Dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide level and xylanase supplementation influence performance, egg quality and nutrient utilization in laying hens fed wheat-based diets

Exploring the effects of varying levels of selenium-chitosan on production performance, egg quality, and immune health in laying japanese quail

The purpose of this research was to see how different levels of Se-chitosan, a novel organic source of Se, affected the production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, microbial population, immunological response, antioxidant status, and yolk fatty acid profile of laying Japanese quail. This experiment used a totally randomized design, with 5 treatments, 6 repeats, and 10 birds in each repetition. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: no Se supplementation (control group), 0.2 mg/kg Na-selenite supplementation, and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/kg Se-chitosan supplementation. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved linearly in quails fed different levels of Se-chitosan compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Se-chitosan at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg demonstrated both linear and quadratic increases in albumen height, Haugh unit, and yolk color in fresh eggs compared to the control group. Additionally, Se-chitosan contributed to enhanced shell thickness and strength, along with an increased Se concentration in the yolk. Se-chitosan supplementation at different levels linearly and quadratically reduced coliforms (COL) while increasing lactic acid bacteria (LAB)/coliform ratios (P < 0.05). Se-chitosan supplementation linearly and quadratically increased the total antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and IgG titers (P < 0.05). It also linearly decreased the level of malondialdehyde in fresh and stored egg yolks and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase linearly, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) both linearly and quadratically in quail blood serum (P < 0.05). Additionally, supplementation of Se-chitosan at levels of 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg linearly decreased the ∑ n-6 PUFA/∑ n-3 PUFA ratio in the yolk compared to the control group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that incorporating Se-chitosan as a novel organic source of Se in the diet of laying quails can enhance production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, yolk lipid oxidation, microbial population, immune response, antioxidant enzyme activity, and yolk fatty acid profile.

Effects of replacing Na selenite in laying hen feed with selenized glucose on production performance, egg quality, egg selenium content, microbial population, immunological response, antioxidant enzymes, and fatty acid composition

This study aimed to explore the effects of selenized glucose (SeGlu) and Na selenite supplementation on various aspects of laying hens such as production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, microbial population, antioxidant enzymes activity, immunological response, and yolk fatty acid profile. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 168 laying hens at 27-wk of age were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups with 7 replications. Se source (Na selenite and SeGlu) and Se level (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) were used as treatments. When 0.3 mg SeGlu/kg was compared to 0.3 mg Na selenite/kg, the interaction findings revealed that 0.3 mg SeGlu/kg increased egg production percent and shell ash (P < 0.05). When compared to 0.3 mg Na selenite/kg, dietary supplementation with 0.3 and 0.6 mg SeGlu/kg resulted in an increase in albumen height, Haugh unit, and yolk color of fresh eggs (P < 0.05). SeGlu enhanced albumen height, Haugh unit, shell thickness (P < 0.01), albumen index, yolk share, specific gravity, shell ash (P < 0.05) of fresh eggs and shell thickness (P < 0.05) of stored eggs as compared to Na selenite. The interaction showed that 0.6 mg SeGlu/kg enhanced yolk Se concentration while decreasing malondialdehyde levels in fresh egg yolk (P < 0.05). SeGlu enhanced Se concentration in albumen and glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma (P < 0.05) as compared to Na selenite. 0.6 mg Se/kg increased lactic acid bacteria, antibody response to sheep red blood cells, and lowered ∑n-6 PUFA/ ∑n-3 PUFA ratio (P < 0.05). As a result, adding SeGlu to the feed of laying hens enhanced egg production, egg quality, egg Se concentration, fresh yolk lipid oxidation, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity.

The effect of replacing sodium selenite with selenium-chitosan in laying hens on production performance, egg quality, egg selenium concentration, microbial population, immunological response, antioxidant enzymes, and fatty acid composition

The purpose of this study was to investigate into the effects of Se-chitosan and Na selenite supplementation on laying hen production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, microbial population, immunological response, antioxidant enzymes activity, and yolk fatty acid profile. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 168 27-wk-old laying hens were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups and 7 replications. Se source (Na selenite and Se-chitosan) and Se level (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) were used as treatments. Se-chitosan enhanced egg production percentage and egg mass (P < 0.05) when compared with Na selenite. There was an interaction, with 0.6 mg Se-chitosan/kg causing an increase in albumen height, Haugh unit, albumen index, and shell thickness of fresh eggs (P < 0.05). Se-chitosan increased yolk share, yolk color, and shape index of fresh eggs and shape index, albumen index, albumen height, Haugh unit, yolk color, shell thickness, and specific gravity of stored eggs (P < 0.05). The interaction showed that, 0.6 mg Se-chitosan/kg increased albumen Se concentration and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh egg yolk compared with 0.3 and 0.6 mg Na selenite/kg (P < 0.05). When compared with Na selenite, Se-chitosan increased the Se concentration in the yolk and decreased level of MDA in stored egg yolk (P < 0.01). When compared with Na selenite, Se-chitosan reduced coliforms (P < 0.01), increased lactic acid bacteria, and the lactic acid bacteria/coliform ratio (P < 0.05). Se-chitosan supplementation increased antibody response to sheep red blood cells and IgM titers and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in plasma (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with Na selenite, supplementing diets with Se-chitosan decreased ∑ n-6 PUFA/∑ n-3 PUFA ratio (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Se-chitosan supplementation of laying hen feed improved production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, yolk lipid oxidation, microbial population, immune response, antioxidant enzymes activity, and yolk fatty acid profile, with 0.6 mg Se-chitosan/kg supplementation being optimal.

Interactions of dietary wheat cultivars and NSP-degrading enzyme on productive performance and egg quality traits

CONTEXT

The nutritional value of enzyme-supplemented wheat-contained diets can be influenced by interactions between wheat cultivar and exogenous enzyme, which in turn cause various effects on the performance of poultry.

AIMS

The effects of diets including various wheat cultivars with or without enzyme on productive performance and egg quality characteristics were evaluated.

METHODS

A total of 270 58-week-old Lohmann LSL-Lite were allocated to 9 experimental dietary groups with 5 replicate cages and 6 birds per each cage. Based on a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatment, nine iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets, including four wheat cultivars (Sardari, Azar 2, Pishgam and Sirvan) with and without enzymes plus a corn-based control diet, were tested in a completely randomized design during an 8-week trial period.

KEY RESULTS

From weeks 58 to 63 and 63 to 67 of age, the hens fed with Sardari-included diet showed the lowest feed intake compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Egg production (EP), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and egg mass (EM) were not influenced by the experimental diets. At the age of 62 weeks, the effect of adding enzyme on egg shape index was significant. Moreover, in sampling week 67, increased eggshell weight (%) was detected in enzyme-supplemented diets compared to diets with no enzyme (10.03 vs. 9.37, respectively). Besides, the shell thickness was the highest in the group fed with Azar 2, and the lowest in the group fed with Sirvan at the age of 67 weeks (p < 0.05). Albumen weights (%) were also significant in some cases. The highest albumen weight was observed in Sirvan-included diet without enzyme on week 62. Reduced yolk weight was detected in enzyme-supplemented Pishgam-included diet on 62 weeks of age (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of the diets of laying hens with the four tested Iranian wheat cultivars has no negative impact on most productive performance and egg quality indices. Moreover, supplementing the wheat-included diets with non-starch polysaccharidase enzyme (beta-endopower) improved eggshell weight on week 67.

Untargeted UHPLC-TOF/MS Lipidomic Analysis for the Investigation of Egg Yolks after Xylanase Supplementation of the Diet of Laying Hens

Xylanase supplementation of diets is used to enhance nutrient digestibility in monogastrics which lack necessary enzymes for non-starch polysaccharide degradation. The effects of enzymatic treatment in the nutritional value of the feed are typically not comprehensively studied. Though the fundamental effects of xylanase on performance are well studied, limited data is available on the complex interactions between xylanase supplementation and hen physiology; therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a new, simple UPLC-TOF/MS lipidomics method for the analysis of hen egg yolks after supplementation with different amounts of xylanase. Sample preparation for the extraction of lipids was optimized and different sample preparation modes and solvent mixtures were tested. Optimal results for the extraction of total lipids were obtained by using the solvent mixture MTBE: MeOH (5:1, v/v). Multivariate statistical analysis of the signals of hundreds of lipids in positive and negative ionisation modes highlighted differences in several egg yolk lipid species-classes. Four lipid species-classes, phosphatidylcholines (PC and PC O), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE and PE O), phosphatidylinositols (PI), and fatty acids (FA), were among those contributing to the separation of the experimental groups (control-treated) in negative ionisation mode. In positive ionisation mode, principal beneficial lipid compounds such as phosphatidylcholines (PC and PC O), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE and PE O), triacylglycerols (TG), diacylglycerols (DG), and ceramides (Cer) were found to be increased in treated groups. Overall, supplementation of laying hens' diets with xylanase significantly changed the lipid profile of egg yolks compared to the control diet. The association between the lipid profiles of egg yolks and hens' diets, as well as the underlying mechanisms, require further investigation. These findings are of practical significance for the food industry.

Biological function of resveratrol and its application in animal production: a review

With the prohibition of antibiotics in feed, plant functional substances have been widely studied as feed additives. Resveratrol, a natural stilbene, and a non-flavonoid polyphenol found in plants, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory features. Resveratrol generated intense scientific and public interest, primarily due to its widely reported ability to prevent cancer, delay aging and alleviate related metabolic diseases. Recently, resveratrol has been studied and applied as a feed additive in animal production. This review focuses on the outline of the absorption and metabolism and biological functions of resveratrol and summarizes the application of dietary resveratrol in animal production up to the present, including pigs, poultry, and ruminants. In pigs, dietary resveratrol improved intestinal health, mitochondrial function, meat quality, and more. In poultry, studies have shown that dietary resveratrol improves growth performance and meat and egg quality and alleviates heat stress induced adverse effects. There are few studies on dietary resveratrol in ruminants; however previous studies have indicated that dietary resveratrol increases nutrient digestibility and reduces methane emissions in sheep. It is hoped that this review could provide a specific theoretical basis and research ideas for the research and application of resveratrol.

Assessing Bone Health Status and Eggshell Quality of Laying Hens at the End of a Production Cycle in Response to Inclusion of a Hybrid Rye to a Wheat-Corn Diet

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there are negative effects of the partial replacement of white corn with rye along with xylanase supplementation on overall bone quality, eggshell mineralization, and mechanical strength in laying hens. From the 26th week of life, ISA Brown laying hens were fed either a wheat-corn diet or a diet containing 25% rye, with or without xylanase. The experimental period lasted for 25 weeks, until birds reached their 50th week of age, after which bone and eggshell quality indices were assessed. Eggshell thickness and eggshell Ca content of eggs from rye-fed hens were improved by xylanase supplementation. No differences in the mechanical properties of the eggshells were observed between treatments, except for the diet-dependent changes in egg deformation. Rye inclusion had no effect on the mechanical properties of bone. Xylanase supplementation, irrespective of the diet, had a positive effect on bone strength and increased tibia Ca content, as well as the content of several microelements. Hence, hybrid rye combined with wheat can replace 25% of corn in layer diets without compromising shell quality or bone mineral content. Xylanase supplementation in these diets is recommended since its inclusion improves both bone strength and quality.

Impact of fermentable fiber, xylo-oligosaccharides and xylanase on laying hen productive performance and nutrient utilization

This study evaluated the impact of feeding xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), fermentable fiber in the form of wheat bran (WB), and xylanase (XYL) on laying hen productive performance and nutrient digestibility. The hypothesis was that the WB would provide the microbiota in the hindgut with fermentable dietary xylan, and the XOS and XYL would further upregulate xylan fermentation pathways, resulting in improved nutrient utilization. Isa Brown hens (n = 96) were obtained at 39 wk of age. They were fed 12 dietary treatments, 8 hens per treatment, for 56 d. A commercial laying hen ration was fed, and for half of the treatments 10% of this ration was directly replaced with WB. The diets were then supplemented with either 1) no supplements; 2) XOS 50 g/t; 3) XOS 2000 g/t; 4) XYL (16,000 BXU/kg); 5) XYL + XOS 50 g/t, or 6) XYL + XOS 2,000 g/t. Hen performance and egg quality were measured every 14 d. On d56, ileum digesta samples were collected for determination of starch, nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP), XOS, protein, energy, and starch digestibility. Ceca digesta samples were also collected for analysis of XOS, short chain fatty acid (SCFA), xylanase and cellulase activity and microbial counts. Feeding 2,000 g/t XOS increased ileal protein digestibility. Combined 2,000 g/t XOS and XYL increased cecal Bifidobacteria concentration. This combination also increased cecal xylanase activity in birds fed the control diet. Cecal cellulase activity was improved by feeding WB, XYL, and 2,000 g/t XOS. XYL increased cecal lactate production. Feeding 2,000 g/t XOS with WB increased insoluble NSP degradability and shell breaking strength at d56. In summary, supplementing laying hen diets with fermentable fiber, XYL and XOS increases utilization of dietary xylan, improving nutrient utilization, performance, and gastrointestinal health.

Xylanase Supplementation in Wheat-Based Diets of Laying Hens Affects the Egg Yolk Color, Carotenoid and Fatty Acid Profiles

Wheat is rich in non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and their degradation in poultry diets is promoted by exogenous carbohydrases. The objective here was to evaluate the effect of adding an intrinsically thermostable xylanase on wheat-based diets for laying hens in yolk color, carotenoid and fatty acid profiles of eggs. A total of 128 laying hens were used for 12 weeks. They were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments with different levels of xylanase: T1: control (no xylanase), T2: 30,000 U/g, T3: 45,000 U/g and T4: 90,000 U/g, with 32 birds, 16 replicates per treatment (2 birds/replicate). At the end of the experimental period, egg yolk color index, redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) of egg yolks were found significantly higher in all the enzyme supplemented diet groups (T2, T3, T4) compared with the control (T1). Canthaxanthin levels were significantly higher in T3 than T1 (p < 0.05). Total n-3, n-6 and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) were significantly higher in T4 compared with the control (p < 0.01), while the reverse trend was evidenced for monounsaturated FAs. Additionally, total n-3 FAs were higher in the T2 than T1 (p < 0.005). Overall, the results showed that exogenous xylanase enzyme supplementation in wheat-based diets for laying hens contribute to maintaining egg yolk color. Overall, exogenous xylanase enzyme supplemented at all levels in wheat-based laying hens’ diets improved egg yolk color compared to the control diet. The enzyme supplemented at the higher level (90,000 U/g) improved polyunsaturated and reduced monounsaturated egg yolk fatty acid content.

Comfrey polysaccharides modulate the gut microbiota and its metabolites SCFAs and affect the production performance of laying hens

Effects of dietary supplementation of comfrey polysaccharides (CPs) on production performance, egg quality, and microbial composition of cecum in laying hens were evaluated. A total of 240 laying hens were allocated into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group. The laying hens were fed diets containing CPs at levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 %, respectively. The results showed that the egg production rate increased by 5.97 %, the egg mass improved by 6.71 %, and the feed conversion rate reduced by 5.43 % in the 1.0 % supplementation group of CPs compared with those in the control group. The digestibility of ash, crude fat, and phosphorus was notably improved by the addition of CPs at 1.0 % (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level, Bacteroidaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Prevotellaceae at the family level were increased by CPs (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Bacteroides, Megamonas, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, [Ruminococcus]_torques_group, Methanobrevibacter, Desulfovibrio, Romboutsia, Alistipes, and Intestinimonas at the genus level were increased by CPs (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of CPs could enhance the production performance of laying hens, which might be related to the improvement of nutrient digestibility and microbial community modulations in the cecum. Therefore, CPs have potential application value as prebiotics in laying hens.

The Influence of Dehulling on the Nutritional Quality of Lupine Seeds (Lupinus albus L.) and the Effect of Their Use in the Feed of Laying Quails on the Live Performance and Quality of Eggs

Lupinus albus seeds from low-alkaloid varieties are a valuable alternative source of protein for reducing the dependence on soybean meal for the feeding of monogastric animals. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the dehulling influence of lupine seeds (L. albus, cv. Amiga) and the effect of their use in the laying quails feed on live performance and egg quality. A total of 200 laying quails (Coturnix japonica), with an age of 10 weeks, were randomly assigned to five experimental groups (five replicates/group). Each group was randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments: the control group (C) diet was based on soybean meal, while the experimental groups received either 200 g/kg (WLS₂₀) or 250 g/kg (WLS₂₅) of whole lupine seeds in their diets, or 200 g/kg (DLS₂₀) or 250 g/kg (DLS₂₅) of dehulled lupine seeds in their diets. The results show that by dehulling the lupine seeds, the nutritional value of the seeds increased. The use of dehulled lupine seeds in the diet of laying quails did not affect the live performance (egg production, feed intake, feed conversion ratio), yolk cholesterol content, and physico-chemical quality indices of the eggs, compared with control. The presence of dehulled lupine seeds in the diet improved the nutritional quality of the yolk lipids because of the increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thus, the lipid quality indices of the yolk became more favorable to consumer health because of an increase in the h/H ratio (hypocholesterolemic/Hypercholesterolemic FA) and a decrease in the atherogenic index and thrombogenic index values. The higher content in carotenoids also contributed to the higher nutritional quality of the eggs obtained by lupine utilization. In conclusion, dehulling of lupine seeds had a positive influence on the nutritional quality of the seeds, the live performance of quails, and the quality of eggs.