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PubMed2004

Effect of lighted incubation on embryonic growth and hatchability performance of two strains of layer breeder eggs.

1. Eggs from two layer-type breeder flocks (ISA-W vs Leghorn) between 30 and 45 weeks of age were used in 4 trials to study the effects of lighted incubation on embryonic growth from 5 to 18 d of age and hatchability per cent (HP). The physical dimensions, eggshell characteristics and conductance (EC) of eggs of the two strains were compared. 2. Eggs were set in an incubator on trays either in the dark-control or under two tubes of 20-watt white fluorescent light during the first 18 d of incubation. The light intensity ranged from 1230 to 1790 lux at the surface of the eggs. Eggs were transferred to dark hatching compartments at d 19 of incubation. 3. The genetic make-up of birds influenced the physical dimensions and eggshell characteristics of eggs. ISA-W eggs had higher weight, surface area (ESA), volume (EV), width, EC, shell volume and HP, and lower ESA:EV ratio, per cent shell, shell density and dead embryos than those of Leghorn eggs. 4. Lighted incubation increased daily embryonic growth (mg/d) and HP by 3.9 and 5.9%, respectively, when compared with the dark-control incubation. 5. The physical dimensions and eggshell characteristics of eggs influenced the effects of lighted incubation on embryonic growth and HP. Lighted incubation increased embryonic growth and HP of ISA-W eggs. The increase in embryonic growth and HP of the Leghorn eggs was not significant. 6. The genetic make-up of birds influenced the physical dimensions and eggshell characteristics of their eggs and these differences in the characteristics of hatching eggs influenced embryonic growth and HP when incubated under light.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Variations in external and internal microbial populations in shell eggs during extended storage.

The current project was conducted to determine the microbial quality of commercially processed shell eggs during extended storage. Unwashed eggs were collected at the accumulator before entering the processing line. Washed eggs were retrieved after placement in flats. All eggs were stored on pulp flats at 4 degrees C for 10 weeks. Twelve eggs from each treatment were rinsed on the day of collection and during each week of storage. After rinsing, eggs were sanitized in ethanol, and contents were aseptically collected. Total aerobes, yeasts and molds, Enterobacteriaceae, and pseudomonads were enumerated from shell rinses and pooled egg contents. During storage, no differences were found between unwashed and washed eggs for Enterobacteriaceae and pseudomonads in either shell rinses or contents. No differences were found between treatments for population levels of total aerobes or yeasts and molds in the egg contents throughout the storage period. Significant differences between treatments were found at each week of storage for external shell contamination by total aerobes. The highest unwashed egg contamination occurred at week 8 of storage and the lowest was at weeks 0 and 1 of storage. The highest shell contamination with aerobic bacteria on the washed eggs was found at week 0 of storage and the lowest was at week 7. Yeast and mold contamination determined by shell rinses was also significantly different between treatments at each week of storage. Commercially washed eggs were significantly less contaminated than were unwashed eggs for the populations monitored.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Detection of salmonellae in hen eggs in Thailand.

Two thousand four hundred and ninety eggs were collected from retail markets in 6 provinces and from laying hen farms in 3 provinces. Eggs were pooled in groups of 3 to obtain 830 samples for testing. Isolation of salmonellae was made from both egg shell and egg contents. Eggs from retail markets were contaminated with salmonellae on egg shells (13.2%) and in egg contents (3.9%). Three (0.4%) samples yield positive both on egg shells and in egg contents. Of the 86 samples from laying hen farms, salmonellae were found on egg shells and in egg contents, 3.5% and 1.2%, respectively. From the 134 strains tested, twenty-four serotypes were confirmed. Salmonella cerro, S. amsterdam and S. typhimurium were predominantly encountered, 4.8%, 4.3% and 1.4%, respectively. Only two samples were contaminated with S. enteritidis, one each from open market and laying hen farm, one on egg shells and the other in egg content respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Embryotoxic thresholds of mercury: estimates from individual mallard eggs.

Eighty pairs of mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos) were fed an uncontaminated diet until each female had laid 15 eggs. After each female had laid her 15th egg, the pair was randomly assigned to a control diet or diets containing 5, 10, or 20 microg/g mercury as methylmercury until she had laid a second set of 15 eggs. There were 20 pairs in each group. After the second set of 15 eggs, the pair was returned to an uncontaminated diet, and the female was permitted to lay another 30 eggs. For those pairs fed the mercury diets, the even-numbered eggs were incubated and the odd-numbered eggs were saved for possible mercury analysis. Mercury in the even-numbered eggs was estimated as the average of what was in the neighboring odd-numbered eggs. Neurological signs of methylmercury poisoning were observed in ducklings that hatched from eggs containing as little as 2.3 microg/g estimated mercury on a wet-weight basis, and deformities were seen in embryos from eggs containing about 1 microg/g estimated mercury. Although embryo mortality was seen in eggs estimated to contain as little as 0.74 microg/g mercury, there were considerable differences in the sensitivity of mallard embryos, especially from different parents, with some embryos surviving as much as 30 or more microg/g mercury in the egg.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Is there a trade-off between fecundity and egg volume in the parasitic copepod Lernanthropus cynoscicola?

Negative relationships between egg number and egg size are commonly seen in many animal taxa, supporting the idea that there is a trade-off between egg number and egg size resulting from the allocation of resources to either one or the other. In parasites, where availability of resources is presumably very high, there may be fewer energetic constraints acting on allocation strategies, and the trade-off may be weakened. We investigated the association between egg number and egg volume among females of the copepod Lernanthropus cynoscicola Timi and Etchegoin, 1996, parasitic on the fish Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier). Both egg number and egg volume were strongly correlated with female body size. After controlling for the effects of body size, we found absolutely no evidence of a trade-off, i.e. no negative relationship, between egg number and egg volume. For a given body length, females that produce many eggs do not tend to produce relatively small eggs, and vice versa. In contrast, under conditions in which resources are plentiful, large females produce large quantities of high-quality eggs, and have a marked fitness advantage over small females.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Potential of alfalfa as an alternative molt induction diet for laying hens: egg quality and consumer acceptability.

Dietary molt induction to initiate additional egg laying cycles in commercial laying hen flocks is a wide spread practice in the United States. Feed deprivation is the most commonly used method but this practice has generated several concerns which has lead to research for viable alternative approaches. From a management standpoint a single ingredient molting diet consisting of high fiber-low energy represents an easily adaptable diet for large laying hen production units. Alfalfa meal is readily available in most commercial locations and possesses many of the desirable properties of an ideal laying hen molt diet. In the current study hens at a commercial laying facility were molted by both alfalfa and feed deprivation. After the hens had reentered post-molt commercial egg production, eggs were examined for egg quality performance. Egg shell strength, albumen height, yolk height, weight, length, and yolk color were all tested using various mechanical techniques. The eggs were also sampled for testing by consumer sensory panels that assessed the desirability of the eggs' color and flavor/texture. Eggs laid by hens molted by alfalfa had a significantly lower (p<0.05) "a*" level of colorimetry. Eggs laid by hens molted with alfalfa also exhibited significantly higher (p<0.05) egg weights and length. In the consumer sensory test, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in color or flavor/texture scores in eggs from either feed deprived or alfalfa molted hens. The consumer sensory and mechanical quality attributes indicates that alfalfa shows promise as an alternative molt induction diet by providing a single diet option for extending egg production into a second egg laying cycle.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1997

Peculiarities of egg allergy in children with bird protein sensitization.

BACKGROUND: Hen's egg is frequently implicated in food allergy in children. Sometimes this allergy is associated with bird protein sensitization. OBJECTIVE: A study was conducted to establish the possible role of bird protein sensitization in the clinical picture and evolution of egg allergy in patients with both egg and bird sensitization. METHODS: Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics and the results of allergic study of 27 patients with both egg and bird allergy were compared with those of a control group of 19 egg-allergic patients without bird protein sensitization. All patients were evaluated clinically each year during the 4 years subsequent to the beginning of the study or until clinical tolerance to egg was achieved. RESULTS: Patients with bird sensitization had more frequent digestive and respiratory symptoms related to egg ingestion compared with the control group. At the end of follow-up. 15% of the bird sensitized patients and 58% of the controls tolerated egg. Egg yolk sensitization was the major sensitization in bird-sensitized patients. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to exclude sensitization to bird proteins in egg-allergic patients, mainly when they show respiratory or digestive symptoms after egg ingestion, the egg allergy persists over a long period of time or egg yolk sensitization is strong.

Allergens↗
PubMed1988

Genetic basis of the increase in egg weight with pullet age in a White Leghorn flock.

1. In a closed White Leghorn flock over a 6-year period the average increase in egg weight from the start of lay to 37 weeks of age was 12.6 g. 2. The heritability of this egg weight increase was estimated at 0.36 +/- 0.06. 3. The genetic correlations of egg weight increase with other characteristics were: age at first egg -0.50, early egg weight -0.51, 37 week egg weight 0.42 and egg production to 273 d 0.44. 4. It is predicted that with unit selection intensity the direct response in egg weight increase will be -1.30 g, with correlated responses in age at first egg of 2.1 d, early egg weight 0.64 g, 37 week egg weight -0.51 g and egg production to 273 d -1.83 eggs.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Inbreeding and inbreeding depression on reproduction and production traits of White Leghorn lines selected for egg production traits.

1. The rate of inbreeding and its effect on reproduction and egg production traits were studied in White Leghorn lines selected for egg production traits. The experiment was carried out for 10 generations in a control line (C) and in lines selected for increased egg number (EN), egg weight (EW) and egg mass (EM). 2. Data were available on reproduction traits, such as percent fertile eggs (PF), percent hatched of fertile eggs (PHF) and percent hatched of total eggs set (PHT), and on egg production traits such as age at 1st egg (AFE), egg number and egg weight. 3. The rate of increase in average inbreeding per generation was 1.50, 1.24, 1.14 and 0.18% for the line EN, EW, EM and C, respectively. The effect of inbreeding on reproduction and production traits was estimated by including the inbreeding coefficient of the hen (Fh), embryo (Fe) and mate (Fs) as a partial linear regression in the model. 4. There was a significant effect of inbreeding on reproduction traits in line EW attributable to the inbreeding of the hen, embryo and mate. No such effect was observed in the other lines. 5. In all lines inbreeding tended to reduce egg number and delay sexual maturity. In general, all lines reacted differently to inbreeding.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Eggs enriched in omega-3 fatty acids and alterations in lipid concentrations in plasma and lipoproteins and in blood pressure.

Effects of dietary eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids on lipid concentrations in plasma and lipoproteins and blood pressure were determined in 11 men and women in two groups. Group 1 consumed four omega-3 eggs per day during the first 4-wk period and four control eggs for the second 4-wk period. Group 2 ate the same number of eggs in the reverse order. Mean plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly increased by control eggs (P less than 0.01) but unchanged by omega-3 eggs. Mean plasma triglyceride concentration was decreased by omega-3 eggs but increased by control eggs. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lowered by omega-3 eggs in group 1 whereas only systolic pressure was significantly decreased on omega-3 eggs in group 2. The control eggs did not change blood pressure. In conclusion, the omega-3 eggs may be more healthful than the control eggs.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Organoleptic evaluation of eggs produced by laying hens fed diets containing graded levels of flaxseed and vitamin E.

Eighteen-week-old laying hens were fed diets containing 0, 10, or 20% ground flaxseed and 10 or 100 IU vitamin E/kg diet, in a factorial arrangement. When birds were 60 wk of age, eggs were collected from various treatments and used in taste panel studies. All studies involved freshly boiled eggs. In Experiment 1, four separate panels were conducted to obtain information on egg aroma, egg flavor, presence of any off-flavor, and overall acceptability of the egg. Pooled data showed a very significant difference among panelists for all attributes tested (P < 0.01) and off-flavors were detected in eggs from hens fed 10 and 20% flaxseed with 10 mg vitamin E/kg. In Experiment 2 panelists were asked to evaluate egg aroma, yolk flavor, and overall acceptability in eggs from birds fed the lowest level of vitamin E with 0 or 10% flaxseed, and birds fed 20% flaxseed and 10 or 100 mg vitamin E/kg. The highest ratings for egg aroma, yolk flavor, and overall acceptability were for the control eggs. There was a significant reduction in overall acceptability as flaxseed concentration increased (P < 0.05) and an interesting and significant (P < 0.05) decline in overall acceptability for birds fed 100 vs 10 IU vitamin E/kg diet in eggs for birds fed 20% flaxseed. In a third study, there was an indication of preference for eggs from birds not fed flaxseed, when the diet contained 10, rather than 100 IU vitamin E/kg diet. These data suggest that high (> 10%) levels of flaxseed used in the bird's diet will result in some decrease in overall egg acceptability as assessed by aroma and flavor. These effects seem to be accentuated by using high levels of vitamin E in the bird's diet.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The effects of supplementation of humate and probiotic on egg production and quality parameters during the late laying period in hens.

This study was designed to investigate whether inclusions of humate and probiotic into diets of hens during the late laying period increases egg production and improves egg quality. Hisex Brown layers (n = 300), 54 wk of age, were fed a control diet, 0.1% humate, 0.2% humate, 0.1% probiotic, or 0.2% probiotic for 75 d. Active ingredients of humate and probiotic were polymeric polyhydroxy acids (humic, fulvic, ulmic, and humatomelanic acids) and bacterial cultures (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus spp.), respectively. Egg production and feed intake were measured daily, and egg weight was measured biweekly. Also, a sample of 12 eggs from each group was collected randomly to determine egg quality every 25 d. The data were analyzed as repeated measures with time as subplot. There were no effects of dietary treatments on feed intake and egg weight. Egg production for hens supplemented with humate and probiotic was not different but was greater than for control hens. Egg production increased linearly and mortality and feed conversion efficiency (weight of feed/weight of eggs) decreased linearly with increasing levels of supplemental humate and probiotic. There were no effects of treatments on egg quality. In conclusion, supplementation of humate and probiotic during the late laying period increased egg production, reduced mortality, and improved feed conversion efficiency but did not improve egg quality.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of forecasting methodologies using egg price as a test case.

Egg price forecasting of shelled eggs is a complex problem. Traditionally, future egg price has been predicted using a combination of regression analysis and experienced-based intuition to build a model, which is then fine-tuned to prevalent market conditions. Even after collecting reliable and expensive data, the subsequent analysis, in many cases, does not produce a high confidence to explain the variations in egg price. In the current project, a different approach using neural networks was used to forecast egg price. A neural network is a mathematical model of an information-processing structure that is loosely based on our present understanding of the working of human brain. An artificial neural network consists of a large number of simple processing elements connected to each other in a network. Urner Barry egg quotes from 1991 to 2002 as well as number of hens, egg storage capacity, and number of eggs placed for hatching from the USDA databases (1993 to 2000) were used to forecast egg price. Regression analysis explained only 37% of the variation in egg price due to the above-mentioned 3 factors. Neural networks, on the other hand, recognize the pattern in previous years' egg prices and then predict the future price more efficiently. The 3 networks used in this research (Ward, back-propagation, and general regression neural networks) fit the forecast line more tightly to the previous year's egg price line than did regression analysis. In the case of general regression neural networks, the R2 value was as high as 60%. Results suggest that neural networks may be a more reliable method of egg price forecasting than simple regression analysis if reliable data are collected and manipulated for such models.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1991

Egg protein sensitization in patients with bird feather allergy.

We have studied the hypersensitivity to hen's egg protein and chicken meat in 25 adults with a previous diagnosis of bronchial asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis due to bird feather sensitization. Seventeen of the 25 reported good tolerance to the ingestion of egg and chicken meat. The skin tests were negative to both antigens in 15 of them, and positive for egg in two. All 17 patients had negative RAST to chicken meat and egg protein. The remaining eight patients had intolerance to egg, and three of them also to chicken meat ingestion; in seven of the eight cases allergic to egg, the alimentary intolerance began after the clinical symptoms of bird feather sensitization. In all eight cases the skin tests were positive to egg yolk, and in five of them also to egg white and chicken meat. These patients evidenced specific serum IgE antibodies to egg yolk, four of them to egg white, and seven to chicken meat. These results demonstrate the high frequency (32%) of the association of sensitization to egg proteins, particularly egg yolk, in a selected population of patients with known allergy to bird feathers, thus suggesting that in some patients feather sensitization could trigger or somehow facilitate the later sensitization to egg yolk proteins.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Genetic correlation and heritabilities for purebred and crossbred performance in poultry egg production traits.

Genetic correlations between purebred and crossbred performance and purebred and crossbred heritabilities were estimated for egg production traits of laying chickens using a multivariate sire model accounting for additive relationships between sires. Two sire lines, denoted lines 1 and 2, were crossed to one dam line to produce crossbred progeny. Records for egg weight, egg specific gravity, and egg number were collected on purebred and crossbred hens. In total, 99 sires in line 1 and 292 sires in line 2 were used in the analysis, each sire producing on average 45 purebred and 105 crossbred daughters. Estimates of purebred heritability in lines 1 and 2 were in range of .54 to .74 for egg number traits, .52 to .91 for egg weight traits, and .41 to .83 for egg specific gravity traits. Estimates of crossbred heritability were .04 to .51 for egg numbers, .23 to .45 for egg weight, and .13 to .31 for egg specific gravity. The sire component in crossbreds differed up to 78% from the sire component in purebreds depending on traits. The estimate of genetic correlation (rpc) between purebred and crossbred performance was .56 to .73 for egg number, .69 to .99 for egg weight, and .72 to .82 for egg specific gravity. Although crossbred parameters were strongly affected by environmental factors, the results tend to agree with the theory that traits with a larger dominance variation and a larger difference between sire components in purebreds and crossbreds show a lower rpc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effects of branched and straight chain amines and azasteroids on blood and egg cholesterol of White Leghorn chickens.

Six branched and straight chain secondary or tertiary amines with chain lengths of 12 to 18 carbons and two azasteroids, 25-aza-5 alpha-cholestane and 25-azacoprostane, were fed to mature White Leghorn hens, and their effectiveness was compared with 20,25-diazacholesterol dihydrochloride (SC-12937), an azasteroid known to lower egg cholesterol. Feed consumption, body weight, egg production, egg and plasma cholesterol and desmosterol, and plasma total lipid were measured. The 6 amines were fed at 200 ppm, and only the C12 branched chain amine N,N,3,711-pentamethyldodecanamine reduced plasma and egg cholesterol with a concomitant increase in desmosterol. After 4 weeks, plasma desmosterol was 0, 13, 60, and 75% of total sterol for control, 200 ppm C12 branched chain amine, 5 ppm diazacholesterol, and 5 ppm azacholestane, respectively. Egg production was severely reduced to 6 and 0% by feeding 5 ppm azacholestane for 2 and 4 weeks, respectively, and to 69 and 36% by feeding 5 ppm diazacholesterol. After 4 weeks egg cholesterol was 79 and 36% of the total sterol for the 200 ppm C12 branched chain amine and 5 ppm diazacholesterol, respectively. Concomitant increases in desmosterol accompanied all reductions in cholesterol. The depletion and repletion rates of egg cholesterol were measured in a subsequent experiment. After 2-1/2 weeks of feeding the test substances, egg cholesterol was reduced with concomitant increases in desmosterol. Egg cholesterol was 100, 71, and 50% of the total egg sterol for control, 200 ppm, and 400 ppm C12 branched chain amine, respectively: 58, 13, and 3% for .1, .5, and 1.0 ppm azacholestane; 28, 29, and 18% for 1, 2.5, and 5 ppm azacholesterol; and 23% for 1 ppm azacoprostane. The experimental diets were then withdrawn, and egg cholesterol repletion was studied biweekly. Egg cholesterol was repleted to 100% of the total sterol after withdrawal times of 2 weeks for C12 branched chain amine, 8 weeks for azacoprpostane, 14 to 16 weeks for diazacholesterol, 10 to 16 weeks for the lower levels of azacholestane, and longer than 16 weeks for 1 ppm azacholestane. The increase in desmosterol accompaning the demonstrated reduction in egg cholesterol, particularly with azasteroids, causes one to question the usefulness of this approach to lower cholesterol.

Amines↗
PubMed1983

The relationship of dietary levels of phosphorus to the production of soft-shelled and shell-less eggs.

The relationship among available levels of dietary phosphorus (.2, .3, and .4%) and the production of soft-shelled (SS) and shell-less (SL) eggs was investigated in 864 White Leghorns of a commercial strain. An 11-month performance profile included hen-day production of hard-shelled (HS), SS, and SL eggs, feed consumption, livability, egg weight, and specific gravity. Percent HS egg production and feed consumption were significantly lower and egg specific gravity was significantly higher among hens consuming the .2% available phosphorus diet when compared to hens consuming the .3 or .4% available phosphorus diets. The level of available phosphorus in this study did not affect significantly hen livability or the production of SS or SL eggs. Five hours (HS egg in uterus) or 15 hr (SL egg in uterus) prior to expected oviposition time, 1 ml of a 200 mM phosphate solution was injected into the brachial vein (i.v.) or the uterus (i.u.) of hens observed to lay consistently HS eggs. Injections i.v. did not alter expected oviposition time when either a HS or SL egg was in the uterus, but i.u. injections induced premature oviposition when a SL egg was in utero. The concentrations of inorganic phosphorus and total calcium in the plasma and uterine fluid of hens that laid a high or low incidence of SS + SL eggs were determined 5 hr after the egg entered the uterus. Uterine fluid inorganic phosphorus and total calcium and plasma inorganic phosphorus levels of the high and low incidence groups were not significantly different. However, plasma total calcium was significantly higher among high incidence SS + SL layers when compared to low incidence SS + SL layers at this time during the ovulatory cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The influence of egg sequence position on fertility, embryo viability, and embryo weight in broiler breeders.

A study was undertaken to determine whether fertility, early embryo viability, and the weight of the egg, shell, and embryo are influenced by the position of an egg in a laying sequence. One hundred and three Indian River broiler breeder hens were housed individually in cages at 21 wk of age. Beginning at 43 wk of age, each hen was inseminated once per week, with 50 microL of fresh undiluted pooled semen from Indian River broiler breeder males. Beginning at 45 wk of age, and for the following 45 days, all eggs laid were collected. Eggs were collected hourly for 8 h after "lights on" and a final daily collection was made 14 h after lights on. Each egg was classified as "first-of-sequence" or "subsequent". Eggs were weighed and placed in a forced-air incubator twice per week. After 168 h of incubation, the eggs were removed from the incubator, weighed and assessed for fertility and embryo viability status. The embryo was also weighed. Shell weight was recorded after 3 to 4 days of air drying. Egg weight was significantly greater in first-of-sequence compared with subsequent eggs. First-of-sequence eggs exhibited significantly smaller Day 7 embryos (on a percentage basis), lower shell weight (on a percentage basis), and significantly less egg weight loss during the 7 day incubation period (absolute and percentage basis) than did subsequent eggs on a sequence. Least squares (LS) means for fertility did not differ significantly between first (87.02%) and subsequent (89.56%) eggs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗