An experiment employing a factorial arrangement of three levels (0, 8 and 16%) of canola meal (CM), two levels (0.15 and 0.25%) of nonphytate phosphorus (NPP), and two levels (0 and 450 unit/kg; as fed basis) of microbial phytase was conducted using 216 Hy-Line W36 laying hens from 39 to 47 weeks of age. The birds receiving CM consumed more (P < 0.05) feed than birds receiving corn-soybean meal...

Eggshell damages lead to economic losses in the egg production industry and are a threat to human health. We examined 49-wk-old Rhode Island White hens (Gallus gallus) that laid eggs having shells with significantly different strengths and thicknesses. We used HiSeq 2000 (Illumina) sequencing to characterize the chicken transcriptome and whole genome to identify the key genes and genetic mutati...

In Ethiopia there is a severe calcium nutrient deficiency problem. Cereals are appropriate vehicles for food fortification along with eggshell powder (EP), waste product, which contains high amount of Ca. The objective the current study was to enrich injera (Ethiopian flat bread from cereal teff) EP improve Ca content and assess its effect on quality parameters. Injera prepared by adding 4.5% 9...

The role of proteins in biomineralization and the mechanism of eggshell formation are not well understood. We have isolated and purified the major protein, ansocalcin from goose eggshell matrix. The amino acid sequence study indicates that ansocalcin is homologous to the chicken eggshell protein, ovocleidin 17, and C-type lectins. Ansocalcin nucleates polycrystalline aggregates of calcite cryst...

In all animals, oocytes are surrounded by an extracellular matrix upon fertilization. This matrix serves similar purposes in each animal. It functions to mediate sperm binding, to prevent polyspermy, to control the chemical environment of the embryo, and to provide physical protection to the embryo as it developes. The synthesis of the C. elegans matrix, or eggshell, begins when the oocyte ente...