S OF PAPERS 253 145 Effects of Originial XPC on performance of layers. K. E. Anderson1 and J. Frank*2, 1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 2Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA. Laying hens (11 white and 7 brown strains; approximately 17 weeks of age; n = 9594) were utilized in a 16 week study to determine the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (Original XPC) on hen day and h...

In this paper, vocalizations of laying hens (Hyline Brown) were focused. An experiment was designed to obtain acoustic features of laying hens with different ages: 35days-old, 95days-old and 125days-old. Vocalizations were recorded by the microphone MPA201. Analysis was done by some analytical software in order to gain time-domain features and frequency-domain properties of laying hens’ sound. ...

Alternative hen housing is becoming more commonplace in the egg market. However, a complete understanding of the implications for alternative housing systems on egg safety has not been achieved. The current study examines the impact of housing Hy-Line Brown, Hy-Line Silver Brown, and Barred Plymouth Rock hens in conventional cage, cage-free, and free range egg production systems on shell microb...

Previously we showed that free-range hens fed diets supplemented with diatomaceous earth (DE) were significantly heavier, laid more eggs, and consumed more feed than hens fed the control diet, with no differences in feed efficiency. In the present study, we compared plasma calcium concentrations, and bone mineralization of the hens from our previous study to test the effect of DE on these param...

The effectiveness of diatomaceous earth (DE) as a treatment against parasites and to increase feed efficiency and egg production of organically raised free-range layer hens was evaluated in 2 breeds of commercial egg layers [Bovan Brown (BB) and Lowmann Brown (LB)] that differ in their resistance to internal parasitic infections. Half the hens of each breed were fed diets supplemented with DE (...

Severe feather-pecking (SFP) persists as a highly prevalent and detrimental behavioural problem in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) worldwide. The present experiment investigated the association between feather-eating and plumage damage, a consequence of SFP, in groups of free-range, ISA Brown laying hens. Single feathers were placed on the floor of the home pens. Feathers were sourced fr...

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTIOX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367 Mating 1. Brown Leghorn female with Silver Spangled Hamburg male.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370 Mating 2. Silver Spangled Hamburg female with Brown Leghorn male.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 Mating 3. Non-spangled hens fr...

The aim of this study was to compare the blood plasma mineral profile (Ca, P, K, Mg, Zn, Cu and Se) and egg-shell quality (eggshell weight, eggshell breaking strength and thickness) of laying hens housed in three different housing systems (traditional cage system, enriched cage system and deep litter system). In each housing system, 12 ISA Brown laying hens were observed during the laying perio...

The study assessed the optimum incorporation rate of Borassus aethiopum (Ba) ripe fruits’ dried pulp in laying hens’ feed. So, 72 Isa Brown hens 37-week-old were allotted into 9 groups 8 each. Then, 3 control diets including 60% yellow corn (60%YC), 55.2% (55.2%YC) and white (60%WC) formulated. Additionally, 6 test made by substituting 5%; 7.5%; 10%; 12.5% 15% 60%WC Ba pulp...