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PubMed2001

Egg marketing in national supermarkets: specialty eggs--part 2.

Large eggs promoted as having one or more features beyond conventional white or brown shell eggs (specialty eggs) were evaluated for quality and price in a national retail study. Subtypes of specialty eggs included: nutritionally altered eggs, organic eggs, fertile eggs, eggs from welfare-managed hens, or hens fed all-vegetable diets. Extension Poultry Specialists in California (CA), Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas conducted a survey of egg quality and price and compared 246 dozen specialty eggs with 390 dozen conventional white shell eggs during the summer of 1996. Age of the eggs based on carton dating indicated specialty eggs were older (16.5 d) than white eggs (11.7 d). Average egg weights for specialty compared to white were 60.2 and 59.6 g, respectively. Interior egg quality evaluations including albumen height, Haugh units (HU), and percentage HU <55, indicated white eggs were superior (5.0 mm, 67.5, and 10.6%, respectively) compared to specialty eggs (4.7 mm, 63.8, and 16.3%). Although the percentage of cracked eggs was similar between specialty and white eggs (5.4 and 5.7%), the percentage of leakers was threefold higher for the specialty eggs (1.0 vs. 0.3%). Egg price was substantially higher for the specialty eggs, averaging $2.18/dozen with a range from 0.88 to $4.38, compared to white eggs, averaging $1.23/dozen and ranging from 0.39 to $2.35.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1977

Nutritional quality of rice protein compared with whole egg protein.

The nutritional quality of rice protein was compared with that of whole egg protein by slope ratio assay. Diets for each food at four levels of protein, 4, 6, 10 and 15% and a protein-free diet were given to male weanling rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain for 21 days. The slopes of the regression lines of the whole egg and rice groups calculated from the changes of body weight (Y in g/21 days) with nitrogen intake (X in g/21 days), including and (excluding) zero protein group were, respectively, Y=27.39 X-12.26 (Y=24.41 X-1.86) and Y = 13.86 X-8.06 (Y = 12.54 X +0.50). Assuming a potency of 100 for the egg protein, the relative potency of rice estimated from body weight gain with nitrogen intake was 51 (51). The values for rice calculated from body water gain and nitrogen retention with nitrogen intake were, respectively, 51 (47) and 46 (44). These values were compared with RNV of several varieties of conventional rice and high-protein rice.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Correlation of eggshell strength and Salmonella enteritidis contamination of commercial shell eggs.

Shell quality has been identified as a heritable trait that can be manipulated by genetic selection. Previous research has concluded that many methods of determining shell quality produce variable results. With the development of newer, more precise measuring technologies, shell strength can now be assessed in a consistent, objective fashion. A research project was conducted to determine what role shell strength might play in affecting external Salmonella Enteritidis contamination of egg contents. Visibly clean eggs were collected from an in-line shell egg-processing facility at the accumulator. Eggs were inoculated by dipping in a concentrated suspension of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Enteritidis. After storage, eggs were assessed for shell strength and both external and internal Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. In the first study, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in shell strength among the three replicates. No differences between treatments were found for shell strength or Salmonella Enteritidis contamination of contents. In the second study, there were no replicate differences for any of the monitored factors. When rinsate and content samples were enriched, 100% of the rinsates were positive for Salmonella Enteritidis. No content samples were shown to be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis during direct plating, but 3 to 5% of the samples from each replicate were positive after enrichment. Correlation analysis of the results from each study found only weak correlations between shell strength and Salmonella Enteritidis contamination on eggshell surface or contents. Within the range of shell strengths recorded in this study, the correlation analysis suggests that shell strength does not play a major role in Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. Further work with eggs that represent a greater range of shell strengths could provide a clearer indication of the interaction of shell strength and Salmonella Enteritidis contamination.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Factors affecting broiler breeder performance. 5. Effects of preproduction feeding regimens on reproductive performance.

Three preproduction feeding regimens were used to determine their effects on reproductive performance of broiler breeder females. Three hundred 16-week-old Arbor Acre females were divided into three treatment groups. Treatment 1 was placed on full feed at 17 weeks of age and remained on this schedule for 5 weeks. At 22 weeks of age they were placed on a diet consisting of 136 g of feed per bird per day and remained on this schedule until the experiment was terminated at 60 weeks of age. Treatments 2 and 3 reached peak feed intake at 26 and 30 weeks of age, respectively. Age at maturity, eggs per hen housed, and feed conversion were significantly affected by preproduction feeding regimens. Treatment 1 matured significantly earlier than Treatments 2 and 3; however, feed conversion was significantly higher (grams of feed per egg) than in Treatments 2 and 3. In general, shell quality; and egg weights were lower in Treatment 1 than in Treatments 2 and 3 throughout most of the experiment. There were no differences in shell quality or egg weights between Treatments 2 or 3. There was a significant difference in egg production among all treatments at the 60-week production period, Treatment 1 being the lowest and Treatment 3 being the highest.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Low cholesterol egg powder. Nutritive and quality characteristics of the product].

The purpose of this study is to obtain a low cholesterol egg powder for the preparation of different foods for persons whose egg consumption is restricted. Egg white and yolk mixtures prepared in different proportions were dehydrated; the following dried mixtures were obtained: A (1:1), B (2:1) and C (3:1) of egg white:yolk respectively. These mixtures were evaluated using the following parameters: proximal analysis, microbiological assay and protein quality evaluation. Physical characteristics of the powder and the sensorial tests of foods prepared with these mixtures were carried out. The fat and the cholesterol content in the mixture C were decreased by 40% and 20% respectively. The microbiological tests showed that the three mixtures were safe for human consumption. The PER of sample A (whole egg) was 3.65 and for the mixture C 3:1 egg white:yolk was 3.05. The PER of the 50:50 protein mixtures eggs white and yolk: with corn lime treated flour (HMN) were higher than that of the casein standard. The sensorial tests of the foods prepared with all the mixtures were acceptable.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1994

Effects of dietary thiouracil on thyroid activity, egg production, and eggshell quality in commercial layers.

The effects of thyroid suppression induced during the rearing period by providing various dietary thiouracil (TU) regimens on plasma thyroxine (T4) concentrations, growth, and subsequent egg production (EP) and eggshell quality were determined in Single Comb White Leghorn chickens. Thiouracil was provided in the feed at levels of 0, .1, and .2% from 0 to 6 wk of age in Experiment 1, and at levels of 0, .05, and .1% from 6 to 16 wk of age in Experiment 2. In both experiments, T4 concentrations were reduced during TU treatment. However, T4 later became elevated at 12 and 20 wk in both dosage level groups in Experiment 1. Additionally, BW and egg weights were suppressed by both TU treatments, and EP was reduced up to Week 23 in the .1% TU-treated birds and through Week 25 in the .2% TU-treated birds. No effects on EP were noted in Experiment 2, but feed consumption (FC) was reduced during Week 6 in birds fed .05% TU and during Weeks 6, 10, and 19 in birds fed .1% TU. Both liver and thyroid weights were increased in .1% TU-treated birds relative to controls at Week 16. Eggshell quality was affected only in Experiment 2, in which birds given .05% TU had a higher relative conductance, or maximum rate of water loss, at Week 38 than 0 and .1% TU dosage levels, and .1% TU-treated birds had a higher breaking strength than 0 and .05% TU-treated birds at Week 22.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

Toxicity of a vitamin D steroid to laying hens.

Two experiments were conducted with 56-week-old or 104-week-old Leghorn hens to determine if feeding vitamin D steroids in excess of requirement levels caused any marked affects on eggshell quality. In the first experiment caged hens had reduced feed consumption, egg shell quality, and egg production as early as 6 weeks after initially consuming a basal diet supplemented with 6.8 micrograms 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1 alpha-OH-D3)/kg. The second experiment confirmed the previous results and showed that extensive weight loss occurred with continued feeding of 10 or 15 micrograms 1 alpha-OH-D3/kg diet. No adverse affects were observed in either experiment when the level of 1 alpha-OH-D3 supplementation was 5.0 micrograms/kg diet or less. No toxic effects were observed when the hormone precursor 25-OH-D3 was supplemented to diets at 6 or 12 micrograms/kg. It is suggested that the pathological effects observed are related to the potent calcium homeostatic properties of 1 alpha-OH-D3 that at elevated levels may cause aberrations in circulating calcium.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of dwarf and normal broiler breeder hens.

Two strains of dwarf and two of normal broiler breeder hens were compared during the laying period for the following production parameters: egg number, hen-day and hen-housed egg production, mortality, feed consumption, egg weight, egg shell quality, hatchability, and fertility. Though the dwarf hens matured earlier, the number of eggs produced during the laying period did not differ (P less than .05) from that of the normal hens. The dwarf hens consumed 25.6% less feed per dozen eggs but produced smaller eggs. Mortality was higher for the dwarf hens during the laying period than for normal hens. The normal hens had an advantage over the dwarf hens in percent hatchability of all eggs set and percent fertility, but the percent hatchability of fertile eggs did not differ between the two genetic groups. No differences were found in egg shell quality of the two groups of chickens.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Nutritive and economic values of high oil corn in layer diet.

Two layer feeding trials were conducted to demonstrate the nutritive and economic values of recently developed high oil corn (HOC) in Korea. A corn-soybean meal-based commercial layer diet was chosen as the control diet. The yellow dent corn in the control diet was replaced with HOC to give an isocaloric diet, or replaced with HOC on a 1:1 basis to give a high energy diet. In Trial 1, 510 23-wk-old ISA Brown layers were allotted to three dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment. In Trial 2, 600 38-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were allotted to three dietary treatments, again with five replicates per treatment. Both trials were conducted for 15 wk. To measure the ME values of typical corn and HOC, two metabolism trials were performed with layers and adult roosters. The HOC used in this trial contained approximately 94% higher crude fat (6.60% as-fed basis) compared with typical corns. The gross energy, AMEn, and TME values of HOC, are 5.7 to 7.7% higher than those of typical corns, indicating that the energy use of each corn were similar. Oil from the HOC contains 6.5 to 8.3% more oleic acid and 6 to 7% less linoleic acid than oil from typical corns. HOC feeding, on an isocaloric basis or on 1:1 replacement with typical corn, did not exert any effect on various laying performances, including the physical quality of egg. This result reflects the quality of the commercial diet chosen as the control diet, which was already fairly good, such that the performance was already maximal. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content in yolk from hens fed HOC was higher than that from hens fed typical corns, reflecting higher linoleic acid content in the HOC. HOC feeding decreased the saturated fatty acid content in the yolk, due primarily to decreased palmitic acid. If used alone replacing typical corn completely in a layer diet, the acceptance price of HOC was estimated to be 154 won/kg when the price of typical corn was 131 won/kg (118:100). When both corns were allowed to be used, the acceptance price of HOC increased to 184 won/kg (140:100), indicating that a lot cheaper layer diet can be formulated when both HOC and typical corn are used in laying hen diet formulation.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

Temporal changes in gene expression in the liver of male plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in response to exposure to ethynyl oestradiol analysed by macroarray and Real-Time PCR.

Suppression subtractive hybridisation (SSH) was used to generate cDNA libraries representing genes differentially-expressed in liver from male plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) exposed to ethynyl oestradiol (EE2). BLAST analysis and alignments of the clones with database sequence suggested at least three vitellogenin (VTG) genes and three zona radiata protein (ZRP) genes were represented. Clones with unique sequence (62 up-, 13 down-regulated) were arrayed as probes on nylon membranes to investigate temporal expression of oestrogen-responsive genes in experimental animals. Arrays were hybridised with radiolabelled cDNAs prepared from hepatic mRNA from animals treated with EE2 for various times upto 21 days and from treated animals transferred to clean water for upto a further 31 days. By day 21 of treatment 11 out of 17 probes from unidentified genes, 21/22 VTG, 13/14 ZRP, 2/2 liver aspartic proteinase (LAP) and 8/10 other gene sequences were induced by EE2 exposure. Of the down-regulated sequences, only three showed significant, decreased expression and these encode cytochrome b and two with cryptic functions. Based on the pattern of temporal response the up-regulated probes fell into two classes. Pattern A reached maximum expression by day 16 of exposure and then declined prior to removal of EE2 at 21 days. Pattern B genes reached maximal expression between day 16 and 22, declining only after removal of EE2. Independent investigation of the expression patterns of selected probes using quantitative Real-Time PCR reproduced the distinctive patterns. The results indicate a previously unrecognised mechanism for oestrogenic toxicity in which there is a selective down-regulation of some egg proteins, potentially diminishing the quality of eggs and this may contribute to reproductive failure described elsewhere.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Relating quality characteristics of aged eggs and fresh eggs to vitelline membrane strength as determined by a texture analyzer.

The TA-XT21 texture analyzer (TA) was used to evaluate vitelline membrane strength (VMS). Fresh and aged (1 wk at 25 C) eggs (n = 48 eggs x 2 replications) were evaluated. Fresh and aged eggs were further divided into two groups of yolk only or whole egg (with intact albumen). Yolk index, Haugh units, pH, broken-out egg weights, VMS, yolk viscosity, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were evaluated. Results from the TA indicated a decrease in VMS in aged eggs compared to fresh eggs and in yolk-only eggs compared to whole eggs. The SEM images indicated a loss of structural integrity in aged eggs as compared to fresh eggs. As expected, aged eggs also had higher albumen and yolk pH, lower Haugh units, lower yolk index, and decreased viscosity compared to fresh eggs. There were no differences in broken-out egg weights or whole egg pH between fresh and aged eggs. As the yolk membrane strength increased, yolk index (r = 0.59) and Haugh units (r = 0.56) decreased, and yolk pH (r = -0.64) and albumen pH (r = -0.57) increased. The study suggests that the TA combined with the modified extrusion cell may be effective in determining VMS. In addition, yolk index, Haugh units, and yolk and albumen pH may be used to predict changes in VMS.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of avian infectious bronchitis virus (Arkansas strain) on vaccinated laying chickens.

Twenty-four-week-old white leghorn layers were inoculated subcutaneously with a killed Newcastle-infectious bronchitis (Massachusetts type) virus (MIBV) vaccine. The birds were challenged 194 days later intraocularly with Arkansas strain of infectious bronchitis virus (AIBV). The challenged hens laid significantly (P less than 0.005) fewer eggs than the unchallenged layers, and the eggs laid by the challenged groups weighed significantly less (P less than 0.001) than those laid by the unchallenged groups. Further, the internal quality (Haugh units) and shell quality of eggs laid by the challenged hens were significantly (P less than 0.005) inferior to the quality of eggs from unchallenged hens, and the challenged hens laid more soft-shelled, misshapen, and small-sized eggs than the unchallenged hens. The Arkansas serum hemagglutination-inhibition (AIBV-HI) titers of challenged birds increased continuously through 29 days post-challenge. The MIBV hemagglutination-inhibition (MIBV-HI) titers of killed-MIBV-vaccinated birds decreased during the same period. The study indicates that killed MIBV vaccine offered no protection to birds exposed to AIBV. The same vaccine was quite effective against a homologous (MIBV) virus challenge.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effects of diet composition on vanadium toxicity in laying hens.

Vanadium added to laying rations as NH4 VO3, VOCl2 or VOSO4 at levels of 20 to 80 ppm resulted in a rapid and substantial reduction in albumen quality as measured by Haugh units. Dietary vanadium also resulted in reduced egg production, egg weight, body weight, feed consumption, and poorer shell quality as measured by specific gravity. Ascorbic acid at .4 to .5% effectively protected the hen from the reduction in albumen quality, egg production, and body weight for up to 40 ppm vanadium, but not the reduction of egg weight. Replacement of soybean meal by 20% dietary cottonseed meal also protected the hen from the reduction in albumen quality, egg production, and body weight for up to 40 ppm vanadium. Added at levels of 4 to 8 times the molecular concentration of vanadium, EDTA had no consistent effect on vanadium toxicity. Dehydrated grass, at levels of 6 to 12%, maintained egg production but had no effects on the reduction in albumen quality caused by 40 ppm vanadium. Replacement of soybean meal with herring fish meal and part of the grain with sucrose intensified the depression of albumen quality, egg production, and loss of body weight caused by added vanadium. Neither varying dietary protein levels from 12 to 25% using soybean meal nor the addition of 20 ppm chromium had any effect on the toxicity of added vanadium. It appears that vanadium expresses its toxicity in laying hens by several routes since the protective effects of different dietary changes and additives differentially affected the loss of albumen quality, egg production, body weight, and egg weight.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

Influence of increasing dietary calcium and magnesium levels on performance, mineral metabolism, and egg mineral content of laying hens.

The effects of increasing dietary magnesium level from .17 to .77% and calcium level from 3 to 4.2% for laying hens over a 7-week period was investigated. Increasing either dietary magnesium or calcium level had no significant effect (P greater than .05) on feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, or egg shell deformation. Increasing dietary magnesium level had no significant effect on calcium retention, although there was a significant (P less than .01) reduction in the percentage of magnesium retained. Egg shell calcium content was significantly (P less than .01) reduced and shell magnesium significantly (P less than .05) increased in response to increase in dietary magnesium content. Increasing dietary magnesium level also significantly (P less than .01) reduced bone calcium and zinc contents while concomitantly increasing bone magnesium levels. Bone ash and calcium were significantly (P less than .05) increased and bone magnesium reduced when the calcium content of the diet was increased. Plasma calcium was significantly (P less than .01) increased in dietary calcium level and significantly decreased with increased dietary magnesium. The converse was true for plasma magnesium in response to increases in dietary calcium and magnesium. Significant positive correlations were observed between mineral contents of diet and bone, bone and plasma, and plasma and shell. A negative correlation was observed between shell magnesium level and egg shell quality as assessed by deformation. An antagonistic relationship seems to exist between calcium and magnesium, and this is discussed in relation to skeletal integrity and egg shell quality.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Effects of different short-term dietary phosphorus levels on egg specific gravity and blood phosphorus of hens.

In the first 2 experiments, laying hens were fed a diet containing .30% phosphorus for a preliminary period of 3 days. At the beginning of the experimental period, hens were fed .30, .75, or 1.40% phosphorus with 3.50% calcium. Another group of hens was fed .75% phosphorus and 1.40% calcium. Specific gravity of the eggs and blood serum inorganic phosphorus were determined and compared with those from control hens continuously fed a diet containing .75% phosphorus and 3.50% calcium. Both high phosphorus and/or low calcium decreased the specific gravity of eggs and increased the serum phosphorus level. In experiment 2, hens were fed different levels of phosphorus at different times of the day. Birds receiving 1.40% phosphorus between 0700 and 0930 hr and .30% phosphorus between 0930 and 2000 hr (Treatment 2) laid eggs with higher specific gravity than hens fed .30% phosphorus between 0700 and 0930 hr and 1.40% phosphorus between 0930 and 2000 hr (Treatment 3). there was no further improvement in egg shell quality over that from hens fed .75% phosphorus for both time periods (0700 to 2000 hr). In both experiments it was apparent that the dietary phosphorus level affected egg shell quality.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Adverse effect of dietary vanadium, contributed by dicalcium phosphate, on albumen quality.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary vanadium (V) on egg albumen quality. In Experiment 1, White Leghorn hens fed 9.9 ppm V supplied from a commercial dicalcium phosphate (Dical B at 1.5% of the diet) or a diet containing 29.9 ppm V (28.5 ppm from ammonium vanadate and 1.4 ppm from Dical A) produced eggs with significantly poorer albumen quality (61.7 and 61.6 Haugh units, respectively) than those of hens fed 1.4 ppm V from Dical A (76.9 Haugh units). The decline in albumen quality occurred within 1 week of treatment and persisted through 4 weeks of V feeding. Inclusion of 28.5 ppm V as ammonium vanadate also reduced egg production and feed consumption but had no significant effect on egg weight or change in body weight during the 4-week test period. At the end of 4 weeks, all hens were fed the 1.4-ppm V diet. Improvement in albumen quality was observed within 1 week, and after 4 weeks of the recovery period, no significant differences among treatment groups were observed. Part 1 of Experiment 2 showed that albumen quality was significantly reduced by 6.0 and 7.9 ppm V, supplied from Dical B, but 2.0 or 4.0 ppm V did not significantly change albumen quality during a 4-week trial. In Part 2 of Experiment 2, the inclusion of 9.9 ppm V from Dical B again significantly reduced albumen quality within 1 week. The magnitudes of adverse effects of 6.0, 7.9, and 9.9 ppm V on albumen quality plateaued approximately 4 weeks after treatment began and remained relatively constant through 6 weeks of feeding 9.9 ppm V and through 10 weeks of feeding 6.0 or 7.9 ppm V. The results demonstrate that certain commercial dicalcium phosphates may contribute excessive V to the diet of hens, and, when present at levels of 6.0 ppm or more, V will adversely affect albumen quality.

Animals↗