Search Results (191)

Background/Objectives: Making sustainable choices and transforming guidelines into effective bacterial control practices for viable and safe hatching eggs is a challenge for many researchers. Gradually, scientific findings are strengthening the case for using antibacterial protocols with essential oils (EOs) for hatching eggs, which could lead to changes in traditional egg sanitization management and stimulate new research. The present study aimed to measure the contamination levels and incubation outcomes of hatching eggs sanitized with Zingiber officinale (ZOEO), Cymbopogon flexuosus (CFEO), and Rosmarinus officinalis (ROEO) essential oils. Methods: Hatching eggs from commercial broiler breeders were sanitized with solutions of ZOEO, CFEO, and ROEO prepared in grain alcohol and compared with formaldehyde and non-sanitized eggs. Bacterial contamination, eggshell integrity, incubation parameters, embryonic trachea histology, genotoxicity, and irritation potential were evaluated under commercial conditions. Results: It has been demonstrated that these EOs significantly reduce eggshell and yolk sac contamination, promote hatchability rates above 93% with good-quality chicks, and do not cause alterations in the embryonic trachea or potential genetic damage to the chicks. Conclusions: ZOEO, CFEO, and ROEO can be recommended as sanitizers for hatching eggs. Full article

The decline in eggshell quality of aged laying hens represents a major economic challenge in poultry production. While a 28 h ahemeral light cycle has been shown to improve eggshell quality, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study randomly assigned 260 74-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens to two light cycle groups, a normal 24 h cycle group (16L:8D) and a 28 h ahemeral cycle group (16L:12D). Each treatment comprised 130 hens divided into two replicate groups. The trial lasted 16 weeks. We systematically analyzed circadian rhythms of gut microbiota and serum metabolites using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Compared with the 24 h cycle, the 28 h cycle significantly enhanced eggshell thickness by 0.04 mm and 0.02 mm, and eggshell strength by 4.19 N and 4.76 N at 79 and 84 wk, respectively. Mechanistically, the 28 h light cycle remodeled the circadian rhythms of gut microbiota, increasing their richness and diversity, and altered the rhythmic patterns of serum metabolites. We identified nine microbial genera and three hundred seventy metabolites that exhibited opposite rhythmic patterns under the two light cycles. These changes were primarily enriched in pathways related to amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, and energy metabolism. Correlation analysis further revealed strong associations between key microbes and functional metabolites. Weissella promotes calcium deposition in eggshells through synergistic interactions with calcium chelators such as gluconic acid and threonine acid. Meanwhile, YRC22 and Paludibacter synergistically support membrane formation substances, thereby promoting the proliferation of uterine epithelial cells and eggshell formation. Our findings indicate that the 28 h ahemeral light cycle improved eggshell quality in aged hens by remodeling the circadian rhythms of gut microbiota and metabolites, thereby synergistically enhancing calcium ion absorption and uterine tissue health. This provides a novel theoretical basis and practical direction for improving late-phase egg quality through light management strategies. Full article

The present study investigated the effects of fermented Chinese herbal (FCH) compounds on the egg production, egg shell quality, and egg yolk cholesterol of laying hens. A total of 1260 Hy-Line pink laying hens, 34 weeks old, were randomly divided into three groups, with six replicates per group and 70 hens per replicate, as follows: the control group (CON group) was fed a diet without FCH compounds, and the 2% FCH group and the 3% FCH group were fed a diet supplemented with 2% FCH and 3% FCH, respectively. The results show that the FCH compound significantly increased the laying rate compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Analyses of the serum biochemical indices showed that supplementation with FCH compound significantly decreased the levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HLDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLVL-c), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05) and increased the serum total bile acids, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and 17-β-Estradiol (E2) levels (p < 0.05). The FCH group significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver and uterus compared to the CON (p < 0.05). FCH supplementation was also associated with improved egg quality, seen through factors including enhanced yolk color, albumen height, Haugh unit score, eggshell strength, and thickness and reduced egg breaking rate and TC and TG contents in egg yolk. The gene expression analyses showed that FCH supplementation significantly increased the calcium metabolism-related gene expression (CaBP-D_28k, NCX, VDR, CYP₂₇B₁, OPN, PMCA, CA₂) in duodenum, kidney, and uterus tissues compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). FCH significantly repressed FAS and HMGCR mRNA expression and enhanced CYP7A1 mRNA expression in the liver (p < 0.05). These results indicate that diet supplementation with FCH compounds may improve egg quality by regulating reproductive hormones, lipid metabolism, and calcium metabolism. Full article

Dried orange pulp (Citrus sinensis) is known for its antioxidant properties. This study aimed to examine the effects of adding dried orange pulp (OP) to the layers’ diets on the concentration of selected elements in the egg. The present work was part of a bigger project aiming to investigate the effect of orange pulp in layers’ diets on the performance of birds and egg quality. There were three dietary treatments and 63 layers per treatment, with 189 layers in total. Cages were the experimental units, and seven cages were allocated per treatment (n = 7). The dietary treatments were (1) a control treatment (C) that involved a basal diet without orange pulp addition, (2) an OP treatment with the addition of 9% dried orange pulp, and (3) a hesperidin–naringin (EN) treatment with 0.767 g hesperidin and 0.002 g naringin added per kg of diet; these levels of hesperidin and naringin represent those present in dried orange pulp for the OP treatment. Birds were fed the diets for 30 days. The diets had similar energy and protein levels and contained the same vitamin and mineral premixes. The analyzed egg (yolk, albumen, shell) elemental profile consisted of As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sb, Se, Sr, V, and Zn and was determined via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Dried orange pulp supplementation significantly altered the elemental profile. OP largely altered the element concentrations in albumen and egg yolk. Most notably, it decreased the concentrations of Co (p < 0.001), Fe (p < 0.001), Mn (p < 0.001), Ni (p = 0.046), and Se (p = 0.035) in egg yolk and those of Co (p = 0.011), Fe (p = 0.025), Cr (p = 0.049), Cu (p = 0.001), and Se (p = 0.014) in albumen. In addition, it decreased the concentrations of As (p = 0.025) and Ca (p = 0.025) in the eggshell. Principal component analysis was applied to the concentrations of the examined elements in all egg parts to explore the relationships between the elements and detect those capable of distinguishing samples, resulting in the apparent separation of yolk, albumen, and eggshell samples. Further analysis revealed that all samples were clustered into the three dietary treatments, resulting in 100% correct classification. The chelating and antioxidant capacities of flavonoids are intricate and rely on a variety of factors. OP supplementation modulated the deposition of specific elements in egg parts in comparison to those from layers fed a typical diet. Thus, this study indicated that eggs with specialized elemental profiles could be created. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing inorganic trace minerals with organic glycinate forms at two inclusion levels in layer breeders during the late laying cycle over 6 weeks (66 to 72 weeks of age). For this, a total of 180 layer breeders (162 hens and 18 males; Lohmann LSL Ultralite) were randomly divided into three treatment groups having six replicates of nine hens each and one male for each replicate following a completely randomized design (CRD). The dietary treatments included: (1) Basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at breed recommended levels (ITM100), (2) Basal diet + organic trace minerals at recommended levels (OTM100), (3) Basal diet + organic trace minerals at half dose of recommended levels (OTM50). The trace mineral contents in the samples (feed, bone, and excreta) were determined through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results indicated that glycinate minerals supplementation at half dose enhanced (p ≤ 0.05) tibial breaking strength compared to the inorganic minerals (38.97 vs. 29.55 MPa). Similarly, egg quality (egg geometry, yolk index, eggshell properties), and hatching traits (hatchability and fertility) were enhanced (p ≤ 0.05) following the use of glycinate organic minerals as compared to inorganic minerals. Copper deposition was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the OTM100 as compared to other groups. Excreta levels of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the ITM100 group compared to OTM100 and OTM50. In conclusion, supplementation of glycinate trace organic minerals to layer breeder hens during the late laying cycle had enhanced the bone and eggshell breaking strength, hatching traits, and absorption of certain trace minerals. Full article

The structural integrity of poultry eggs is essential for food safety, economic value, and hatchability. External eggshell quality—measured by thickness, strength, cracks, color, and cleanliness—is a key criterion for grading and sorting. Traditional assessment methods, although simple, suffer from subjectivity, low efficiency, and destructive nature. In contrast, recent developments in nondestructive testing (NDT) technologies have enabled precise, automated, and real-time evaluation of eggshell characteristics. This review systematically summarizes state-of-the-art NDT techniques including acoustic resonance, ultrasonic imaging, terahertz spectroscopy, machine vision, and electrical property sensing. Deep learning and sensor fusion methods are highlighted for their superior accuracy in microcrack detection (up to 99.4%) and shell strength prediction. We further discuss emerging challenges such as noise interference, signal variability, and scalability for industrial deployment. The integration of explainable AI, multimodal data acquisition, and edge computing is proposed as a future direction to develop intelligent, scalable, and cost-effective eggshell inspection systems. This comprehensive analysis provides a valuable reference for advancing nondestructive quality control in poultry product supply chains. Full article

This study assessed the microbiological quality of free-range eggs produced in Southeastern Brazil, focusing on the effects of collection location. Eggs were collected from either nest boxes (designated laying areas containing clean substrate) or from the bedding substrate (litter-covered floor of the poultry house). Eggs from the bedding had significantly higher counts of thermotolerant coliforms, psychrotrophs, and Staphylococcus compared to nest-collected eggs. Across all evaluated microorganisms, eggshells showed greater contamination than the internal contents. Bedding substrates showed higher counts of mesophilic aerobes, psychrotrophs, Staphylococcus, and Clostridium compared to nest box substrates. Eggs from the bedding showed compromised internal microbiological quality, with coliform values exceeding 2 log10 most probable number (MPN) per mL. Further, 10% of the evaluated pools were suggestive of the presence of Salmonella spp., in the internal components of bedding eggs and on the shells of nest eggs. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that eggs be collected from nest boxes right after laying, while eggs laid on the bedding substrate should be excluded from human consumption. Full article

Due to the effects of pigment deposition and microstructure, the color of eggshells may influence the quality traits and hatchability of eggs. These traits are critical for breeding efficiency and economic outcomes in poultry production. Herein, Beijing-You chicken eggs were used as a model to investigate the effects of eggshell color due to their color-related polymorphism. A total of 4422 eggs were analyzed for their hatchability, categorized by storage duration and eggshell color. Results revealed that white-shelled eggs exhibit significantly lower hatchability and higher early embryo mortality compared to other colors, particularly after long-term storage. Purple-shelled eggs demonstrated superior eggshell quality, including higher strength, thickness, and weight, as well as better internal egg quality indicators such as thick albumen height, Haugh units, and yolk color. Eggshell translucency showed a positive correlation with storage time and egg weight loss at all shell color types, with higher translucency levels associated with greater weight loss over time. This study examines associations between eggshell color, hatchability, translucency, and quality traits. Full article

This study investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation on performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, gut morphology, fecal microbiota, and bone morphology in Lohmann Brown laying hens aged 44 weeks over a 16-week period. Ninety-six hens were randomly divided into control and probiotic groups (n = 48 each). The probiotic group received probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus acidophilus KUEN 1607 and Pediococcus acidilactici KUEN 1608 via drinking water at 0.5%. Probiotic supplementation significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), eggshell strength and thickness, and albumen quality (p < 0.001) and reduced the incidence of cracked and shell-less eggs (p < 0.05). Yolk and serum cholesterol levels decreased (p < 0.001), and antioxidant parameters improved, along with elevated serum IgG (p < 0.001). Histological analysis showed an increased ratio of villus height to crypt depth (p < 0.001) in the jejunum, indicating enhanced intestinal health. Fecal samples revealed increased Lactobacillus spp. and reduced coliform counts (p < 0.001), suggesting improved gut microbiota balance. While bone volume and surface area showed no significant difference, 3D geometric morphometric analysis identified subtle shape changes in long bones, especially the femur and tibiotarsus. These findings demonstrate that the selected probiotic combination supports nutrient utilization, egg quality, gut integrity, immune status, and skeletal health, offering a sustainable strategy to enhance productivity and welfare in laying hens. Full article

Heavy metal pollution in rice fields is a major concern; however, little research has addressed its exposure and risk to waterbirds inhabiting rice fields. We investigated the accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Cu, and Zn) in sediment, water, food, feces, feathers, and eggshell samples collected from different nesting sites (Chongwei Village and Wuji Village) of little egrets (Egretta garzetta) on Hainan Island, China, and compared the differences in their breeding parameters and eggshell quality. Higher levels of heavy metals were observed in all samples except feces from Wuji Village compared to those from Chongwei Village. As, Cd, and Pb exhibited little bioaccumulation in all feather and eggshell samples, whereas Cr concentrations in feather samples from both heronries and eggshell samples in Wuji Village exceeded the toxicity threshold in birds, indicating that the high maternal Cr was transferred to eggs in Wuji Village. Significantly lower hatching and breeding success rates were observed in Wuji Village than in Chongwei Village, which may be closely related to Cr contamination. This study revealed that waterbirds breeding in rice fields are under threat from heavy metal contamination and highlighted the suitability of bird feathers and eggshells as biomonitors of the environment. Full article

Ginger powder (GP) has antioxidant properties and can be a suitable alternative to antibiotics in laying hen diets; however, research on its effects remains limited. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary GP supplementation on production performance during the pre-peak production stage. A total of 270 hens, 18 weeks old and averaging 1.83 ± 0.03 kg, were divided into three groups: control (CN, basal diet), CN + 5 g/kg GP (T1), and CN + 10 g/kg GP (T2), with six replicates of 15 hens each, in a 10-week feeding trial. Dietary GP had no significant effect on feed intake (p > 0.05), but it dose-dependently improved laying rate, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Egg quality parameters, including albumen height, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness, and strength, were also linearly improved with GP supplementation (p < 0.05). Dietary GP linearly enhanced the antioxidant status of hens (p < 0.01) and reduced malondialdehyde activity (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, 10 g/kg GP supplementation slightly improved gizzard index and liver morphology, and it linearly enhanced intestinal morphology (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that 10 g/kg GP supplementation can improve the productivity and health of laying hens. Full article

The deterioration of uterine calcium transport capacity induced by aging is a common problem for late-laying period hens, causing decline in eggshell quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects and possible regulatory mechanisms of dietary puerarin (PU) on calcium transport and eggshell quality in aged hens. Two hundred eighty-eight Hubbard Efficiency Plus broiler breeder hens (50-week-old) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments containing 0, 40, or 200 mg/kg puerarin (PU), with 8 replicates of 12 birds each, for an 8-week trial. The results demonstrated that dietary PU ameliorated the eggshell thickness and strength, which in turn reduced the broken egg rate (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that PU improved uterus morphology and increased epithelium height in the uterus (p < 0.05). Antioxidative capacity was significantly improved via upregulation of Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX1 mRNA expression in the uterus (p < 0.05), along with enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity, and decreased levels of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, PU treatment reduced the apoptotic index of the uterus, followed by a significant decrease in expression of pro-apoptotic genes Caspase3 and BAX and the rate of BAX/BCL-2. Additionally, calcium content in serum and uterus, as well as the activity of Ca²⁺-ATPase in the duodenum and uterus, were increased by dietary PU (p < 0.05). The genes involved in calcium transport including ERα, KCNA1, CABP-28K, and OPN in the uterus were upregulated by PU supplementation (p < 0.05). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that dietary PU supplementation could reverse the age-related decline in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota within the uterus (p < 0.05). Overall, dietary PU can improve eggshell quality and calcium transport through enhanced antioxidative defenses and mitigation of age-related uterine degeneration. Full article

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease that can greatly affect quality of life in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Nutritional supplements are increasingly used for KOA due to their low risk, but direct comparative evidence on their efficacy and safety remains scarce. This study aimed to systematically compare the effectiveness and safety of seven common nutritional supplements for KOA. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched through December 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating use of eggshell membrane, vitamin D, Boswellia, curcumin, ginger, krill oil, or collagen, versus placebo, in adults with KOA. Primary outcomes included changes in scores for WOMAC pain, stiffness and function, and pain visual analog scale (VAS). Adverse events were also assessed. Bayesian network meta-analyses estimated ranking probabilities for each intervention. Results: In total, 39 RCTs (42 studies; 4599 patients) were included. Compared with placebo, Boswellia showed significant improvements in WOMAC pain (mean difference [MD] = 10.58, 95% CI: 6.45 to 14.78, p < 0.05), stiffness (MD = 9.47, 95% CI: 6.39 254 to 12.74, p < 0.05), function (MD = 14.00, 95% CI: 7.74 to 20.21, p < 0.05), and VAS pain (MD = 17.26, 95% CI: 8.06 to 26.52, p < 0.05). Curcumin, collagen, ginger, and krill oil also demonstrated benefits in some outcomes. No supplement was associated with increased adverse events compared to placebo. Bayesian rankings indicated Boswellia had the highest probability of being most effective for pain and stiffness, with krill oil and curcumin showing potential for function improvement. Conclusions: Nutritional supplements, particularly Boswellia, appear to be effective and well-tolerated for improving KOA symptoms and function. These results suggest that certain supplements may be useful as part of non-pharmacological KOA management. However, further large-scale, well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm these findings, particularly those that include more standardized dosages and formulations, as well as to evaluate their long-term efficacy. Full article

This study evaluated the production performance and egg quality of Lohmann Brown laying hens fed diets containing different levels of Corn Bran with Solubles (CBS). A total of 144 hens aged 44 weeks were assigned to three treatments in a completely randomized design, with eight replicates per treatment and six birds per replicate. The experimental treatments included diets with CBS inclusion levels of 0%, 5%, and 10%. The experiment lasted 84 days (44 to 55 weeks of age). Data were analyzed via one-way ANOVA, with mean differences evaluated using Tukey’s HSD test (α = 0.05). No significant effects were observed for laying rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or egg mass (p > 0.05). However, egg quality parameters such as shell percentage, shell weight per unit surface area (SWUSA), and yolk color were influenced by the treatments (p < 0.05). Hens fed diets with 5% CBS exhibited higher shell percentage and SWUSA compared to those on the 0% CBS diet. Yolk color intensity increased with higher CBS inclusion levels. In conclusion, incorporating up to 10% CBS in corn–soybean meal diets for laying hens can enhance egg yolk pigmentation. Notably, including 5% CBS improves eggshell quality. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin and citric acid on egg production performance, egg quality, and the intestinal morphology and function of laying hens. A total of 600 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, 59 weeks old, were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments, with 10 replicates per treatment and 15 hens per replicate. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the other three groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg baicalin (B), 2000 mg/kg citric acid (CA), or 150 mg/kg baicalin plus 2000 mg/kg citric acid (B + CA), respectively. The experimental period lasted for 12 weeks, and the results indicated that neither the individual addition nor the combined application of baicalin and citric acid had a significant impact on the laying performance. However, compared with the control group, the baicalin and/or citric acid supplementation significantly increased the eggshell strength and Haugh unit. Additionally, the combination of baicalin and citric acid significantly increased the villus height and the villus height/crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and jejunum. It also enhanced the population of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in the cecum and improved the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, primarily disaccharidases. Furthermore, the addition of baicalin to the diet significantly increased the content of Secretory Immunoglobulin A in the ileum and jejunum after 12 weeks of feeding. These results suggest that the combination of baicalin and citric acid had a synergistic effect on the improvement of egg quality and intestinal morphology and function in laying hens. Overall, our findings provide important insights into the potential benefits of supplementing baicalin and citric acid in the diet of laying hens and may have practical implications for improving egg quality and poultry health status. Full article