Responses of laying hens to gradual and abrupt increases in ambient temperature and humidity

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Daniel ◽  
D Balnave
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Total Food Intake ◽  
Total Food ◽  
Egg Shell

White Leghorn x Australorp laying hens were gradually or abruptly exposed to natural summer climate regimens in which high relative humidities and temperatures in excess of 35�C were simulated. Food intake, feeding patterns, egg production, egg weight, egg quality and time of oviposition were recorded. Mortality was high when hens were subjected to abrupt increases in ambient temperature but no deaths from heat stress were observed when hens were able to acclimatize to high temperatures. Food intakes were reduced significantly at high temperatures but less marked reductions were observed in egg production. Therefore, food was used more efficiently in heat-stressed hens. Food conversion ratios of heat-stressed and control hens were, respectively, 2.99 and 3.07 (Experiment 1 ), 2.82 and 3.04 (Experiment 2), and 2.09 and 2.45 (Experiment 3) g food/g egg. Heat-stressed hens consumed less food during the hot afternoon period. Extending the daily photoperiod from 16 to 20 h had no beneficial effect on total food intake or egg production. Egg quality, including egg shell thickness, did not deteriorate at high temperatures and this appeared to be related to a high atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide produced by excessive panting

Assessing the response of hen weight, body composition, feather score, egg quality, and level of excreta nitrogen content to digestible balanced protein intake of laying hens

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kumar ◽  
C. Raginski ◽  
K. Schwean-Lardner ◽  
H.L. Classen
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
N Content ◽  
Shell Quality ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Completely Randomized Design ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Level Of Significance

Ideally balanced dietary protein is critical for laying hen egg production and feed efficiency, but also affects other important characteristics. This research was designed to study the nonegg production and feed intake response of Lohmann-LSL Lite hens to 550, 625, 700, 775, and 850 mg d−1 of amino acid balanced digestible lysine (Dlys) from 27 to 66 wk of age. Data collection included hen weight (HW), feather scoring, tissue weights, egg specific gravity, egg component weights, and excreta nitrogen (N) content. The experiment was a completely randomized design and level of significance was fixed at P ≤ 0.05. Hen weight (quadratic, Q), pectoralis muscle (absolute, % – Q), and abdominal fat (absolute – linear, L; % – Q) increased with increasing Dlys intake. Although gastrointestinal segment weights and lengths were affected by Dlys intake, interpretation of results was confounded by other aspects of diet composition. Hen feather score (L) and excreta N content (Q) increased, and egg shell quality (L) decreased with increasing Dlys intake. Absolute egg component weights increased with Dlys intake, but effects on proportional weights were Q and relatively minor. In conclusion, balanced Dlys intake affected a variety of practical nonproduction characteristics in laying hens.

scholarly journals Optimal dietary concentrations of vitamin C and chromium picolinate for alleviating the effect of low ambient temperature (6.2 degrees C) on egg production, some egg characteristics, and nutrient digestibility in laying hens

2001 ◽  
Vol 46 (No. 9–10) ◽  
pp. 229-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Sahin ◽  
K. Sahin
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Chromium Picolinate ◽  
Shell Weight ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Haugh Unit ◽  
Low Ambient Temperature

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and chromium (chromium picolinate, Cr Pic) on egg production, some egg characteristics, and digestibility of nutrients in laying hens (Hy-Line) reared under a low ambient temperature (6.2°C). Two hundred and ten laying hens (32 week-old) were divided into seven groups, 30 hens per group. The treatment groups were designed in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement using two levels of vitamin C (125 and 250 mg/kg of diet) and three levels of chromium picolinate (200, 400, or 800 µg/kg of diet), and control group was fed basal diet. The highest values of performance were obtained if 250 mg/kg vitamin C was supplemented with either 400 or 800 µg Cr per kg of diet. An interaction between vitamin C and chromium for egg production (P = 0.05) and feed efficiency (P = 0.02) was detected. Similarly, egg weight, specific gravity, egg shell thickness, egg shell weight and Haugh unit improved with diet containing 250 mg vitamin C and either 400 or 800 µg Cr per kg of diet (P £ 0.05). Digestibility of dry matter (DM), ash, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE) were higher with higher dietary vitamin C (P £ 0.05) and also with higher Cr (P £ 0.05). There were no interactions between vitamin C and chromium detected for any parameters measured for egg quality in terms of egg weight, specific gravidity, egg shell thickness, egg shell weight and Haugh unit and digestibility of nutrients (P ³ 0.28). Data obtained in the present study shows that a combination of 250 mg vitamin C and 400 µg chromium per kg of diet gave the best results in laying hens reared under a low ambient temperature and a conclusion is suggested that such a diet can be considered as a protective management practice in poultry to alleviate, at least in part, the depressive effect of cold stress on poultry performance.

scholarly journals The performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed diets containing graded levels of Garcinia kola seed meal

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
A. C. Esiegwu ◽  
O. O. Emenalom ◽  
G. E. Enyenihi ◽  
I. C. Okoli ◽  
A. B. I. Udedibie
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Shape Index ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Garcinia Kola ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Completely Randomized Design ◽  
Egg Shell

Effects of dietary Garcinia kola meal (bitter kola) on the performance and egg quality characteristics of laying hens were investigated. Four layers diets were made such that diet T0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola meal while diets T2.5, T5.0 and T7.5 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola meal, respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 30 laying hens at 30 weeks of laying life for 84 days, using completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further sub-divided into three replicates of 10 hens each. The layers on T2.5 and T5.0 diets added significantly (P < 0.05) less body weight than those on T0 and T7.5 diets. There were no significant differences in their feed intake (P > 0.05). T2.5 significantly (P < 0.05) depressed hen-day egg production but enhanced egg weight. Feed conversion ratio (g feed/ g egg) was not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg quality indices (egg shape index, egg specific gravity, Haugh unit, egg shell thickness, albumen index and yolk index) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg shell index was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by Garcinia kola meal. At 2.5% level, it significantly enhanced percent albumin and reduced percent yolk (P<0.05). Cost of egg production (N/kg eggs) was adversely increased as the level of Garcinia kola meal increased.

scholarly journals The Response of Layer Hen Productivity and Egg Quality to an Additional Limestone Source when Offered Diets Differing in Calcium Concentrations and the Inclusion of Phytase

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2991
Author(s):  
Isabelle Ruhnke ◽  
Yeasmin Akter ◽  
Terence Zimazile Sibanda ◽  
Aaron J. Cowieson ◽  
Stuart Wilkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Shell Weight ◽  
Shell Quality ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
The Impact

Laying hens require substantial quantities of calcium (Ca) to maintain egg production. However, maintaining recommended dietary Ca through inclusion of limestone may impede nutrient digestibility, including that of other minerals. It was hypothesized that providing a separate source of dietary Ca in the form of limestone grit would preserve Ca intake of hens offered diets containing suboptimal Ca concentrations. Furthermore, the impact of dietary phytase at a “superdosing” inclusion rate on the voluntary consumption of limestone grit was evaluated. One hundred and forty-four laying hens (19 weeks of age) were assigned to one of six dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement comprising three dietary Ca concentrations (40, 30, and 20 g/kg) and ±dietary phytase (3500 FYT/kg diet) on an ad libitum basis for six weeks. Limestone grit (3.4 ± 1.0 mm) was provided to all hens ad libitum. Hens offered diets containing phytase consumed significantly less limestone grit p = 0.024). Egg weight, rate of lay, and egg mass were unaffected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). Egg shell weight % (p < 0.001), shell thickness (p < 0.001), and shell breaking strength (p < 0.01) decreased in line with dietary Ca levels. In summary, dietary superdosing with phytase reduced the consumption of a separate limestone source in individually housed, early lay ISA Brown hens. Egg shell quality variables but not egg production worsened in line with lower dietary Ca levels.

scholarly journals The response of laying hens fed fermented pineapple peel waste by indigenous microorganism from bamboo sprout

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heryandi YAN ◽  
Yanti Putri NOVA ◽  
Adrizal ADRIZAL ◽  
Endo Mahata MARIA
Keyword(s):  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Indigenous Microorganism ◽  
Pineapple Peel ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Haugh Unit

ABSTRACT The bromelain enzyme content in pineapple peel waste predicted to promote digestive tract health and a positive effect on egg quality. This research aimed to evaluate the use of fermented pineapple peel waste in laying hens diet on egg quality. A total of laying hens 200 birds with Isa Brown strain, egg production of 70%, The average egg weight and body weight were 58.58 g/egg, and 1.62 g/bird, respectively. A completely randomized design was used, 5 different levels of fermented pineapple peel waste as treatment (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%), and all treatments were repeated 4 times. Egg shell thickness, egg shell strength, haugh unit, egg yolk fat, and egg yolk color were measured. The use of fermented pineapple peel waste in the diet of laying hens up to 20% highly significant (P<0.01) on egg yolk color, and did not negative effect (P>0.05) on egg shell thickness, egg shell strength, haugh unit, and egg yolk fat. Fermented pineapple peel waste can be used as much as 20% in laying hens diet without disturbing egg quality and improve egg yolk color.

scholarly journals Differences in oviposition and egg quality of various genotypes of laying hens

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 377-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tůmová ◽  
J. Vlčková ◽  
D. Chodová
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Laying Hen ◽  
Sequence Length ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Egg Components

The differences in egg production traits in six laying hen genotypes (brown-egg hens Bovans Brown, Bovans Sperwer, ISA Sussex; white-egg hen Dekalb White; laying hens with tinted shells Moravia Barred and Moravia BSL) and the interactions of genotype and oviposition on egg quality were evaluated. The genotype affected the laying rate (P ≤ 0.003), mean sequence length (P ≤ 0.001), and time of oviposition (P ≤ 0.001). The brown-egg genotypes laid eggs approximately 1 h earlier than the white-egg genotypes and approximately 2 h earlier than the tinted-egg genotypes. Egg shell strength was the lowest in tinted-egg genotypes (P ≤ 0.001) and declined with the time of oviposition (P ≤ 0.002). Egg shell percentage (P ≤ 0.011) and thickness (P ≤ 0.011) were affected by the interaction of genotype and oviposition. None of the effects affected egg weight; however, the proportion of egg components was significantly influenced by the interaction of genotype and oviposition. The study confirmed that the differences in the egg production and egg quality of various genotypes are associated with the laying pattern.

scholarly journals Performance and egg quality of laying hens fed with dietary levels of digestible lysine and threonine

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.O Figueiredo ◽  
A.G Bertechini ◽  
E.J Fassani ◽  
P.B. Rodrigues ◽  
J.Á.G Brito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Linear Effect ◽  
Randomized Experimental Design ◽  
Egg Shell

The present study was developed using 864 Hy-Line W36 laying hens (42 to 58 weeks of age) with a randomized experimental design in a 4x3 factorial arrangement, with five replicates and 12 birds per experimental unit and 4 evaluation periods of 28 days each. The digestible lysine levels studied were 0.675%, 0.743%, 0.811% and 0.879%, and the digestible threonine levels were 0.542%, 0.596% and 0.650%. The performance and egg quality was evaluated. There were no significant effects on the egg production, specific gravity, albumen and yolk percentage and total solids in albumen and yolk for birds submitted to the different dietary digestible lysine and threonine levels. There was significant interaction between these amino acids on the egg shell percentage and Haugh unit in fresh eggs. There was a decreasing linear effect on the feed intake with increase of digestible lysine level. Egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion demonstrated a quadratic effect with the increase of the digestible lysine level with the best results in the diets with 0.754, 0.772 and 0.795% of digestible lysine, respectively.

Supplementation of organic minerals and its effect on production performance and egg quality of laying hens

2020 ◽  
pp. 12-16
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Organic Minerals

The present study was conducted to find the effect of different levels of organic minerals on egg production and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 45 laying hens were selected and divided into three groups with 3 replicates of 5 birds each. The control group was provided with commercial ration having inorganic minerals and the other two groups were supplemented with organic minerals at the rate of 7.5 (OM-50) and 15 mg/kg (OM-100). The experiment lasted for 5 weeks including 1 week of adaptation period. Overall feed intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the control. Significantly lower feed intake was recorded in group OM-100. Numerically lower (better) FCR was recorded in OM-100 at all recorded stages. Significantly (P<0.05) higher egg weight, egg shell weight and egg shell thickness was found in OM-100 compared to the control. Similarly, albumin height, Haugh unit and yolk weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher in M-100. It was concluded from the present results that organic minerals at the level of 50 and 100 mg/kg improved the performance and egg quality of laying hens. However, better results were found in OM-100.

scholarly journals Egg production, egg quality, and lipid peroxidation status in laying hens maintained at a low ambient temperature (6°C) and fed a vitamin C and vitamin E-supplemented diet

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 1 - 2) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Kucuk ◽  
N. Sahin ◽  
K. Sahin ◽  
Gursu MF ◽  
F. Gulcu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Vitamin E ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Alpha Tocopherol ◽  
Tocopherol Acetate ◽  
Egg Shell

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (&alpha;-tocopherol acetate) on egg production, egg quality, lipid peroxidation status (measured as MDA), and some serum metabolites in laying hens (Hy-Line) maintained at a low ambient temperature (6&deg;C). One hundred and twenty laying hens (18-wk-old) were divided into four groups, 30 hens per group. The laying hens were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 250 mg of L-ascorbic acid/kg of diet, 250 mg of &alpha;-tocopherol acetate/kg of diet or 250 mg of L-ascorbic acid plus 250 mg of &alpha;-tocopherol acetate/kg of diet. Although feed consumption of the hens was similar (P &gt; 0.05) among treatments, supplemental vitamin C and E significantly increased final body weight, egg production, and improved feed efficiency (P &lt; 0.05). Egg weights were also greater (P &lt; 0.05) in hens supplemented with the combination of vitamin C and E than that of hens supplemented either vitamin or no vitamin (control). Haugh unit did not change upon each vitamin supplementation, but the combination of the vitamin supplement yielded a higher Haugh unit (P &lt; 0.05). Each dietary supplement of vitamin C and vitamin E improved the egg quality (P &lt; 0.05) resulting in a greater specific gravity, thicker egg shell, and heavier egg shell weight. Separately or as a combination, supplemental vitamin C and E decreased MDA, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations (P &lt; 0.05). Results of the present study showed that supplementing vitamin C and vitamin E, particularly as a combination, improved the performance of cold-stressed laying hens, offering a potential protective management practice in preventing cold stress-related losses in performance of laying hens. Results of the present study also indicated that the effects of vitamin C and vitamin E are additive.

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