Effect of different zinc levels on performance, egg quality traits and immune response of laying hens reared under high and recommended stock density

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan

2 Animal science department, Agricultural sciences and natural resources university of Khuzestan

Abstract

Introduction: Zinc (Zn) is required for many enzymatic and metabolic functions in the animal’s body (Prasad and Kucuk 2002). Also, it affects the antioxidant defence system, where deficiency of Zn increases oxidative damage to cell membranes (Prasad and Kucuk 2002). Zn was assumed to improve the antioxidant capacity (Liu et al., 2011) since Zn is necessary for the structure and function of superoxide dismutase, which protecting the brain, lungs, and other tissues from oxidation (Noor et al., 2002). However, it has been suggested that Zn increases the synthesis of metallothionein, a cystine-rich protein that acts as a free radical scavenger (Oteiza et al. 1996). Nys et al. (1999) reported that the deficiency of Zn decreased egg production and eggshell quality linked to its role as a cofactor in the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which is essential for shell deposition. The NRC (1994) recommends a level of 40–75 mg/kg of Zn in various poultry diets. Due to the high amount of phytate, Zn can be less bioavailable, despite the high level of Zn available in pulses and cereals. Therefore, this micronutrient can be supplemented to diets of livestock and poultry (Sahin et al. 2009). ZnO and ZnSO4 are the two most common inorganic Zn supplements used for poultry diets (Batal et al. 2001). The present study has examined the effects of Zn supplementation of laying hens on performance, egg quality traits and immune response under high stock density.
Material and methods: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of different levels of zinc on performance, egg quality traits and immune response of laying hens under high stock density with 160 Hy-Line W-36 leghorn hens for 10 weeks. Treatments consisted of different levels of zinc (40, 80, 120 and 160 ppm) and 2 cage densities [3 hens/cage (recommended) or 5 hens/cage (high density) (38 × 38 × 40 cm)], that was performed in completely randomized design with 2×4 factorial arrangement with 5 replicates. The basal diet was formulated to meet all of the nutrient specifications according to the Hy- Line W-36 recommendations (Hy-Line International, 2007). The first 2-wk (61–62 wk of age) was considered as the adaptation period. The main trial period commenced from 63 wk of age and lasted for 8 weeks. Lighting program was set on 16 light: 8 dark using an artificial light in a windowless house. The hens had free access to feed and water at all times.The temperature was maintained at 20±2 °C throughout the study. Egg production and egg weight were recorded daily and feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and egg quality were recorded weekly. Egg quality traits were evaluated every35-d period. All eggs produced during thelast2-d of each period were collected and egg quality indices including Haugh unit (HU), yolk color, egg shell thickness, andshell breaking strength were measured as followings: Each egg was weighed and the eggshell breaking strength (kg/cm2) was measured by a quasi-static compression device. The broken eggs were put onto a glass surface. The height of the albumen, midway between the yolk and the agde of the thick albumen, was measured with micrometer. Haugh units were calculated using the formula: HU=100log (H+7.57– 1.7×W0.37), where H is the mean height (mm) of the albumen and W is the weight (g) of egg (Haugh, 1937).Yolk color was visually scored by the Roche yolk colorfan. Eggshell thickness was determined on 3 points (air cell, equator, and sharpend) by using a micrometer screw gauge. In order to study immune responses, suspension of SRBC were injected into the breast muscle of two birds of each replicate at the first of 6 and 7th weeks of experiment and blood parameters were analyzed 7 days after each injection. Also reproductive parameters, blood lipid parameters were analyzed at the end of the experiment.
Results and discussion: The results of this experiment showed that dietary supplementation of zinc in different stock density could not affect performance of layers (P > 0.05). Although, dietary increasing levels of zinc caused significant decrease in egg production percentage and egg weight during the whole period of experiment. Sorosh et al (2019) showed hens receiving 130 mg Zn/kg of diet, laid more eggs than the birds which receiving 40 and 70 mg Zn/kg of diet. Also, they reported hens receiving 130 mg Zn/kg of diet had lower feed consumption compared with the other treatments. FCR was influenced by supplemental Zn in which dietary inclusion of 70, 100, and 130 mg Zn/kg of diet improved FCR compared with that of the 40-mg inclusion level. Mirfendereski and Jahanian (2015) showed that hens in cages with higher stocking density had lower hen-day egg production, egg mass, and feed intake compared with those in normal density cages. Also they reported plasma concentrations of triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins were not influenced by dietary treatments. Sarica et al. (2008) observed that hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were decreased by the higher stocking densities. In addition, the same authors reported that hens housed at the lower stocking densities reached sexual maturity significantly earlier than those in higher stocking densities. In the current experiment haugh unit was significantly lower in birds with high stock density compared with those in normal density cages. Jahanian and Mirfendereski (2015) showed that eggshell thickness was greater in hens under high stocking density challenge during the second 35-dperiod. Ovary weight was lower in hens under high stocking density challenge (P <0.05). Dietary supplementation of zinc (160 ppm) increased plasma LDL level and high stocking density increased plasma glucose level (P <0.05). The present findings indicated that dietary zinc supplementation in high stock density could not affected performance or egg quality of birds, although, levels of 120 and 160 mg Zn/kg of diet increased eggshell strength.

Keywords

References

Bartlett JR and Smith MO, 2003. Effects of different levels of zinc on the performance and immunocompetence       of broilers under heat stress. Poultry Science 82(10): 1580-1588.
Batal AB, Parr TM and Baker DH, 2001. Zinc bioavailability in tetrabasic zinc chloride and the dietary zinc requirement of young chicks fed soy concentrate diet. Poultry Science 80: 87–90.
Buijs S, Keeling L, Rettenbacher S, Van Poucke E and Tuyttens FAM, 2009. Stocking density effects on broiler welfare: Identifying sensitive ranges for different indicators. Poultry Science 88: (8) 1536-1543.
Çabuk M, Bozkurt M, Alçiçek A, Çatli AU and. Baser KHC, 2003. Effect of a dietary essential oil mixture on performance of laying hens in the summer season. South African Journal of Animal Science 36: 215–221.
Chu Y, Mouat MF, Harris HB, Coffeld JA and Grider A, 2003. Water maze performance and changes in serum corticosterone levels in zincdeprived and pair-fed rats. Physiological Behavior. 78: 567-578.
Commission of the European Communities, 1986. Council Directive 86/113/EEC: Welfare of battery hens. Official Journal of the European Communities (L 95) 29: 45-49.
Duncan DB, 1955. Multiple range and multiple F test. Biometrics 11 (1): 1-42.
Durmus I, Atasoglu C, Mizrak C, Ertas S and Kaya M, 2004. Effect of increasing zinc concentration in the diets of brown parent stock layers on various production and hatchability traits (short communication). Arch. Tierz Dummerstorf 47 (5): 483-489.
Fletcher MP, Gershwin ME, Keen CL and Hurley LS, 1988. Trace element deficiencies and immune responsiveness in human and animal models. In: Nutrition and Immunology. New York NY. pp: 215-239.
Flinchum JD, Nockels CF and Moreng RE, 1989. Aged hens fed zinc-methionine had chicks with improved performance. Poultry Science 68 (Suppl 1):55.
Gross WB, 1992. Effect of short-term exposure of chickens to corticosterone on resistance to challenge exposure with Escherichia coli and antibody response to sheep erythrocytes. American Journal of Veterinary Research 53:291–293.
Guo YY, Song ZG, Jiao HC, Song QQ and Lin H, 2012.The effect of group size and stocking density on the welfare and performance of hens housed in furnished ages during summer. Animal Welfare 21: 41-49.
Haugh R, 1937. The Haugh unit for measuring egg quality. US Egg Poult. Mag 43: 552-555
Heckert RA, Estevez I, Russek-Cohen E and Pettit-Riley R, 2002. Effects of density and perch availability on the immune status of broilers. Poultry Science 81:451–457.
Houshmand M, Azhar K, Zulkifli I, Bejo MH and Kamyab A, 2012. Effects of prebiotic, protein level, and stocking density on performance, immunity, and stress indicators of broilers. Poultry Science 91(1): 393-401.
Hy-Line International, 2008. ‘Hy-Line W-36 commercial management guide.’ (Hy-Line International: West Des Moines, IA).
Jalal MA, Scheideler SE and Marx M, 2006. Effect of bird cage space and dietary metabolizable energy level on production parameters in laying hens. Poultry Science 85:306–311.
Keeling LJ, Estevez I, Newberry RC and Correia MG, 2003. Production-related traits of layers reared in different sized flocks: The concept of problematic intermediate group sizes. Poultry Science 82:1393–1396.
Khajaren J, Khajaren S, Rapp CJ, ward TA, Jahnson JA and falker TM, 2006. Effects of zinc and manganese amino acid complexes (Availa-zinc) on layer production and egg quality. http://us.zinpro.com/research/ZPA/ZPA0048.htm.
Khatibjoo A, Kermanshahi H, Golian A and Zaghari M, 2011. The effect of dietary n-6: n-3 ratio and sex on broilers breeder immunity. Poultry Science 90(10): 2209-2216.
Kidd MT, Anthony NB, Newberry LA and Lee SR, 1993. Effect of supplemental zinc in either a corn-soybean or a milo and corn-soybean meal diet on the performance of young broiler breeders and their progeny. Poultry Science 72(8):1492-1499.
Lesson S and Summers J, 2001. Scott nutrition of the chicken. 4th edition. 688.
Liu Zh, Lu L, Li SF, Zhang LY, Xi L, Zhang KY and Luo XG, 2011. Effects of supplemental zinc source and level on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of broilers. Poultry Science 90: 1782-1790
Mahmood HM and Hazim J, 2011a. Zinc improves egg quality in cobb500 broiler breeder females. International Journal of Poultry Science 10(6): 471-476
Mahmood HM and Hazim J, 2011b. Effect of dietary supplementation with different level of zinc on sperm egg penetration and fertility traits of broiler breeder chicken. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 10(11): 1083-1088.
Mirfendereski E and Jahanian R, 2015. Effects of dietary organic chromium and vitamin C supplementation on performance, immune responses, blood metabolites, and stress status of laying hens subjected to high stocking density. Poultry Science 94: 281-288.
Nadali M, Salari S, Boujarpour M, Tabatabaei Vakili S and Sari M, 2014. Effect of different levels of zinc supplementation on some productive parameters of broiler breeder. Iranian Journal of Animal Science Research 5(4): 291-301.
Noor R, Mittal S and Iqbal J, 2002. Superoxide dismutate-applications and relevance to human disease Medical Science Monitor 8: RA210-RA215.
NRC, 1994. ‘Nutrient requirements of poultry.’ 9th edn. National Academy Press: Washington, DC.
Nys U, Hincle MT, Arias JL, Garcia-Ruiz JM, Solomon SE, 1999. Avian egg shell mineralization. Poultry and Avian Biology Reviews 10: 143–166.
Oteiza PL, Katherine LO, Cesar GF, Carl LK, 1996. Oxidant defense systems in testes from zinc-deficient rats. Experimental Biology and Medicine 213: 85–91.
Park SY, Birkhold SG, Kubena LF, Nisbet DJ and Ricks SC, 2004. Effects of high zinc diets using zinc propionate on molt induction, organs, and postmolt egg production and quality in laying hens. Poultry Science 83:24-33
Prasad AS, Kucuk O, 2002. Zinc in cancer prevention. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews 21: 291–295.
Preisinger R, 2000. Lohmann tradition, praxiserfahrung und entwicklungsperspektiven. Lohmann Inform 3:13–16.
Puvadolpirod S and Thaxton JP, 2000. Model of physiological stress in chickens. I. Response parameters. Poultry Science 79:363–369.
Ramos NC, Anderson KE and Adams AW, 1986. Effects of type of cage partition, cage shape and world density on productivity and well–being of layers. Poultry Science 65: 2023–2028.
Rashidi A, Gofrani Ivari AY, khatibjoo A and Vakili R, 2010. Effects of dietary fat, vitamin E and zinc on immune response and blood parameters of broiler reared under heat stress. Research Journal of Poultry Science 3(2): 32-38.
Rasooli V, Salari S, Tatar A, 2018. Effect of organic zinc supplement on performance, immunity responses, cecal microbial population and digestibility of nutrients in broiler chickens reared at high stocking density. Iranian Journal of Animal Science 49 (3): 393-404 (In Persian).
Renema RA, Robinson FE, Oosterhoff HH, Feddes JJR, and Wilson JL, 2001. Effects of photostimulatory F. E light intensity on ovarian morphology and carcass traits at sexual maturity in modern and antique egg-type pullets. Poultry Science 80: 47-56.
Rodenburg TB, Tuyttens FAM, Sonck B, De Koen R, Lieve H, and Johan Z, 2005. Welfare, health, and hygiene of laying hens housed in furnished cages and in alternative housing systems. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 8:211–226.
Sahin K and kucuk O, 2003. Zinc supplementation alleviates heat stress in laying Japanese quail. The Journal of Nutrition 133: 2808-2811.
Sahin K, Sahin N, Kucuk O, Hayiril A and Prasad AS, 2009. Role of zinc in heat – stressed poultry. Poultry Science 88: 2176-2183.
Sahin R and Kucukm O, 2001. A simple way to reduce heat stress in laying hens as judged by egg laying, body weight gain and biochemical parameters. Acta Vetenarium Hungarcia 49: 421–430.
Sarica M, Boga S, Yamak US, 2008. The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages. Czech Journal of Animal Science 53: 346-353.
SAS Institute, 2001. SAS/STAT Users Guide. SAS Inc, NC.
Scholtyssek S, Gschwindt-Ensinger B and Bessei W, 1984. Der Einfluss der Zucht in unterschiedlichen Haltungssystemen auf Leistung, Verhaltens- und physiologische Parameter von Legchennen (2. Mitteilung: Vergleich der Kreuzungsetkkte). Arch. Gefliigelk. 48, 80-88.
Shafiepour Fard D, Salari S, Sari M, Abdanan Mehdizadeh S and Zarei M, 2016. Effect of lipid sources and organic zinc supplementation on performance, egg bacterial activity and reproductive parameters of laying hens. Journal of Animal Production 18(3): 539-552 (In Persian).
Simon J, 1984. Effects of daily corticosterone injections upon plasma glucose, insulin, uric acid and electrolytes and food intake pattern in the chicken. Diabetes and Metabolism 10: 211-217.
Sorosh Z, Salari S, Sari M, Fayazi J and Tabatabaei S, 2019. Dietary zinc supplementation and the performance and behaviour of caged laying hens. Animal Production Science 59 (2): 331-337.
Swiatkiewicz S and Koreleski J, 2008. The effect of zinc and manganese source in the diet for laying hens on eggshell and bones quality. Veterinarni Medicina 53(10): 555-563.
Tactacan GB, Guenter W, Lewis NJ, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC and House JD, 2009. Performance and welfare of laying hens in conventional and enriched cages. Poultry Science 88: 698-707.
Underwood EJ and Suttle NF, 1999. The mineral nutrition of livestock (3rd edition), CABI publishing, Wallingford, Oxon, UK, pages.
Venkata R, Malathil VK and Venkatarami Reddy BS, 2008. Effect of induced moulting in male and female line broiler breeder hens by zinc oxide and feed withdrawal methods on post molt performance parameters. International Journal of Poultry Science 7(6): 586-593.
Wafa AE, Sayed SA, Ali MA and Abdallah AG, 2003. Performance and immune response of broiler chicks as affected by methionine and zinc or commercial zinc-methionine supplementations. Egypt Poultry Science 23(6): 523-540.
Walsh CT, Sandstead HH, Prasad AS, Newberne PM and Fraker PJ, 1990. Zinc: health effects and research priorities for the 1990s. Environmental Health Perspectives 102(2): 5-46.
Wilson HR, 2004. Hatchability Problem Analysis. University of Florida, CIRIII2.
Animal Science Research
Volume 32, Issue 3
March 2022
Pages 1-18

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 02 February 2020
  • Revise Date: 01 June 2020
  • Accept Date: 06 March 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics