This study investigated the effects of Fe-soy proteinate (Fe-SP) and magnesium oxide (MgO) dietary supplements on eggshell quality in laying hens. A total of 800 26-wk-old Hy-Line Brown hens were assigned to four dietary treatments: control (C), Fe-SP 100 (100 ppm Fe-soy proteinate), MgO (3 g MgO/kg diet), and Fe-SP 100+MgO. Each treatment had five replicates of 40 hens. The FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) spectra of Fe-soy proteinate were different from those of FeSO 4 and soy digest. There were no significant differences among treatments in hen-day egg production, hen-house egg production, broken and soft egg rate, feed intake, or feed conversion. The MgO and Fe-SP 100+MgO treatments showed significantly (p<0.05) higher egg weights than the control group. Eggshell strength and thickness were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the MgO supplemented groups. The lightness and yellowness of the eggshells decreased, and the redness increased significantly in the Fe-SP treated groups. There were no significant differences among treatments in leukocyte level, but hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were higher with Fe-SP treatments. In conclusion, supplementation with Fe-SP significantly affects eggshell color and hemoglobin concentration, whereas MgO supplementation increases eggshell strength and thickness. Egg weight and egg shell quality can be improved by supplementation of 100 ppm Fe in the form of Fe-SP and 3 g MgO/kg diet.

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A broiler experiment was conducted to compare the effects of duration and level of iron-methionine chelate (Fe-Met) supplementation on the iron, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) content of broiler meat. Two hundred and fifty hatched Ross broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 5 replicates of 10 birds (5 males and 5 females) each. Birds were housed in raised floor batteries and fed traditional broiler diets ad libitum for 5 weeks. Dietary treatments were as follows: Control and two levels of Fe-Met (100 or 200 ppm in Fe) supplemented for either the whole period (0-5 wk) or grower period (4-5 wk). Production performance was not significantly affected by treatments. Iron content in the muscles (breast, leg and wing) and organs (liver and spleen) were significantly (p<0.05) increased as the level and duration of Fe-Met supplementation increased. The highest concentration of iron was shown in Fe-Met 200 fed for the whole period. Liver contained the highest amount of iron followed by spleen, leg muscle, wing muscle and breast muscle. Supplementation of Fe-Met 200 for the grower period resulted in higher iron concentration in liver and spleen than supplementation of Fe-Met 100 for the whole period. However, the same treatment resulted in lower iron concentration in muscles (breast, leg and wing) than the treatment of Fe-Met 100 for the whole period. In order to achieve the highest iron enrichment in the muscles, Fe-Met should be supplemented at 200 ppm in Fe for the whole period (5 wks). Fe-Met supplementation increased copper concentration in all muscles and organs except wing muscle. Zinc concentration decreased in breast and wing muscle but tended to increase in leg muscle, liver and spleen by Fe-Met 200 supplementation. Color of muscle was not significantly affected by Fe-Met treatments. However, redness of leg and breast muscle, and yellowness of leg and breast muscle tended to increase by supplementation of Fe-Met for the whole period. It was concluded that iron content of broiler meat can be effectively enriched by supplementation of 200 ppm of Fe as Fe-Met for 5 wks.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on the performance, immune response and small intestinal microflora in laying hens. A total of 960 Hy-Line Brown Ⓡ laying hens of 27 wks old, housed in 2 bird cages, were assigned in a completely randomized block design into one of the following 6 dietary treatments: control, antibiotic (6 ppm avilamycine), 0.025% MOS, 0.05% MOS, 0.25% FOS, and 0.5% FOS. Each treatment had 4 replicates of 40 birds and was fed ad libitum for 6 wks under 16 h lighting regimen. There were significant differences among treatments in hen-day and hen-housed egg production. Hen-day egg production in 0.025% MOS was significantly higher than that of control. Hen-housed egg production in antibiotic-treated group was significantly higher compared with control. Egg weight, feed intake and feed conversion were not significantly different among treatments. Egg shell thickness was highest in 0.25% FOS, but was not significantly different among the rest of treatments. There were no significant differences among treatments in egg shell strength, egg shell color, egg yolk color and Haugh unit. IgG concentrations in serum were not significantly different among treatments. On the other hand, IgA concentrations of the treated birds tended to be increased compared with control. Dietary treatments tended to decrease Cl. perfringens and E. coli, and to increase Lactobacillus spp. The result of this experiment showed that dietary supplementation of MOS and FOS in laying hens tended to improve egg production comparable to the supplementation of antibiotics. The level of serum IgA and small intestinal microflora were also significantly affected by the treatments.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of copper-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) and herbal mixture (HBM) on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and immune response in broiler. A total 1,000 1-d old ROSS 308 (initial BW = 41 ± 0.38 g) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 4 replicates during d 35 of the feeding trial. Dietary included: (1) Control : control diet, (2) Antibiotics : control diet + Avilamycin 6 ppm, (3) Cu-SP : control diet + 100 ppm Cu-soy proteinate, (4) HBM : control diet + 0.15% herbal mixture, (5) Cu-SP+HBM : control diet + 100 ppm Cu-soy proteinate + 0.2% herbal mixture. Two-phase feeding program with a starter diet from d 0 to 21, and a finisher diet from d 22 to 35 was used in the experiment. Within each phase, a diet was formulated to meet or exceed NRC requirements of broilers for macro-and micronutrients. The diet and water were available ad libitum. Result indicated that during d 22 to 35 and over all periods of the experiment, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were greater (P<0.05) for other treatment than control. Significant differences were found in lymphocyte (LY), and stress indicator (HE:LY ratio). Lymphocyte was greater (P<0.05) for Cu-SP + HBM treatment than control. However, stress indicator (HE:LY ratio) were greater (P<0.05) for control than Cu-SP + HBM treatment. The plasma IgG was higher (P<0.05) in the antibiotics, HBM, and Cu-SP+HBM treatments groups compared with control. The population of Clostridium perfringens in the antibiotics, Cu-SP, HBM, Cu-SP + HBM treatment groups were lower (P<0.05) than those control. These result suggested that dietary copper-soy proteinate or herbal mixture may be used as an alternative to antibiotics to improve growth performance, and intestinal health of birds.