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PubMed1995

Effect of estrogen on egg production, shell quality and calcium metabolism in molted hens.

Force-molted White Leghorn laying hens were implanted with 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 3 Compudose 200 pellets (24 mg 17 beta estradiol/pellet). Plasma estradiol increased with increasing E2 dosages in a linear manner and decreased over time in a quadratic manner (P < 0.01). E2 treatment had a nonlinear effect on total plasma calcium. Oviduct weight, shell thickness and egg weight were not significantly affected by exogenous estradiol whereas tibial bone ash percentage was increased at only one dose (P < 0.05:0.5 pellet group). Physiological supplementation with estradiol does not improve shell quality.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Production, hatchability and fertility of eggs from breeding Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed diets containing furazolidone.

1. Breeding Japanese quail were allocated to 8 groups, each group consisting of 20 females and males. The birds were fed one of 4 diets for up to 33 d: a control diet or a diet containing 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg furazolidone. Subsequently, quails were fed a furazolidone-free diet for up to 21 d. Egg production, quality, hatchability and fertility of the groups were measured. 2. Significant reduction in egg production occurred in birds fed 400 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg furazolidone, the effect being more pronounced at the higher concentration. 3. Hatchability was reduced significantly for all groups of birds fed furazolidone and this effect was both dose and time dependent. The reduction in hatchability was attributable to an increase in infertile eggs rather than an increase in embryonic mortality. 4. Egg quality was affected, with more small eggs being produced by birds fed 1000 mg/kg furazolidone. 5. After removal of the experimental diets egg production of the affected groups returned to control values. Hatchability and fertility of affected groups also returned toward control values, but had generally not attained these values 21 d after the cessation of the experimental diets. 6. It was concluded that standard recommendations for the therapeutic dosage of poultry with furazolidone may not be appropriate for breeding Japanese quail.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Alfalfa as a single dietary source for molt induction in laying hens.

Molting is a process by which a hen's reproductive tract is rejuvenated prior to the beginning of a laying cycle. This process is often artificially induced in commercial settings in order to extend the productive life of a flock of hens. The most common method for the induction of molt is feed withdrawal for a period of several days. It has been noted that feed withdrawal, while effective in inducing molt and allowing an adequate reproductive rest period for the hen, may cause deleterious effects on the animal. This has prompted the investigation of alternatives to feed deprivation for the induction of molt in commercial laying hens. This study involved feeding alfalfa to hens to assess its ability to induce molt. Results show that alfalfa meal and alfalfa pelleted diets were equally effective as feed withdrawal in causing ovary weight regression in birds. Molted hens induced by alfalfa diets exhibited postmolt levels of egg production over a twelve week period that were similar to that of hens molted by feed withdrawal. The postmolt eggs laid by hens molted by alfalfa were of comparable quality to eggs from feed deprived hens. Alfalfa, a fibrous feed with low metabolizable energy, may be provided to hens on an ad libitum basis for an effective molt induction that retains comparable egg quality and production.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Effects of reducing dietary protein, methionine, choline, folic acid, and vitamin B12 during the late stages of the egg production cycle on performance and eggshell quality.

A series of four experiments was conducted to determine whether-shell quality during the late stages of egg production can be improved by using diets that are effective in reducing egg size. The experiments involved dietary manipulation of protein, methionine, choline, folic acid, and vitamin B12. In experiment 1, reducing dietary protein in combination of reducing the dietary methionine and choline or this diet without supplemental folic acid and vitamin B12 resulted in reduced egg weight and improved shell quality. However, egg production also was drastically reduced. In experiment 2, reducing the dietary level of methionine, without adding supplemental choline, folic acid, and vitamin B12 reduced egg size and improved shell quality, but egg production was reduced as well. In this experiment reducing the dietary methionine without supplemental folic acid and vitamin B12 reduced egg size and improved shell quality with no adverse effect on egg production. In experiment 3, reducing the dietary level of methionine and choline or reducing the dietary level of choline, folic acid, and vitamin B12 reduced egg size and improved shell quality without adverse effects on egg production. On the other hand, reducing dietary methionine, folic acid, vitamin B12, and supplemental choline reduced egg weight and improved shell quality but lowered egg production. In experiment 4, reducing dietary methionine together with reducing choline and vitamin B12 reduced egg size and improved shell quality with no adverse effect on egg production. The results of this series of experiments generally indicate that certain manipulations of the combination of methionine, choline, folic acid, and vitamin B12 have the potential to reduce egg weight and improve shell quality without affecting egg production during the latter stages of the egg production cycle.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of bacteriological qualities of various egg yolk sources and the in vitro and in vivo fertilizing potential of bovine semen frozen in egg yolk or lecithin based diluents.

The addition of components of animal origin (egg yolk, milk) to most commercial diluents used to freeze bull semen represents a potential risk of contamination of the doses with bacteria or mycoplasma. A series of quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed to detect microbiological contamination observed in Biociphos plus (a new lecithin-glycerol based freezing salt buffer), in an egg yolk diluent (Triladyl) or in an egg yolk + milk-based (Laiciphos) diluent of bull semen. The 2 diluents containing animal products showed moderate (10 to 60 CFU/mL) contamination (17/17 samples) with bacteria or mycoplasma, or both, while no contamination was observed in the 6 examined batches of Biociphos plus. Biociphos plus was also compared with another commercial diluent (Laiciphos) for use in freezing bull semen intended for in vitro and/or in vivo fertilization. No difference (P > 0.05) could be detected between the 2 diluents for in vitro fertility rates (percentage of cleaved zygotes: 85.7% and 88.0%, respectively, for Laiciphos and Biociphos plus). Similarly, 2 series of comparisons conducted in dairy cows artificially inseminated with semen frozen in either Biociphos plus or Laiciphos showed no difference in fertilizing capacity (tested at 60 to 90 d; P > 0.05) irrespective of the age of the bulls (Trial 1, bulls aged 14 to 15 m.o.; Trial 2, bulls aged 2 to 5 yr, field trials). It is concluded that, in addition to maintaining the fertilizing capacity of bull semen at levels comparable to those observed with standard freezing diluent, Biociphos plus also prevents microbiological contamination by bacteria or mycoplasma, both of which are generally present in the various commercially available sources of egg yolk.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Physical and chemical quality of ostrich eggs during the laying season.

1. Fifteen ostrich females were monitored for a full breeding season. At 30, 70, 110, 150 and 210 d from the beginning of laying, one egg per female was taken to the laboratory to assess its physical and nutritive characteristics. 2. The average length was 15.4 cm, while the width was 12.9 cm. Average shell thickness ranged from 2.20 mm at the equator to 2.24 mm at the small pole. The three principal components of the egg (albumen, yolk and shell) amounted to 57.1, 23.3 and 19.6%, respectively. None of the above variables, despite showing some significant differences between sampling periods, showed a clear trend linked to the laying season. 3. In contrast, the dry matter of the albumen showed a correlation with the sampling period, increasing from 11-1% in the first period to 12.0% in the last. The crude protein content ranged from 47.7 to 48.2%, the fat from 43.8 to 44.2% and the ash between 5.2 and 5.5% of dry matter. 4. The fatty acid composition of the yolk showed the presence of C18:1 (from 122.0 to 136.4 mg/g), followed by C16:0 (from 40.8 to 46.0 mg/g), C18:0 (from 19.2 to 21.2 mg/g) and C18:2 (from 17.1 to 19.6 mg/g). The content of cholesterol/g of yolk was between 10.6 and 10.9 mg. 5. In conclusion, compared with the hen's egg, the ostrich egg has similar chemical and nutritive characteristics, but a higher unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio and lower cholesterol content.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Eggshell conductance and other functional qualities of ostrich eggs.

Eggshell conductance was measured and eggshell conductance constants were calculated for eggs from ostriches. In addition, egg water, yolk, albumen, shell, and total solids were measured in an effort to determine the maternal investment of ostrich eggs. The results of the study suggest that the optimal incubator humidity for ostrich eggs is less than 25% to allow a 15% loss of initial egg mass during the 45-d incubation period. This low humidity does not preclude increasing humidity during the actual hatching process. In addition, incubation temperatures need to be adjusted to allow a longer development time for the embryo to attain an adequate level of maturity to survive the plateau stage in oxygen consumption or to prevent the use of limited energy of the yolk to survive the anoxia of tucking and internal pipping. The optimal incubation temperature of ostrich eggs appears to be between 36.1 and 36.9 C.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A region on chicken chromosome 2 affects both egg white thinning and egg weight.

We describe the results from genetic dissection of a QTL region on chicken chromosome 2, shown to affect egg weight and quality in an earlier genome scan of an F2 intercross between two divergent egg layer lines. As the 90% confidence intervals for the detected QTL covered tens of centiMorgans, new analyses were needed. The datasets were re-analysed with denser marker intervals to characterise the QTL region. Analysis of a candidate gene from the original QTL region, vimentin, did not support its role in controlling egg white thinning. Even after reanalysis with additional seven markers in the QTL area, the 90% confidence intervals remained large or even increased, suggesting the presence of multiple linked QTL for the traits. A grid search fitting two QTL on chromosome 2 for each trait suggested that there are two distinct QTL areas affecting egg white thinning in both production periods and egg weight in the late production period. The results indicate possible pleiotropic effects of some of the QTL on egg quality and egg weight. However, it was not possible to make a distinction between close linkage versus pleiotropic effects.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Use of a sperm analyzer for evaluating broiler breeder males. 2. Selection of young broiler breeder roosters for the sperm quality index increases fertile egg production.

Previous research has shown that the sperm quality index (SQI) of rooster semen is indicative of overall semen quality. The objectives of the present experiments were to determine the correlation of the SQI with semen characteristics and fertility and to determine if selection of young males for the SQI would improve fertility. In Experiment 1 semen was collected from 35 Peterson males and was analyzed individually for sperm concentration and viability. To determine fertility, 100 microL of diluted semen was inseminated into 10 hens for each rooster. Positive correlations of the SQI with total and live sperm concentrations as well as fertility were found. A negative correlation of the SQI with the percentage of dead sperm was observed. In Experiment 2, four semen samples were collected at 2- to 3-d intervals from each of 142, 27-wk-old Peterson roosters to determine their SQI. Males were then allocated to six treatment groups based on their average SQI readings as follows: 0 to 150, 151 to 200, 201 to 250, 251 to 300, 301 to 350, and >350. For each SQI group, semen was collected weekly for 8 wk, pooled, and used at a rate of 50 microL/hen to inseminate 40 hens. The percentage of fertilized eggs increased linearly across the SQI groups, from a minimum of 65% for the 0 to 150 SQI group to a maximum of 98% for the >350 SQI group. The SQI groups of 301 to 350 and >350 produced the slowest decline in fertility over days postinsemination. Therefore, selection of males for the SQI at an early age appears to improve flock fertility.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of bisphenol A on maturation and quality of semen and eggs in the brown trout, Salmo trutta f. fario.

In the present study male and female brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of bisphenol A (1.75, 2.40, 5.00 microg l(-1)) during the late prespawning and spawning period and the effect of this contaminant on maturation, quantity and quality of semen and eggs was investigated. In males exposed to estimated BPA concentrations of 1.75 and 2.40 microg l(-1) semen quality was lower than in the control in the beginning of spawning (reduced sperm density, motility rate, and swimming velocity) and in the middle of spawning (reduced swimming velocity, at 2.40 microg l(-1) BPA also reduced sperm motility rate). Therefore, production of high quality semen was restricted to the end of the spawning season and delayed for approximately 4 weeks in comparison to the control. At BPA exposure levels of 5.00 microg l(-1) only one of eight males gave semen of low quality (reduced semen mass, motility rate, and swimming velocity). The percentage of ovulated females was similar for the control group and the groups exposed to estimated BPA concentrations of 1.75 and 2.40 microg l(-1), whereas at 5.00 microg l(-1) BPA females did not ovulate during the investigation. While brown trout of the control group ovulated between the 28 October and 12 November, brown trout exposed to estimated BPA concentrations of 1.75 microg l(-1) BPA ovulated approximately 2 weeks later and brown trout exposed to 2.40 microg l(-1) BPA approximately 3 weeks later. Therefore, the tested BPA concentrations affected the percentage of ovulated females and the time point of ovulation. No effect was observed on the quality of eggs (egg mass, percentile mass increase during hardening, egg fertility).

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on the quality characteristics of chicken eggs during refrigerated storage.

Twenty-four, 79-wk-old White Leghorn hens were assigned randomly to three diets containing 0, 2.5, or 5.0% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The diets were fed for 4 wk to determine the effect of dietary CLA on quality characteristics of eggs. Eggs were collected daily and stored at 4 C for 1, 7, 21, or 49 d. At the designated times, the eggs were processed to evaluate water content, fatty acid composition, color, proportions and pH of yolk and albumen. Firmness of yolk after the eggs were hard-cooked was also determined. The proportions of myristic, palmitic, stearic, CLA (9-cis, 11-trans CLA and 10-trans, 12-cis CLA isomers), and unidentified fatty acids in egg yolk lipids were increased as dietary CLA increased, but those of palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acid were decreased. Duration of refrigeration increased the proportion of egg yolk but decreased the contents of albumen and yolk lipids after 21 d or longer of storage. Egg yolk pH increased as refrigeration time increased, regardless of dietary treatment, but the increase was greater in the eggs produced by hens fed the CLA diets. Albumen pH increased significantly after 7 d of storage but remained unchanged until 21 d and then decreased by 49 d. Dietary CLA had no effect on the pH of albumen until 49 d of storage. After 49 d storage, egg albumen pH from hens fed CLA diets was lower than that of albumen from hens fed the control diet. Yolk color was not influenced by the dietary CLA and storage, but the egg yolk surface from hens fed CLA diets sometimes had relatively dark color with light spots. Dietary CLA and storage of CLA eggs increased the firmness of hard-cooked egg yolk. The texture of yolks from hard-cooked CLA eggs was rubbery and elastic, and the yolks were more difficult to break using an Instron. It was speculated that the quality changes of CLA eggs were related to the increase of yolk water content, the movement of ions between yolk and albumen through yolk membrane, and the changes of egg yolk pH during storage.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1987

Effect of presence or absence of the opposite sex on egg production and semen quality of breeder turkeys.

The effect of the presence or absence of the opposite sex on egg production and semen quality of breeder turkeys was evaluated. Ninety-six female and 36 male Medium White turkeys were used in this study. Two males were released, individually, into each of eight pens of females for 15 min each day, 5 days/wk. Two males in each of four pens of females were physically isolated in wire-enclosed cages in full view of the females. Males assigned to the remaining four pens of females were placed in isolated pens so they were physically, visually, and vocally separated from the females. Egg production was significantly higher for females under natural mating conditions than for females visually exposed to males in holding pens or for females completely isolated from males. Females visually exposed to, but not in contact with males, laid more eggs than those completely isolated from males during the 13th through the 18th week of production. Semen volume and semen concentration was significantly lower, and the percentage normal sperm was higher for males mating naturally than for those maintained in the presence of or completely isolated from females. Semen concentration was highest in isolated males.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effects of PCBs, DDT, and mercury compounds upon egg production, hatchability and shell quality in chickens and Japanese quail.

Dietary polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and related compounds, in well controlled experiments, produced no detrimental effects upon egg shell quality in Single Comb White Leghorm chickens or in Japanese quail. PCBs caused some decrease in egg production and a drastic reduction in hatchability in chickens, but not in Japanese quail. Inorganic mercury as HgSO4 or HgCl2, at dietary levels up to 200 p.p.m. of Hg, had only small effects, if any, upon egg production, hatchability, shell quality, morbidity and mortality. However, methyl mercury chloride at levels which provided 10 or 20 mg. of Hg per kg. of diet caused severe effects upon egg weight, egg production, fertility, hatchability, egg shell strength, morbidity and mortality. The results of these experiments demonstrate that the decrease in egg shell quality which has occurred in eggs of White Leghorn hens over the past three decades is not due to contamination of commercial feeds with DDT or its derivatives, or with PCBs. The extent to which environmental contamination with methyl mercury is responsible for decreased egg shell strength in commercial laying hens, and possible synergistic relationships between methyl mercury, DDT, DDE and PCBs in reducing egg production, hatchability and shell strength, remain to be determined.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

Relationship of parents' age, hatching egg weight, and shell quality to day-old chick weight as influenced by oviposition time.

This study was conducted with 840 eggs from commercial breeder hens to determine relationship of parents' age, egg weight, and to oviposition time and shell quality and day-old chick weight. Results indicate that eggs laid in the afternoon were significantly smaller with significantly better shell quality than those laid in the morning (64.1 vs. 64.5 g and specific gravity of 1.077 vs. 1.074, respectively). Also, chicks from afternoon eggs tended to weigh significantly less than those from morning eggs. However, the egg weight: chick weight ratio was not significantly affected by oviposition time; it was the same for morning and afternoon eggs (70.7 vs. 70.1%). The linear relationships between egg weight, age, and chick weight or between egg weight and chick weight were strong (R2 = .78 to .91), but the associations between specific gravity and chick weight were weaker (R2 = .28 to .24). It was possible to use both parents' age and egg weight or egg weight alone to predict chick weight for chicks hatched from morning and afternoon eggs.

Aging↗