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Improvement of eggshell quality by dietary N-carbamylglutamate supplementation in laying chickens.

ABSTRACT: Egg quality defects seriously reduce the quality grade and increase egg breakage in egg marketing activities. In this study, the effect of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on eggshell quality was investigated by evaluating calcium absorption and calcification in laying hens. A total of 30 newly hatched female Hy-Line chicks were randomly assigned to the control group (basal diet) and treatment group (basal diet supplemented with 1% NCG). At 25 wk, eggs from each group were obtained to assess egg quality parameters. Blood samples were collected for analysis of mineral, hormone, and amino acids levels at 16 h after laying egg. Uterine tissues were removed and fixed in 4% neutral paraformaldehyde solution or kept in liquid nitrogen for mineral determination, quantitative PCR, and Western blot. Results showed that the egg quality (eggshell thickness, strength and percentage, egg specific gravity, and eggshell effective thickness) was significantly increased while effective thickness of mastoid layer, width of mastoid gap, and mammillary knobs were significantly decreased by dietary NCG supplementation (P < 0.05). The levels of minerals (Ca, P, Fe, Mg, Na, K) in eggshell, plasma, and uterus were remarkably elevated (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the concentrations of calcium metabolism-related hormones (17?-estradiol, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin) were increased in the NCG group (P < 0.05). Moreover, expression of calbindin 1, carbonic anhydrase 2, ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, ovocleidin-17, ovocleidin-116, and clusterin mRNAs, as well as calbindin 1 and ATP2A1 proteins in uterus, duodenum, and kidney, was all upregulated in hens fed with NCG (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of blood vessels in the uterus, height of uterine mucosal folds, villus length in endometrium, and areas of uterine mucosal folds were significantly increased in the NCG group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary 1% NCG supplementation during 0 to 25 wk can improve eggshell quality through changes in endometrial morphology, expression of calcium metabolism-related genes, and secretion of related hormones to promote eggshell formation in the laying hens.

SUBMITTER: Ma Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7597934 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Improvement of eggshell quality by dietary N-carbamylglutamate supplementation in laying chickens.

Ma Yanfen Y Yao Jinwei J Zhou Shuo S Mi Yuling Y Li Jian J Zhang Caiqiao C

Poultry science 20200424 8

Egg quality defects seriously reduce the quality grade and increase egg breakage in egg marketing activities. In this study, the effect of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on eggshell quality was investigated by evaluating calcium absorption and calcification in laying hens. A total of 30 newly hatched female Hy-Line chicks were randomly assigned to the control group (basal diet) and treatment group (basal diet supplemented with 1% NCG). At 25 wk, eggs from each group were obtained to assess egg qualit ...[more]

PMID: 32731996

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Project description:This study evaluated dietary Zn supplementation on productive performance, eggshell quality and ultrastructure, and calcium metabolism during eggshell formation in laying ducks. A total of 360 Longyan laying ducks (45-wk) were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups with 6 replicates of 12 birds each and fed for 20 wk. The 6 treatments fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 20, 40, 80, or 160 mg Zn/kg (ZnSO4·H2O). Dietary supplemental level at 80 mg/kg increased egg production (4.3%) and mass (5.7%), and decreased FCR (2.9%) compared to the basal diet, and these indices increased quadratically with increasing Zn supplemental levels (P < 0.05). The shell breaking strength (15.8%) and fracture toughness (10.6%) were higher with the supplementation of Zn at 80 mg/kg than the basal diet, and increased quadratically with Zn supplementation (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of Zn at 80 mg/kg improved shell ultrastructure by increasing total (9.0%) and effective thickness (14.2%) and decreasing mammillary thickness (12.0%), and their responses were quadratic with increasing Zn levels (P < 0.05). The supplementation of Zn affected the calcium contents in plasma, tibias and ulna, ulna phosphorus content, and linear and quadratic effects were observed, and higher values were observed with 160 mg/kg Zn supplementation than control (P < 0.05). The supplemental Zn level at 80 mg/kg increased shell effective thickness in growth stage (P < 0.05), and shell calcium and phosphorus content in initial and growth stages (P < 0.05). Dietary Zn supplementation did not affect the gene expression of Ca2+ transporters in the eggshell gland, but affected the expression of HCO3- exchanger in initial and growth stage (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary Zn supplementation could improve productive performance and shell quality in laying ducks at late phase of production, and calcium metabolism and deposition were modulated by Zn influencing HCO3- secretion and thus affecting shell ultrastructure and quality. A supplemental level of 80 mg/kg Zn in the diet with a basal content of 34.0 mg/kg was optimal, and higher level (160 mg/kg) decreased shell calcium deposition by depressing its metabolism.

Project description:Background:Phosphorus is an essential nutrient to maintain poultry health and performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary phosphorus levels on egg production, egg quality, bone health, immune responses of laying hens challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Methods:Three hundred laying hens at 28 wk were randomly divided into 2 dietary treatments with 10 replicates of 15 birds. The wheat-soybean based diets contained either 0.12% or 0.4% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP). At 32 wk of age, all the birds of each dietary treatment were injected into the abdomen with 1.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) of either LPS or saline once a day at 24-h intervals for continuous 9 d. The performance of laying hens was evaluated for 9 d. The eggs after the fifth injection were collected to value the egg quality. Three hours after the first injection, blood was collected to measure serum metabolite and immune response associated parameters. Three hours after the fifth injection, the hens were euthanized to obtain tibia, cecal tonsils and jejunum. Results:Compared with saline-injected hens, LPS-injected hens had lower feed intake and egg production (P?<?0.05). Eggshell thickness, strength, albumin height and Haugh unit were significantly increased in LPS-injected hens compared with saline-injected hens (P?<?0.05). Furthermore, laying hens challenged with LPS had lower villious height/ crypt depth ration than those received saline. Serum calcium, phosphorus and SOD activities significantly decreased in the LPS-injected hens compared with the control (P?<?0.05). LPS up-regulated expression of IL-1?, IL-6 and IL-10 in cecum, and serum concentration of MDA, IL-1? and IL-6 (P?<?0.05), whereas 0.40% dietary non-phytate phosphorus supplementation significantly increased (P?<?0.05) villi height/crypt depth ratio, decreased (P?<?0.05) serum MDA and IFN-? concentration compared with the 0.12% non-phytate phosphorus group. Conclusion:In summary, this study demonstrates that 0.40% dietary non-phytate phosphorus supplementation significantly increased calcium and phosphorus levels of eggshell, increased villi height/crypt depth ratio, decreased serum MDA and IFN-? concentration compared with the 0.12% non-phytate phosphorus groups. The results indicate that high level of dietary non-phytate phosphorus exerts a potential effect in alleviating systemic inflammation of LPS-challenged laying hens.

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Improvement of eggshell quality by dietary N-carbamylglutamate supplementation in laying chickens.

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Improvement of eggshell quality by dietary N-carbamylglutamate supplementation in laying chickens.

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