Zahra Bakhtiari; Mohamad Salarmoini; Mohsen Afsharmanesh
Volume 23, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 459-469
Abstract
In order to investigate the applicability of using male Leghorn chicken powder for laying hens, the experiment was performed with two hundred 50 weeks old Bovans laying hens during three periods of 28 days in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments, 5 replications, and 8 laying hen per each ...
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In order to investigate the applicability of using male Leghorn chicken powder for laying hens, the experiment was performed with two hundred 50 weeks old Bovans laying hens during three periods of 28 days in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments, 5 replications, and 8 laying hen per each replication. The dietary treatments were 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 percent chicken powder. The results showed that during the whole of the rearing period, egg weight was increased when the hens were fed with 4 percent chicken powder, in comparison to 8 and 16 percent levels (P < 0.05). With increasing the level of chicken powder in the diet from 12 to 16 percent, feed intake significantly decreased during 50-53 weeks period and whole rearing period (P < 0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio, hen-day egg production, egg mass and egg shell thickness. The highest yolk color index was observed in hens fed with 12 and 16 percent chicken powder in comparison to the control and 4 percent treatments (P < 0.05). Consumption of 16 percent chicken powder increased shell resistance in comparison to the control (P < 0.05). Using chicken powder, up to 12 percent level, significantly decreased feed cost to produce one Kg egg. In conclusion, chicken powder up to 12 percent level does not seem to have an adverse effect on laying hens performance, but further researches are needed to evaluate the effects of chicken powder at 16 percent level.
Mohsen Afsharmanesh; Maryam Rezaeipour; Mohamad Salarmoini
Volume 23, Issue 2 , July 2021, , Pages 245-254
Abstract
The effect of use of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and probiotic on productive performance of laying hens and some quality parameters of produced eggs was evaluated using an experiment with 320 Bowens laying hens, in a 4×2 factorial experiment with four fatty acid levels (no additive, ...
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The effect of use of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and probiotic on productive performance of laying hens and some quality parameters of produced eggs was evaluated using an experiment with 320 Bowens laying hens, in a 4×2 factorial experiment with four fatty acid levels (no additive, 0.1 % diet, propionic acid, 0.2 % diet, butyric acid and 0.3 % diet, acetic acid) and two levels of probiotic (0 and 0.01% diet) in a completely randomized design with 8 treatments, 5 replications and 8 birds per replication. The results of production performance showed that the egg weight, feed conversion ratio, production percentage and egg mass parameters, were not affected by the experimental groups. The main effects showed that organic acid supplementation significantly increased feed intake (P<0.05). It was shown that the percentage, diameter and color index of the yolk were not affected but the height of the yolk was improved by supplements (P<0.05). The results of shell quality also showed that specific gravity, shell percentage and shell thickness were not affected by the experimental groups, but diets containing organic acids and probiotic significantly improved shell resistance compared with non-additive group (P<0.05). It could be concluded that organic acid and probiotic supplements with a positive effect on feed consumption, egg weight, egg yolk height and shell resistance, improved production performance and quality of produced eggs.
Zabihollah nemati; magsoud besharati; amir karimi
Volume 21, Issue 1 , April 2019, , Pages 49-60
Abstract
The current research was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of garlic powder, Cornerian cherry fruit powder (CH) and a mixture essential oil of castor and cashew nut shell (EO) on performance, egg quality and some blood parameters in commercial laying hens. One hundred and twenty-eight ...
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The current research was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of garlic powder, Cornerian cherry fruit powder (CH) and a mixture essential oil of castor and cashew nut shell (EO) on performance, egg quality and some blood parameters in commercial laying hens. One hundred and twenty-eight 58-wk-old LSL laying hens were used in 4 treatments with 4 replicates and 8 birds per each in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets included: 1) Basal diet; 2) Basal diet +1% garlic powder; 3) Basal diet+1% CH and 4) Basal diet+0.15 percent EO. The experimental diets were fed from 59 to 63 weeks of age. The productive performance was recorded from 61 to 63 weeks of age and blood and egg yolk parameters measured at the end of the experimental period. There were no significant differences in laying hen performance among all treatments. Albumen height and Haugh unit was increased in CH compared to the control group (p<0.05). The blood cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride and aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzymes did not show any significant difference among treatments. The garlic and CH powders significantly decreased egg yolk cholesterol concentration (p<0.05), however it was not significantly affected by the EO. Finally, it was concluded that addition of CH and garlic powder in the diet of laying hens could improve the egg quality and reduce yolk cholesterol concentrations.
Hassan Shirzadi; Hossein Nasermanesh; Ali Khatibjoo; Kamran Taherpour; Mohammadi Akbari Gharaei
Volume 20, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 613-623
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Artemisia annua L. essential oil (AAEO) and probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on egg and carcass quality of laying Japanese quails. A total of 180 46-d-old female Japanese quail were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized ...
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The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Artemisia annua L. essential oil (AAEO) and probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on egg and carcass quality of laying Japanese quails. A total of 180 46-d-old female Japanese quail were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with five replicates and nine birds per each. The experimental diets were: 1) basal diet as control group (without additive), 2) basal diet plus oxytetracycline (200 mg/kg), 3) basal diet plus AAEO (250 mg/kg) and 4) basal diet plus probiotic (4 CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus per kg diet). Results showed that the use of probiotic caused to an increase in the cumulative egg weight and daily egg mass, when compared with control and AAEO treatments (P<0.05). In comparison to control group, supplementing the basal diet with AAEO resulted in decreases on MDA level of egg yolk (P<0.05) and liver weight (P=0.06). In addition, the F3 and F2 follicles weights were increased when the basal diet supplemented with each of the feed additives (P <0.05). It can be concluded that, Lactobacillus acidophilus can be used as an alternative to antibiotics for increasing the egg production, and AAEO can be used to produce healthy products in feeding laying Japanese quails.
Seyd Ahmad Sahaf; Heydar Zarghi; َAbolghasem Golian
Volume 20, Issue 1 , May 2018, , Pages 131-143
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of raw and/or autoclaved grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) seed in diet on performance and egg quality of laying hens. Three hundred and thirty-six Leghorn laying hens strain W-36 at 87 week of age were assigned in a completely randomize designed (CRD) ...
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This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of raw and/or autoclaved grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) seed in diet on performance and egg quality of laying hens. Three hundred and thirty-six Leghorn laying hens strain W-36 at 87 week of age were assigned in a completely randomize designed (CRD) experiment with 7 treatments, 6 replicates and 8 birds each. The experimental treatments included; corn-soybean meal (control) diet, and 8, 16 and 24% dietary levels of either raw or autoclaved grass pea grain. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. Feed consumption, egg production percentage and egg mass of hens fed diets containing different levels of raw and autoclaved grass pea grain were significantly lower and their feed conversion ratio was significantly higher than those fed control diet. The autoclaving of grass pea grain resulted in significant increase in performance and eggshell quality indices in birds fed diets containing 16 and 24% grass pea grain. Although autoclaving of grass pea grain reduced the negative effect of its replacement in the diet on performance and egg characteristics, however, it could not compensate the reduction in performance. According to the results of this experiment, the utilization of raw grass pea grain is not recommended in laying hen diets. Also, autoclaving process alone can’t destroy the anti-nutritional factors present in grass pea grain.
farid shariatmadari
Volume 19, Issue 2 , August 2017, , Pages 479-491
Abstract
In this study, the effect of fat source and type of growth promoting additives in laying hens diets on productive performance and egg quality traits was investigated. In a (2×3) factorial experiment,108 ninety-six week-old Hy-Line W-36 laying hens treated with 2 fat sources (vegtable fat - yellow ...
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In this study, the effect of fat source and type of growth promoting additives in laying hens diets on productive performance and egg quality traits was investigated. In a (2×3) factorial experiment,108 ninety-six week-old Hy-Line W-36 laying hens treated with 2 fat sources (vegtable fat - yellow grease and fat powder) and 3 types of growth promoting additives (none-additive,probiotic and antibiotic) for 12 weeks.The birds were allocated randomly in six treatments with six replicates (3 birds per replicat). Results showed that None of the performance variables (egg production rate, egg mass, average egg weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) were affected by the supplemental fat sources (P> 0.05). The addition of probiotic in feed resulted in significant reductions in feed intake, egg production and egg mass as well as in yolk percent (P< 0.05). Interactions between fat source and growth promoting additive type as well as the main effect of fat type on Egg shell thickness were significant. Thus, it could be suggested that the use of the fat sources and growth promoting additives in layer diets as a potential solution to prevent the egg shell quality problems during the late stages of production; however supplemental probiotic reduced feed intake, egg production and egg mass.
Saman Abbasi; Mokhtar Ali Abbasi; Alireza Noshari
Volume 17, Issue 2 , October 2015, , Pages 391-401
Abstract
A total of 2000 records of egg quality of 746 birds and body weight data from 17th generation of Fars Native Fowl Breeding Station were used to estimate the genetic parameters of egg quality and body weight traits. Six univariate animal models with different random effects were fitted for each trait. ...
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A total of 2000 records of egg quality of 746 birds and body weight data from 17th generation of Fars Native Fowl Breeding Station were used to estimate the genetic parameters of egg quality and body weight traits. Six univariate animal models with different random effects were fitted for each trait. A model with direct additive genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects was the most appropriate model for mature weight. For body weight in 12th week, the model with direct additive genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects was suitable. The model with direct additive genetic and maternal genetic effects was appropriate for albumen diameter, yolk weight and egg weight. For other traits, the simple animal model with direct animal additive genetic effect was the best model. Estimates of heritability were ranged from 0.02 (yolk weight) to 0.23 (albumen index) for internal egg quality and were ranged from 0.01 (egg weight) to 0.43 (egg shell strength) for external egg quality traits. These parameters were estimated 0.03, 0.07 and 0.18 for mature weight, body weights at 8th and 12th weeks, respectively. Genetic correlations between egg quality and body weight traits ranged from -0.79 to 0.80. In conclusion, selection based on the body weights at 8th and 12th weeks increases the egg weight, egg width and egg shape index. Selection for body weight in 12th week would increase the albumen weight and yolk diameters.