1- Department of Animal and Poultry Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
2- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Tehran
2- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Tehran
Abstract: (10 Views)
Background: Laying hens show their genetic potential when they receive all the nutrients they need in full. Today, nutritional requirements have actually increased due to advances in breeding programs and extensive selection to maximize production. In recent years, L-arginine has been considered as a potential feed additive in terms of anabolic-nutritional processes due to its metabolic functions for protein synthesis. However, due to the incomplete auricothelical function and urea cycle of birds, poultry are completely dependent on dietary sources of this amino acid. Copper sulfate is a trace source of the essential element copper, which plays an important role as a cofactor in cytochrome oxidase, lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase, beta-hydroxylase, and ceruloplasmin, and can increase egg production and egg weight traits and reduce skeletal system problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of copper and L-arginine on performance, physiological maturity, and egg quality in early laying period of laying hens.
Methods: The effects of dietary copper and L-arginine on production performance, physiological maturation and egg quality during the early layer phase of laying hens with a total of 288 Hy-Line W-80 white laying hens (18-week-old) were used in 2 × 3 factorial arrangements with two levels of supplemental Cu (8 and 16 mg/kg in the layer diet denoted as Cu8, Cu16) and three levels of LA. These include the recommended level according to Hy-line (RHL), as well as 20% higher (LA20) and 40% higher (LA40) than the recommended level in the diet. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with 6 treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicates, with 8 birds per cage, for 4 weeks. The eggs produced were collected daily and after weighing, the percentage of laying, feed consumption, conversion factor, average egg weight and egg shape index were calculated weekly. On the last two days of each week, the eggs produced by each experimental unit were collected and tested for qualitative traits such as shell thickness, shell weight, albumen percent, haugh unit, etc. Feed intake of experimental units was calculated from the fraction of feed consumed at the end of the period from the feed allocated at the beginning of the period, based on chick days. At the end of 21 weeks, maturation including body weight and length, shoulder length and width, beak length (top and bottom), neck length, wing length, leg length and diameter, toe length and talon length were measured. Data were analyzed in a randomized complete block design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement using SAS software.
Results: The height of birds comb increased when fed diets containing Cu8+LA40 and Cu16+LA40, compared to those fed on the Cu8+RHL diet (P<0.05). The shank diameter of birds fed with Cu8+LA40 treatment increased, compared to those fed on the Cu16+LA20 diet (P<0.05). Egg production birds in response to Cu16+LA40 diet increased, compared to birds fed with Cu8+RHL diet (P<0.05). Dietary supplementing of the Cu16+LA40 decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to those fed Cu8+LA40 and Cu8+RHL treatments (P<0.05). The egg Shape index in birds fed Cu8+LA40 increased, compared to Cu8+RHL diet (P<0.05). Egg Shell Strength of birds fed diets containing Cu16+RHL and Cu16+LA40 increased compared to diets containing Cu8+LA20 (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of this experiment, adding 16 mg copper/kg with 20% and 40% higher than the recommended level in the production phase diets of laying hens not only improved sexual maturation physiological, but also increased the production performance and egg quality in laying hens during the early layer phase
Methods: The effects of dietary copper and L-arginine on production performance, physiological maturation and egg quality during the early layer phase of laying hens with a total of 288 Hy-Line W-80 white laying hens (18-week-old) were used in 2 × 3 factorial arrangements with two levels of supplemental Cu (8 and 16 mg/kg in the layer diet denoted as Cu8, Cu16) and three levels of LA. These include the recommended level according to Hy-line (RHL), as well as 20% higher (LA20) and 40% higher (LA40) than the recommended level in the diet. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with 6 treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicates, with 8 birds per cage, for 4 weeks. The eggs produced were collected daily and after weighing, the percentage of laying, feed consumption, conversion factor, average egg weight and egg shape index were calculated weekly. On the last two days of each week, the eggs produced by each experimental unit were collected and tested for qualitative traits such as shell thickness, shell weight, albumen percent, haugh unit, etc. Feed intake of experimental units was calculated from the fraction of feed consumed at the end of the period from the feed allocated at the beginning of the period, based on chick days. At the end of 21 weeks, maturation including body weight and length, shoulder length and width, beak length (top and bottom), neck length, wing length, leg length and diameter, toe length and talon length were measured. Data were analyzed in a randomized complete block design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement using SAS software.
Results: The height of birds comb increased when fed diets containing Cu8+LA40 and Cu16+LA40, compared to those fed on the Cu8+RHL diet (P<0.05). The shank diameter of birds fed with Cu8+LA40 treatment increased, compared to those fed on the Cu16+LA20 diet (P<0.05). Egg production birds in response to Cu16+LA40 diet increased, compared to birds fed with Cu8+RHL diet (P<0.05). Dietary supplementing of the Cu16+LA40 decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to those fed Cu8+LA40 and Cu8+RHL treatments (P<0.05). The egg Shape index in birds fed Cu8+LA40 increased, compared to Cu8+RHL diet (P<0.05). Egg Shell Strength of birds fed diets containing Cu16+RHL and Cu16+LA40 increased compared to diets containing Cu8+LA20 (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of this experiment, adding 16 mg copper/kg with 20% and 40% higher than the recommended level in the production phase diets of laying hens not only improved sexual maturation physiological, but also increased the production performance and egg quality in laying hens during the early layer phase
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