Short Communication Effects of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) supplementation on performance and egg characteristics of old breeder hens

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing the diet of breeder hens with a shortchain fatty acid (SCFA) premix, containing 509 g fatty acid salts/kg of which 285 g were calcium butyrate, on their eggshell characteristics and the hatching percentage of the eggs. One thousand six hundred 66-week old White Bovans laying breeder hens were used in this experiment. They were housed in eight identical pens, each containing 200 birds, and four pens were used per treatment. The SCFA premix was included at 1000 mg/kg in the treatment diet, and fed for a period of nine weeks. Responses were compared with an unsupplemented treatment. Supplementation started when the hens were 66 weeks old. From day 75 eggs were collected for the next seven weeks and the occurrence of cracked, dirty and misshapen eggs was recorded, and the hatching percentage of the eggs was determined. Eggshell strength was lower in eggs from the control (1.76 ± 0.05) than from the treatment group (2.07 ± 0.03). The percentage of eggs produced by the control group (68.6 ± 0.08) was significantly lower than that by the supplemented group (71.5 ± 0.15). Percentage of dirty, cracked and misshapen eggs, and the hatchability percentage of the control group (1.15 ± 0.03, 3.44 ± 0.05, 6.27 ± 0.03 and 88.93 ± 0.06, respectively) were also significantly lower than in the group receiving SCFA (0.47 ± 0.03, 2.21 ± 0.03, 3.81 ± 0.03 and 93.36 ± 0.05, respectively). It was concluded that dietary supplementation of SCFA to layer breeder hens from 66 weeks of age onwards improved eggshell strength, reduced the percentage of dirty, cracked and misshapen eggs and increased the hatching percentage of the eggs. The positive responses were suggested to be largely due to the butyrate in the SCFA. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Laying performance and eggshell quality in laying hens fed diets supplemented with prebiotics and organic acids

“…The results of the present study are similar to those reported by Sengor et al (2007), who in an experiment with old breeder White Bovans hens found that eggshell breaking strength was increased after the inclusion of short-chain fatty acids (VFA) in the diet. The authors also reported that VFA decreased the number of dirty, cracked and misshapen eggs.…”

“…One of the factors the mechanism of this effect is connected with is the reduction of intestinal pH, which leads to an increase in the activity of digestive enzymes (accelerated conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin) and in the solubility of minerals. Some experiments with layers and old broiler breeder hens have demonstrated that organic acids can have a positive effect on laying performance and eggshell quality (Park et al, 2002;Yesilbag and Colpan, 2006;Sengor et al, 2007;Soltan, 2008). In the recent study with older laying hens (from 75 to 80 weeks of age) organic acids beneficially affected soft-shell + broken egg production, feed conversion ratio and IgY concentration in yolks, but had no influence on laying rate and eggshell strength and thickness (Park et al, 2009).…”

Effects of monobutyrin supplementation on egg production, biochemical indexes, and gut microbiota of broiler breeders

“…But, the author observed increased egg shell strength. Butyrate (addition level of 185 mg/kg) can enhance the egg shell strength in old hens and decrease the number of misshapen eggs ( Sengor et al., 2007 ), which is similar to our study in which the egg breaking rate tended to decrease with monobutyrin supplementation.…”

Effects of Feed Additives Used As an Alternative to Antibiotics on Mineral Absorption and Bone Characteristics in Poultry: A Review

“…Positive effects of organic acids on egg production, eggshell quality and mineral absorption have been determined by some researchers (Yesilbag and Colpan, 2006;Sengor et al, 2007;Sarı and Kaya, 2017). Soltan (2008) reported that supplementation of a commercial organic acid blend "ProviMax" containing calcium butyrate, calcium propionate, calcium lactate and fumaric acid improved eggshell thickness and serum Ca level.…”