The effects of lignocellulose supplementation on laying performance, egg quality parameters, aerobic bacterial load of eggshell, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunal histomorphological traits of laying hens

WOS: 000560600200039PubMed: 32475454This study was performed to investigate the effects of lignocellulose supplementation (LS) on performance parameters, egg quality, aerobic bacterial load of eggshell, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunal histomorphological traits of laying hens between 18 and 38 wk of age. A total of 640 pullets at 16 wk of age were allotted to 4 treatment groups as 0 kg (control, CONT), 0.5 kg, 1 kg, and 2 kg LS per ton of feed. Body weight (BW), daily feed intake, egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), and efficiency of feed utilization (EF) were determined as the mean of each 3-wk period between 18 and 38 wk of age. Laying hens in the 1 kg LS group had a higher BW mean (1632.1 g, P < 0.001). the highest mean value of EP and EW were observed in 1 kg LS group (81.8% and 57.3 g, respectively), whereas the lowest values were found in the 2 kg LS group (78.6% and 54.4 g, respectively, P < 0.001). the mean of EF was the lowest in the 1 kg LS group (2.72, P < 0.001). There was a decline in eggshell breaking strength and eggshell thickness in the 2 kg LS, when compared with the 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups (P < 0.001). the total aerobic bacterial load of the eggshell was the lowest in the 1 kg LS group (4.7 log10 cfu/mL). the level of aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase showed an incre-ment in both the CONT and 2 kg LS groups (P < 0.001). the high level of LS (2 kg per ton of feed) caused a decline in the levels of IgY, IgA and IgM, when compared to the 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups (P < 0.001). Laying hens in 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups had longer villus height (1335.9 mm) in the jejunum than the others (P < 0.001). These find-ings showed that the 1 kg LS per ton of feed improved EP and EW, eggshell quality, immunoglobulin levels and intestinal morphology, and decreased the total aerobic bacterial load.Global Nutritech Biotechnology LLC (Richmond, VA, USA)The authors would like to thank Global Nutritech Biotechnology LLC (Richmond, VA, USA) for their financial support

The Effects of Different Eggshell Temperatures Between Embryonic Day 10 and 18 on Broiler Performance and Susceptibility to Ascites

ABSTRACTThe aim of the current study was to determine the effects of low (33.3-36.7 &#730;C), control (37.8-38.2 &#730;C) and high (38.9-40.0 &#730;C) eggshell temperatures (ESTs) between days 10-18 of incubation on broiler performance and susceptibility to ascites. The effects of different ESTs on hatchling weight were significant. The highest residual yolk sac weight (7.7 g) and relative yolk sac weight (18.7%) were observed in high EST group, whereas the highest yolk-free body weight (36.22 g) was obtained in the control group. Relative post-hatch heart weight was lower in the high EST group (0.64%) compared with the control (0.84%) and low (0.88%) EST groups. At 6 weeks of age, body weights of broilers of the low, control, and high EST groups were 2172.6, 2543.9, 2282.6 g respectively. During the 6-week life span, the feed conversion ratio of broilers in the low (1.86) and high (1.83) EST groups was significantly worse than of those in the control EST group (1.68). Higher packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) values were obtained in the high EST group relative to the other groups, whereas hemoglobin (Hb) level was lower in the control group than in the others. The relative heart weights and right ventricular to total ventricular (RV:TV) ratio for low, control, and high EST group were 0.46, 0.40, 0.37 g and 0.27, 0.28, 0.33% respectively. In conclusion, incubation length, yolk sac absorption, residual yolk sac weight, yolk-free BW, post-hatch performance, and heart, blood parameters, abdominal fluid accumulation at slaughter age are affected by changes in EST between incubation days 10 to 18

Both the rooster line and incubation temperature affect embryonic metabolism and hatchling quality in laying hen crossbreds

WOS: 000481444900035PubMed ID: 30690584Effects of 3 eggshell temperatures (EST; 36.7. 37.8, and 38.9 degrees C) in 2 genetic laying hen crossbreds (AB and BB; same hen line, different rooster line) on embryonic metabolism and hatchling quality were investigated. EST were applied from day 14.5 of incubation (E14.5) until hatching. The experiment consisted of 6 consecutive batches with eggs weighing between 59 and 61 g. Heat production was determined continuously from E14.5 onward. In fresh eggs, yolk weight tended to be higher (Delta = 0.28 g; P = 0.08) in the AB crossbred than in the BB crossbred. At E14.5 and E18.5, yolk-free body mass (YFBM) and residual yolk (RY) weight did not differ between genetic crossbred and EST. Hatching time after the start of incubation was not affected by genetic crossbred, but was longer in the 36.7 degrees C (517 h) than in the 38.9 degrees C (505 h), with 37.8 degrees C in between (506 h). At 6 h after hatching, no differences between crossbreds were found for chicken quality parameters, such as chicken weight, chicken length, RY, YFBM, and organ weights, but heart weight was higher in the 36.7 degrees C EST than in the other 2 EST (Delta = 0.24 to 0.30% of YFBM, P = 0.005). Intestinal weight was higher at 36.7 degrees C EST than at 38.9 degrees C EST (Delta = 0.79% of YFBM; P = 0.02), with 37.8 degrees C EST in between. Heat production between E14.5 and E18.5 was higher in the AB crossbred than in the BB crossbred (Delta = 2.61%, P < 0.001) and regardless of crossbred higher at an EST of 38.9 degrees C than at other 2 EST (Delta = 3.59% on average; P < 0.001). Hatchling quality determined at pulling (E21.5) was not affected by EST, but AB chickens were lighter (Delta = 0.46 g; P = 0.03), had less red hocks (Delta = 0.03; P = 0.02), more red beaks (Delta = 0.10; P < 0.001), and a higher (worse) navel score (Delta = 0.11; P < 0.001) than BB chickens. It can be concluded that not only incubation temperature, but also the rooster line appears to play a role in layer crossbred embryo metabolism and hatchling quality.Hendrix GeneticsThe financial support of Hendrix Genetics for this experiment is gratefully acknowledged