Effect of oils sources on blood lipid parameters of commercial laying hens

Effect of chelated source of additional zinc and selenium on performance, yolk fatty acid composition, and oxidative stability in laying hens fed with oxidised oil

1. The following study determined whether the effects of the combined addition of zinc amino acid complex (ZA) and selenomethionine (SM) was superior to their single addition in controlling the oxidative stress induced by dietary oxidised fat in laying hens.2. Two hundred and forty 32-week-old laying hens were divided into the following dietary treatments (each consisting of six replicates of eight birds): 1) a fresh soy oil (FSO) diet; 2) an oxidised soy oil (OSO) diet; 3) an OSO diet plus 20 mg zinc as ZA/kg (OSO+ZA); 4) an OSO diet plus 0.2 mg selenium as SM/kg (OSO+SM); and 5) an OSO diet plus ZA and SM (OSO+ZA+SM).3. After 10 weeks of feeding hens, feed intake, egg production, and egg mass in the OSO+ZA+SM group were similar to the FSO group but better (P<0.05) than those in the OSO group. Shell thickness and shell breaking strength were significantly improved by the OSO+ZA and OSO+ZA+SM treatments.4. Increases in the yolk concentrations of palmitic acid and total saturated fatty acids (SFA), and decreases in yolk linoleic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total PUFA, and PUFA/SFA ratio were induced by dietary oxidised fat which were normalised (P<0.05) by OSO+SM and OSO+ZA+SM.5. An increase (P<0.05) in malondialdehyde and a decrease in 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity in the yolk, induced by dietary oxidised fat, was significantly improved by all dietary supplementations, but only birds fed the OSO+ZA+SM diet exhibited similar values to those fed FSO.6. In conclusion, the simultaneous inclusion of organic zinc plus selenium in the oxidised fat diets was beneficial for improving egg-laying performance, yolk fatty acid profile, and oxidative stability, but not for internal egg quality, compared with either zinc or selenium alone in laying hens.

Mix of cassava pulp, napier grass, and enzymes can be used as low cost alternative feed ingredient for laying hens

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of mixed cassava pulp and napier grass (MCN) supplemented with multi-component enzymes on the hen performance and egg quality as well as nutrient digestibility. In experiment 1, forty laying hens (Isa Brown) of 34 weeks in age were randomly allotted to 5 groups: control and 5, 10, 15, and 20% MCN for 10 days (one bird per cage, eight cage replicates). The results indicated that dry matter, and organic matter digestibilities, or nitrogen retention (P > 0.05) showed no significant alteration when used MCN up to 20%. In experiment 2, one hundred and eighty Isa Brown laying hens of 67 weeks in age were randomly assigned to 5 groups (control and 4 MCN: 5, 10, 15, and 20%) and raised for 8 weeks. It revealed that the inclusion rate of MCN up to 20% did not affect the productive performance, plasma cholesterol concentration, cecal microbial populations, or ammonia production (P > 0.05). In addition, egg yolk cholesterol was found to be lower in laying hens fed 20% MCN compared to 5% MCN (P < 0.05), but no significant differences compared to the control. In conclusion, it is indicated that MCN can be used as a partial part of an energy source in laying hen diets with no adverse effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility or egg quality.

Effects of B-Wave Ultraviolet Supplementation Using Light-Emitting Diodes on Caged Laying Hens during the Later Phase of the Laying Cycle

Caged laying hens are prone to calcium deficiencies, resulting in osteoporosis and egg quality deterioration during the later phase of the laying cycle. Fluorescent light and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are widely used in poultry houses now, are both deficient in ultraviolet (UV) light, the lack of which is detrimental to chickens' welfare and health. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of UVB light supplementation using LEDs on the bone traits, blood parameters, laying performance, and egg quality for caged laying hens at 68-75 weeks. In total, 120 Jingfen laying hens were randomly assigned to four different groups, with three replicates in each group (10 hens in each cage as a replicate). UVB-LED lamps installed under the feed troughs were used to provide UVB light (296-316 nm) for the birds in the three treatment groups (1 h, 2 h, and 3 h UVB supplementation per day, respectively), while the control group was not exposed to UVB-LED light. Bone traits, egg quality, and amounts of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃), and 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) in both the serum and egg yolks were tested during the experiment. The results demonstrated that UVB-LED exposure significantly increased the bone mineral density (BMD), egg production, and yolk 1,25(OH)₂D₃ concentrations (p < 0.05), and reduced the content of serum 7-DHC (p < 0.05), especially in the 2 h/day group; however, it did not improve egg quality, vitamin D metabolites, or photoproducts in the serum and yolk 25(OH)₂D₃ concentrations (p > 0.05). This study concluded that UVB supplementation using LEDs had a positive effect on caged laying hens during the later phase of the laying cycle.

Biochemical proximates of pumpkin (Cucurbitaeae spp.) and their beneficial effects on the general well-being of poultry species

There is a growing need to increase productivity in poultry. Growth hormones and antibiotics have the ability to improve health, weight gain and feed efficiency in meat-producing animals. The growth-promoting antibiotics are administered to poultry to improve the general performance of the chicken. However, the use of the xenobiotic drugs in food-producing animals has been a concern and a sensitive issue of debate for several decades in the EU and many other regional blocks of the world. Consequently, the use of hormones in animal production has been banned in Italy, Denmark and Germany for over 4-5 decades, while Belgium and Greece had never permitted its use for livestock fattening purposes. Bioactive phytochemicals exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties and consequently have several beneficial effects on appetite, growth and the immune status of the animal. In South Africa, different species of pumpkin are produced for food due to their high nutrient content. The flesh serves as a traditional food, while the seeds and peels are commonly discarded. Pumpkin seed extract is reported to be useful for immunomodulation, reproductive health, therapeutics over a wide range of disease conditions and stimulates metabolism of accumulated fats. Studies have also shown that pumpkin seeds are a valuable source of protein and fat. Their complexity and extent of bioactivity offers sustainable prospects for natural control of pathogenic/parasitic organisms, stimulate nutrition or enhance resistance to disease infections, and reduce abdominal fat and serum levels of harmful lipids, while increasing serum levels of beneficial lipids.

Influence of soy oil source and dietary supplementation of vitamins E and C on the oxidation status of serum and egg yolk, and the lipid profile of egg yolk

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of adding vitamins E and C to diets containing 3.5% refined soy oil (SO), recycled soy oil (RSO), or acidulated soy oil soapstocks (ASS) on 1) fatty acid (FA) profile, and cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and α-tocopherol (α-T) concentrations of yolk, and 2) the oxidation status of serum and yolk. Twelve dietary treatments, using 3 oil sources, 2 levels of vitamin E (0 vs. 250 mg/kg), and 2 levels of vitamin C (0 vs. 250 mg/kg), were prepared. A total of 300 W36 Hy-line laying hens, from 44 to 56 weeks of age, were placed in 60 cages (5 birds/cage) and 5 cages were randomly assigned to one of the 12 diets. Blood samples and eggs were collected after 84 d on trial. No interactions among main effects were found for any of the traits studied. Oil sources had little effects on the FA profile of the yolk, except for C18:3 that was higher (P-value of < 0.01) in the hens fed SO than those fed RSO or ASS. Vitamin E supplementation significantly (P-value of < 0.05) increased the concentration of C16:0, C18:0, and C16:1 but decreased that of C18:2 and C22:6n3 in the yolk. Vitamin C supplementation significantly (P-value of < 0.05) increased C18:0 and C18:3 concentrations in the yolk but decreased the n6 to n3 FA ratio. The concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride in serum and yolk were not affected by dietary treatment but α-tocopherol concentration increased (P-value of < 0.01) by the dietary vitamin E. Compared with the hens fed the SO diets, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum was higher with RSO diet but lower with ASS diet. Vitamin E and vitamin C supplementation decreased (P-value of < 0.05) serum MDA. Yolk FA profile was affected not only by the FA profile of the oil source used in diet, but also by the supplementation of vitamin E and C. The results showed that triglyceride profile, but not cholesterol content, of egg was affected by fatty acid profile of the supplemental oil and the vitamin C and E supplementations.

Efeito dos ácidos graxos essenciais sobre lipidemia e vascularização da membrana vitelina de codornas japonesas

Verificou-se o efeito de diferentes fontes de ácidos graxos essenciais ômega-3 e ômega-6 sobre o perfil lipídico de codornas japonesas e sobre o crescimento vascular na membrana vitelina dos embriões de aves suplementadas com óleo de peixe, 2% e 4%, e óleo de soja, 2% e 4%, em relação à dieta-controle, sem suplementação lipídica. Foi usado o método enzimático com reação colorimétrica para estimar o perfil lipídico sérico de colesterol total, triglicerídeos e HDL das aves. A vascularização na membrana vitelina foi quantificada por meio da dimensão fractal, utilizando-se o método de box-counting. A concentração de colesterol dos grupos controle e tratados não diferiu entre si. Para o HDL, o grupo que recebeu maior proporção de óleo de peixe, 4%, diferiu dos outros grupos. Os níveis de triglicerídeos das codornas suplementadas com óleo de peixe foram superiores aos dos demais grupos. A dimensão fractal da vascularização da membrana vitelina dos embriões de codornas dos grupos que receberam 4% de óleo de peixe e 4% de óleo de soja foi significativamente menor que a dos demais grupos, indicando efeitos antiangiogênicos no processo de formação vascular.

Effect of short-term UVB exposure on vitamin D concentration of eggs and vitamin D status of laying hens

Vitamin D deficiency in humans is widespread, and only a few food items are important natural sources of vitamin D. This study investigated the effect of UVB exposure of laying hens on the vitamin D content in egg yolk. In a two-factorial design, hens fed a vitamin D-deficient (-D) or -adequate (+D) diet were nonexposed or exposed to UVB light over a period of 4 weeks. UVB exposure of the -D group caused nearly normal egg production rate and egg shell quality; exposure of the +D group did not further improve these parameters. UVB exposure tended to improve the concentration of plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D(3)), but had no effect on 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in plasma or on cholecalciferol and 25(OH)D(3) in egg yolk. The present study shows that a short-term exposure of laying hens to UVB light is not an appropriate way to improve the vitamin D content of egg yolk.