Effects of Chito-oligosaccharide Supplementation on Egg Production, Nutrient Digestibility, Egg Quality and Blood Profiles in Laying Hens

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with chito-oligosccharide (COS) on egg production, nutrient digestibility, egg quality and blood profiles in laying hens. A total of 240 Hy-line Brown laying hens were randomly allocated into one of the following 5 dietary treatments: i) CON, basal diet; ii) ANT, basal diet+44 mg/kg avilamycin; iii) COS0.2, basal diet+200 mg/kg COS; iv) COS0.4, basal diet+400 mg/kg COS; v) ANTCOS, basal diet+200 mg/kg COS+22 mg/kg avilamycin. The experiment lasted for 6 wk. No change in egg weight (p>0.05) was observed during the trial period. Egg production in ANTCOS treatment was improved (p<0.05) when compared to CON during weeks 4-6. The birds in the COS0.2, COS0.4 and ANTCOS groups had higher (p<0.05) Haugh unit than those fed CON and ANT diets at the end of the 6 th wk. The apparent digestibility of nitrogen in CON group was lower (p<0.05) than in other treatments. The white blood cell (WBC) concentration of birds in the COS0.4 and ANTCOS group was higher (p<0.05) than that of birds in other groups at the end of the 6 th wk. In addition, the differences of WBC counts between the beginning and end of the experiment in COS0.4 and ANTCOS groups were higher (p<0.05) than in CON and ANT groups. At the end of the experiment, the birds fed ANTCOS diet showed higher (p<0.05) total blood protein concentration than those fed CON or ANT diets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of COS appeared to increase egg production and quality by increasing nutrient digestibility. Additionally, COS improved WBC and total protein concentration.

Effects of chitooligosaccharide supplementation on egg production, egg quality and blood profiles in laying hens

“…Similar results were found in a study by Meng et al (2010) who reported that dietry COS0.2 and COS0.4 did not improve the egg weight in 28-wk-old laying hens. Nogueira et al (2003) reported that addition of chitosan (20 g/kg) had no effect on the egg weight, contrarily, the addition of chitosan (30 g/kg) had lower egg weight compared to the basic diet and chitosan (20 g/kg) supplemented diet in 14-wk-old laying hens.…”

“…Yan et al (2010) also reported that dietary inclusion of COS (0.01% and 0.02%) had a linear increase in egg yolk color and HU was prominent. Meng et al (2010) found that the birds in the COS0.2, COS0.4 groups had higher (P<0.05) HU than those fed CON diet at the end of the week 6. These results indicate that the effects of COS may have the positive effect on HU of the egg.…”

“…In contrast, Swiatkiewicz et al (2015) reported an increase in a number of egg production by addition of chitosan (0.01%). Meng et al (2010) reported that egg production was increased by the COS supplementation, which may be attributed to the observed improvement of DM and N digestibility in response to COS supplementation. The inconsistent results among these studies could be due to the age of birds, the dose of chitosan, or farm management conditions.…”

Chitosan and its oligosaccharide derivatives (chito‐oligosaccharides) as feed supplements in poultry and swine nutrition

“…Meng et al. () observed increased WBC and blood total protein concentration in blood of layers fed diet supplemented with COS (0.02 and 0.04%).…”

“…The goal of a study by Meng et al. () was to evaluate the effects of diet supplementation with COS (0.02% or 0.04%) on egg production and quality and nutrient digestibility in Hy‐Line Brown layers. The results showed that both supplementation levels of COS had a positive influence on laying intensity, egg quality as measured in Haugh units and apparent digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen.…”