkung von Vitamin B12 und behandeltem Sojaschrot bei der Mast von Küken

To examine the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity in laying hens, Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 384, 52 weeks old) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments. Each treatment had six replicates of 16 hens each. All birds were assigned to acorn-soybean meal-based diet containing a mixture of CLA at 0%, 1%, 2% or 4% for six weeks. With increasing dietary CLA, egg weight and feed intake decreased, and yolk colour was darkened. Feed efficiency was improved at 1% and 2% dietary CLA. Serum triglyceride concentration was significantly reduced by CLA in a dose dependent manner. A linear decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were observed after CLA supplementation. With increasing dietary CLA, the deposition of two major isomers of CLA (c9, t11; t10, c12) in yolk lipids increased linearly, the proportion of saturated fatty acids increased and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly. The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids was highest at 1% CLA. Compared to the control, CLA supplementation significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, inhibited hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion production, and decreased the malonaldehyde concentrations in both serum and liver. The results demonstrated that dietary CLA meliorated serum lipid profiles and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of laying hens.     

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.

     

Does Dietary vitamin E or C Decrease Egg Yolk Cholesterol?

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary vitamin E and C on serum metabolites, yolk cholesterol, egg quality, and performance of layer hens. One hundred sixty-eight commercial Hy-Line W-36 layer hens were randomly divided into seven groups and six replicates with four hens in each. Dietary treatments were introduced after the pre-experimental period (10 days) to adjust egg production. Treatments were levels of vitamin E or C (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diet) supplementation to the basal diet for 4 weeks, whereas the control group received no supplementation. Egg production, egg weight, and feed consumption were recorded during the study. Shell thickness, Haugh unit score, yolk color, yolk weight, yolk cholesterol, and blood parameters were measured at the end of experiment. There was no significant effect of dietary vitamin E or C on hen performance. Egg yolk cholesterol concentrations decreased linearly by antioxidant vitamin supplementation (P?<?0.01). Egg yolk cholesterol reduction did not have any negative effect on egg production rate. Antioxidants, especially vitamin C, increased serum glucose concentration (P?<?0.05). Serum total cholesterol content did not change by vitamin supplementation but cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) decreased and cholesterol in low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) increased (P?<?0.05), as dietary vitamin E or C supplementation increased in diets. These results are in conflict with the previous hypothesis that antioxidants have a role in LDL-C removal from the blood or increasing HDL-C. Vitamin E was more effective than vitamin C in this case and if these results are confirmed by further studies, they may result to revision in researchers’ point of view about antioxidant especially in human medicine.     

Effects of Enterococcus faecalis on egg production,egg quality and caecal microbiota of hens during the late laying period

This study was conducted to determine the effects of diet supplementation of laying hens with Enterococcus faecalis (EF) on egg production, egg quality and caecal microbiota. A total of 360 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (72 weeks old) were divided into three groups with four replicates of 30 birds each. The laying hens were fed with the basal diet (Control), the basal diet + 3.75 · 10⁸ cfu EF/kg (Group I) or the basal diet + 7.5 · 10⁸ cfu EF/kg (Group II). The experiment lasted for 45 d. Eggs and caecal samples were collected at the end of the experiment. Results showed that dietary supplementation with EF did not affect the average daily egg weight, cracked egg rate, mortality and egg quality. However, EF supplementation caused a significantly increased laying rate and decreased feed/egg ratio (p < 0.05). The differences in caecal microbiota between Group II and the Control were significant. The relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Cyanobacteria at the phylum level, Rikenellaceae, Christensenellaceae and Veillonellaceae at the family level, and the Faecalibacterium, Christensenellaceae R-7 group and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group at the genus level changed significantly in Group II compared with the Control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the tested dietary supplementations with EF improved product performance and affected the caecal microbial community structure of laying hens during the late laying period.     

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.     

Effects of dietary combination of chromium and biotin on egg production, serum metabolites, and egg yolk mineral and cholesterol concentrations in heat-distressed laying quails

Chromium picolinate is used in the poultry diet because of its antistress effects in addition to the fact that the requirement for it is increased during stress. This study was conducted to determine if the negative effects of high ambient temperature (34°C) on egg production, egg quality, antioxidant status, and cholesterol and mineral content of egg yolk could be alleviated by combination of chromium picolinate and biotin (0.6/2.0; Diachrome^™, as formulated by Nutrition 21 Inc.), in laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japanica), Quails (n=240; 50 d old) were divided into 8 groups, 30 birds per group. The quails were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 2, 4, or 8 mg of Diachrome/kg diet. Birds were kept at 22°C and 53% relative humidity (RH). At 14 wk of age, the thermoneutral (TN) group remained in the same temperature as at the beginning of experiment, whereas the heat stress (HS) group was kept in an environment-controlled room (34°C and 41% RH) for 3 wk. Heat exposure decreased performance when the basal diet was fed (p=0.001). Diachrome supplementation at 4 and 8 mg/kg diet, increased feed intake (p=0.05), egg production (p=0.05), feed efficiency (p=0.01), egg weight (p=0.05), and Haugh unit (p=0.01) in quails reared under heat stress conditions. Heat exposure increased concentrations of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) (p=0.001), glucose, and cholesterol (p=0.01), which were elevated by supplemental Diachrome (p≤0.05). Egg yolk Cr, Zn, and Fe (p=0.01) concentrations increased linearly, whereas MDA and cholesterol concentrations decreased (p=0.05) as dietary Diachrome supplementation increased in HS groups. Similar effects of supplementation on serum levels of glucose and cholesterol (p=0.05) and egg yolk concentrations of cholesterol (p=0.05) and Cr (p=0.01) were observed in TN groups. No significant differences in other values were observed in the TN groups. Results of the present study suggest that supplementation with Diachrome protects the quail by reducing the negative effects of heat stress.     

Effects of free and dipeptide forms of methionine supplementation on oxidative metabolism of broilers under high temperature

Our previous studies have shown that methionine supplementation could help to attenuate the effects of heat stress on the metabolism of broiler chickens. Here we investigated for the first time the effects of methionine supplementation in the form of DL-methionyl-DL-methionine on broilers subjected to heat stress during the growth phase. Broilers were divided into two groups; one group was reared under thermoneutral conditions and the other under continuous heat stress (30 ± 1 °C, 60% relative humidity). Both groups were subdivided into three dietary treatments: a methionine-deficient (MD) diet, a diet supplemented with free methionine (DL-M), and a diet supplemented with methionine dipeptide (DL-MM). Broilers raised under chronic heat stress had lower feed intake and weight gain than broilers raised under thermoneutral conditions (P < 0.05). There were no differences in animal performance between methionine-supplemented diets (DL-M and DL-MM). Heat-stressed birds had significantly higher heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio than thermoneutral birds. Under heat stress, broilers fed DL-M and DL-MM diets had lower H/L ratio than birds fed the MD diet. Higher concentrations of carbonylated proteins and lower concentration of reduced glutathione were observed in broilers raised under heat stress. In comparing heat-stressed broilers, we found that birds fed the DL-M diet had lower concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and carbonylated proteins than those fed the MD diet (P < 0.05). Higher expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione synthetase (GSS) genes was observed in heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). Under heat stress, the MD diet increased GPX expression compared with other diets. Under thermoneutral conditions, the DL-M diet resulted in the highest GSS expression. There was a negative correlation between DNA methylation and GPX and GSS expression. Our results showed that supplementation of broiler diets with free methionine or methionine dipeptide may help attenuate the effects of heat stress through enhanced activation of genes related to the glutathione antioxidant system. Methionine effects were found for gene regulation, gene expression, and post-translational processing.     

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Zinc Oxide and Zinc Methionine on Layer Performance,Egg Quality,and Blood Serum Indices

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation on layer performance, quality of egg, some blood constituents, and oxidative status in blood of laying hens. A total of 120 laying hens (Hisex Brown) 22-week-old were indiscriminately allotted into five groups of 24 hens with six replications (four birds/replicate). A complete randomized design experiment was performed including control (basal diet), two levels of ZnO (50 and 100 mg/kg basal diet), and two levels of Zn-Met (50 and 100 mg/kg basal diet) through 22 to 34 weeks of age. Supplementation of 100 mg of Zn-Met significantly (P = 0.001) increased feed intake compared to other treatment groups. The groups supplemented with 50 mg of ZnO and 100 mg of Zn-Met reported the significantly higher egg production rate (P = 0.002) and egg mass (P < 0.001) compared to other treated groups. All traits of egg quality were not statistically (P < 0.05 or 0.01) affected by ZnO or Zn-Met supplementation except shell thickness, Haugh unit score, and yolk to albumin ratio. Dietary supplementation of either ZnO or Zn-Met did not affect the oxidative parameters in serum except the activity of Cu-Zn-SOD. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by Zn supplementation, while HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) did not affect. Compared to the control group, supplementation of ZnO or Zn-Met increased serum content of zinc with no differences among supplemental zinc doses. It could be concluded that dietary inorganic (ZnO) and organic (Zn-Met) supplemented up to 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, can be used as effective supplements to improve productivity of laying hens, serum zinc level, lipid profile (triglyceride and LDL cholesterol), and activity of Cu-Zn-SOD.     

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.

     

Influence of Dietary Selenomethionine Supplementation on Performance and Selenium Status of Broiler Breeders and Their Subsequent Progeny

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary maternal selenomethionine or sodium selenite supplementation on performance and selenium status of broiler breeders and their next generation. Two hundred and forty 39-week-old Lingnan yellow broiler breeders were allocated randomly into two treatments, each of which included three replicates of 40 birds. Pretreatment period was 2 weeks, and the experiment lasted 8 weeks. The groups were fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0.30 mg selenium/kg of sodium selenite or selenomethionine. After incubation, 180 chicks from the same parental treatment group were randomly divided into three replicates, with 60 birds per replicate. All the offspring were fed the same diet containing 0.04 mg selenium/kg, and the experiment also lasted 8 weeks. Birth rate was greater (p < 0.05) in hens fed with selenomethionine than that in hens fed with sodium selenite. The selenium concentration in serum, liver, kidney, and breast muscle of broiler breeders, selenium deposition in the yolk, and albumen and tissues' (liver, kidney, breast muscle) selenium concentrations of 1-day-old chicks were significantly (p < 0.01) increased by maternal selenomethionine supplementation compared with maternal sodium selenite supplementation. The antioxidant status of 1-day-old chicks was greatly improved by maternal selenomethionine intake in comparison with maternal sodium selenite intake and was evidenced by the increased glutathione peroxidase activity in breast muscle (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase activity in breast muscle and kidney (p < 0.05), glutathione concentration in kidney (p < 0.01), total antioxidant capability in breast muscle and liver (p < 0.05), and decreased malondialdehyde concentration in liver and pancreas (p < 0.05) of 1-day-old chicks. Feed utilization was better (p < 0.05), and mortality was lower (p < 0.05) in the progeny from hens fed with selenomethionine throughout the 8-week growing period compared with those from hens fed with sodium selenite. In summary, we concluded that maternal selenomethionine supplementation increased birth rate and Se deposition in serum and tissues of broiler breeders as well as in egg yolk and egg albumen more than maternal sodium selenite supplementation. Furthermore, maternal selenomethionine intake was also superior to maternal sodium selenite intake in improving the tissues Se deposition and antioxidant status of 1-day-old chicks and increasing the performance of the progeny during 8 weeks of post-hatch life.     

Effects of dietary genistein on nutrient use and mineral status in heat-stressed quails.

Genistein is a powerful antioxidant and plays a role in calcium and bone metabolism. We evaluated the efficacy of dietary supplementation with genistein on the nutrient use and mineral concentrations in tibia and serum of quails reared at high environmental temperature (34 degrees C). Two hundred and forty Japanese quails (10 days old) were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups consisting of 10 replicates of 3 birds. The birds were kept in a temperature-controlled room at 22 degrees C (Thermoneutral, TN groups) or 34 degrees C (for 8 h/d; 09.00 am-05.00 pm; Heat stress, HS groups). Birds were fed either a basal diet (TN and HS) or the basal diet supplemented with 200, 400 or 800 mg of genistein/kg of diet. Heat exposure decreased apparent nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization when the basal diet was fed (P < 0.001). Apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) (P < 0.05), crude protein (CP) (P < 0.05) and ash (P < 0.01) was significantly improved by genistein supplementation. However, this improvement was not in direct proportion to increased doses of supplement since there was no difference when diets included either 400 or 800 mg genistein/kg of diet (P < 0.05) in birds reared under heat stress. The amounts of Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu in the excreta decreased (P < 0.01), while Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu concentrations in tibia ash increased in quails reared under heat stress conditions (P < 0.01) with genistein supplementation. Ca and P concentrations in tibia ash were also increased in birds kept under thermoneutral conditions with genistein supplementation. Increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.01) was associated with increasing dietary genistein in all groups. In conclusion, genistein supplementation to the basal diet improved digestibility of CP, DM and ash and levels of Ca and P and bone mineralization in quails reared under heat stress conditions.     

Dynamics of heat transfer to cold eggs in incubating bantam hens and a black grouse

Incubating birds transfer large amount of heat from the brood patch to the eggs during rewarming of cold eggs. If a vasoconstriction is present in the brood patch as in other parts of the body, it could possibly limit heat transfer to the eggs. To investigate this, heat transfer to water-circulated eggs was measured in incubating bantam hens (Gallus domesticus) and a black grouse hen (Lyrurus tetrix) during exposure to cold eggs. Egg temperature, egg surface temperature, heat production and cloacal temperature were also measured. At all levels of egg cooling, egg surface temperature and heat transfer to the eggs was stable throughout an exposure, except during resettling movements, which often changed egg surface temperature and the level of heart transfer. Egg surface temperature decreased linearly with egg temperature in both species, but was lower and more variable at low egg temperature in black grouse than in bantam hens. A higher proportion of the heat production was transferred to the eggs in the black grouse (corresponding to 109–118% of the increase above resting level) than previously reported in bantam hens. Clutch size did not affect this efficiency of heat transfer in black grouse. It is concluded that a vasoconstruction of the brood patch does not occur even under strong cold stress from the eggs. Heat transfer to the eggs is probably controlled more by behavioural adjustments than circulatory changes. An increase in brood patch blood flow probably occurs at relatively high egg temperature at the onset of egg rewarming. The efficiency of heat transfer, and thus the energetic cost of rewarming eggs, depends on the insulation of the bird and nest structure. The boreal/subarctic black grouse was able to reduce heat loss to the environment and transfer a higher proportion of its heat production to the eggs than the tropical bantam hen.Abbreviations AVAs arteriovenous anastomoses - HP heat production - HT heat transfer - T _a ambient temperature - T _b cloacal temperature - T _brp brood patch temperature - T _e egg temperature - T _es egg surface temperature     

Dietary inclusion of raw faba bean instead of soybean meal and enzyme supplementation in laying hens: Effect on performance and egg quality

An experiment was conducted with 160 Hisex Brown laying hens to evaluate the effect of different inclusion levels of faba bean (FB) and enzyme supplementation on productive performance and egg quality parameters. The experimental diets consisted of five levels of FB: 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, substituting soybean meal (SBM), and two levels of enzyme supplementation (0 or 250 mg/kg). Each dietary treatment was assigned to four replicate groups and the experiment lasted 22 weeks. A positive relationship (P < 0.05) was found between FB inclusion and body weight (BW) change of hens when compared to those of the control treatment. Enzyme supplementation significantly affected the final hens’ BW. Feed consumption (FC) of hens was statistically increased with increasing FB level up to 50%. Supplementing dietary enzyme mixture at 250 mg/kg led to improvement in FC at all studied ages (P < 0.05). Inclusion of 25% or 50% FB in diets had no adverse effects on feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the higher FB inclusion levels (75% or 100%). Egg weight (EW), egg number (EN) and egg mass (EM) were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by FB inclusion in diet during the entire experimental periods, except for EN and EM at 20–24 weeks of age. Egg productive parameters were not influenced by enzyme mixture supplementation (P > 0.05). The main effect of FB levels replacing for SBM affected (P < 0.05) yolk and shell percentages, yolk index, yolk to albumen ratio, shell thickness and egg shape index. It can be concluded that FB and enzyme supplementation could be included in hens diet at less than 50% instead of SBM to support egg productive performance, however higher raw FB levels negatively affected egg production indices and quality.     

In vivo antioxidant properties of vitamin e and chromium in cold-stressed Japanese quails

An experiment was conducted to determine if vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate) and chromium (chromium picolinate, Cr Pic) supplementation attenuate the negative effects of cold stress on egg production, egg quality, serum metabolites, and antioxidant status in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). One hundred and fifty laying Japanese quails (50-day-old) were divided into five groups, 30 birds per group. The laying quails kept at 6°C for 12 h/d (08.00 p.m. to 08.00 a.m.) were fed either a basal diet (low temperature-basal diet, CS group) or the basal diet supplemented with either 400 μg of Cr/kg of diet (Cr group), 250 mg of α-tocopherol-acetate per kg of diet (Vit. E group) or 400 μg of Cr plus 250 mg of α-tocopherol-acetate per kg of diet (Vit. E + Cr group) while quails kept at 18°C were fed a basal diet (thermo-neutral-basal diet, TN group). Performance and egg quality were significantly reduced in CS group compared with TN group. Supplemental chromium and vitamin E significantly increased live weight change, egg production, and improved feed efficiency in cold-stressed laying hens compared with the group fed the basal diet at 6°C. Egg production and egg weight were also greater (P < 0.05) in each supplemental group compared with the CS group. However, a combination of vitamin E and chromium, rather than each separately, provided the greatest performance. Supplemental vitamin E and chromium also increased serum vitamin C and E but, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (P < 0.05); the combination of vitamin E and chromium resulted in the highest levels of serum vitamin C and E within the cold-stressed quails. Results of the present study indicate that combined antioxidant supplements increased performance, egg quality and serum antioxidant levels while lowering MDA in cold-stressed quails.     

Effects of Dietary Form of Selenium on Its Distribution in Eggs

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the selenium distribution in eggs from hens fed diets supplemented with Se from sodium selenite (SS) or selenium-enriched yeast (SY). One-day-old female chickens of Hy-Line Brown breed were randomly divided into four groups according to dietary treatments and, for the subsequent 9?months, were fed diets which differed only in the form or amount of Se supplemented. During the whole experiment, group 1 (control) was fed basal diet (BD) with only background Se level of 0.13?mg/kg dry matter (DM). Diets for groups 2 and 3 consisted of BD supplemented with an Se dose of 0.4?mg/kg DM either in the form of SS or SY, respectively. Group 4 was fed BD supplemented with 0.9?mg Se/kg DM from SY. After 9?months of dietary treatments, the Se levels in egg yolk and albumen from hens fed unsupplemented diet were almost identical whereas eggs from hens given diet supplemented with SS showed significantly higher Se deposition in yolk than in albumen (P?相似文献   

Supplementation with organic or inorganic selenium in heat-distressed quail

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of different sources of selenium (Se; sodium selenite [Na₂SeO₃] or selenomethionine [Se-Met]) supplementation on egg production, egg quality, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and Se in serum and egg yolk in heat-stressed Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The birds (n = 360; 55 days old) were randomly assigned to 12 treatment groups consisting of six replicates of five birds each in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (temperatures, selenium sources, selenium levels). Birds were kept in wire cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22 (thermoneutral) or 34°C (heat stress) for 8 h/day (09:00–17:00; till the end of study) and fed a basal (control) diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 0.15 or 0.30 mg of Na₂SeO₃ or selenomethionine/kg of diet. Heat exposure decreased live weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg production, and egg quality when basal diet was fed (P < 0.0001). A linear increase in feed intake (P = 0.001) and body weight (P = 0.001), egg production (P = 0.001), and improvement in feed efficiency (P = 0.001) and egg quality (P = 0.001) were found in Se-supplemented quail reared under heat stress conditions. Serum, egg white, and egg yolk Se (P ≤ 0.001) concentrations increased linearly, whereas serum, liver, and egg yolk MDA concentrations decreased linearly (P = 0.001) as dietary Na₂SeO₃ or Se-Met supplementation increased. An interaction between dietary Se sources, temperature, and levels of supplementation (P ≤ 0.05) for these parameters was detected. Supplementation with Se improved egg production, egg quality, and antioxidant status of birds, and the effects of Se-Met were relatively greater than Na₂SeO₃ in heat-stressed quail. Results of the present study suggest that supplementation with Se-Met can be considered to be more protective than Na₂SeO₃ by reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress induced by heat stress in quail.     

Single and combined effects of zinc and cinnamon essential oil in diet on productive performance,egg quality traits,and blood parameters of laying hens reared under cold stress condition

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding zinc (Zn), cinnamon essential oil (Ci), or their combination in diet on productive performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of laying hens reared under cold stress condition (8.8?±?3 °C). Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg weight (EW), egg production (EP), and egg mass (EM) were evaluated during the 56-day trial period using 120 Lohmann LSL-Lite laying hens. Significant interactions between Ci and Zn on FCR, EW, EP, or EM were observed (P?<?0.05). The EP, EM, and EW increased, whereas FCR decreased (P?<?0.05) in the hens fed the diets including Ci and Zn (as single or combined form) compared to those fed the basal diet. There were significant interactions between Ci and Zn on the serum level of glucose and triglycerides as well as plasma concentration of zinc (P?<?0.05), so that serum content of glucose and triglyceride decreased and the plasma content of zinc increased in the hens fed the diets including Ci and Zn (together) compared to those fed the basal diet. From the results of the present experiment, it can be concluded that diet supplementation by the combined form of Ci and Zn could have beneficial effects on performance and blood parameters of hens reared under cold stress condition.