Effect of Sugarcane Bagasse and Sunflower Hull on Productive Performance, Egg Quality, Tibia Characteristics, and Cecal Microbial Population of Laying Hens Raised in High Stocking Densities

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Animal Science and Food Technology Faculty, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

2 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of different sources of insoluble fiber at different cage densities on egg performance, egg quality, tibia characteristics, and cecal microbial population of 70-week-old Hy-Line W-36 for 10 weeks. A total of 120 laying hens were allocated to six treatments, including control (CTL) and two sources of insoluble fiber (sugarcane bagasse (SB) and sunflower hulls (SFH) in 5 % of diet) at two stock densities (3 and 5 hens per cage) with five replicates. Dietary inclusion of SB decreased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and egg production (EP), but improved egg weight (EW), egg mass (EM) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the birds fed SFH. High stock density reduced ADFI, EP, and EW, but increased FCR. Egg quality parameters such as Haugh unit, shell strength, shell thickness, percentage of shell, percentage of yolk, percentage of white and yolk color, and tibia characteristics of laying hens were not affected by insoluble fiber, stock density, or their interactions. High stock density–challenged hens had higher plasma corticosterone levels, but lower feather scores compared to the normal stock density hens (P < 0.05. Besides, subjecting hens to high stocking density decreased populations of Lactobacillus spp. and increased the cecal population of E. coli compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The inclusion of SFH and SB in layer diets, however, increased populations of Lactobacillus spp. and decreased the cecal population of coliforms and E. coli compared to birds in the CTL group. Therefore, dietary inclusion of insoluble fiber, especially sugarcane bagasse,  can be a useful method to improve  productive performance and cecal microbial population of old laying.

Keywords

References

Abdollahi A, Karimi A, Sadeghi AA, Bedford MR & Ashengroph M. 2021. The effects of the fiber source and xylanase supplementation on production, egg quality, digestibility, and intestinal morphology in the aged laying hen. Poultry Science, 100(3): 100936. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.12.033
Abudabos AM, Samara EM, Hussein EO, Al-Ghadi MAQ & Al-Atiyat RM. 2013. Impacts of stocking density on the performance and welfare of broiler chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 12(1): e11. DOI:10.4081/ijas. 2013.e11
Adedokun SA & Adeola O. 2013. Calcium and phosphorus digestibility: Metabolic limits. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 22(3): 600-608. DOI:10.3382/japr.2013-00740
Amerah AM, Ravindran V & Lentle RG. 2009. Influence of insoluble fibre and whole wheat inclusion on the performance, digestive tract development and ileal microbiota profile of broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 50: 366-375. DOI:10.1080/00071660902865901
AOAC. 2000. Official Methods of Analysis. 17th ed. Washington DC: Association of Official Analytical Chemists.
Asensio X, Abdelli N, Piedrafita J, Soler MD & Barroeta AC. 2020. Effect of fibrous diet and vitamin C inclusion on uniformity, carcass traits, skeletal strength, and behavior of broiler breeder pullets. Poultry Science, 99 (5): 2633-2644. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.01.015
Boazar E, Salari S, Erfanimajd N & Moosavi Fakhr K. 2021. Effect of mash and pellet diets containing different sources of fiber on the growth performance and cecal microbial population of broiler chickens. Journal of Livestock Science and Technologies, 9 (1): 9-22. DOI: 10.22103/jlst.2021.17354.1361
Bogusławska-Tryk M, Szymeczko R, Piotrowska A, Burlikowska K & Śliżewska K. 2015. Ileal and cecal microbial population and short-chain fatty acid profile in broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with lignocellulose. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 35(2): 212-216.
Bright A, Jones TA & Dawkins MS. 2006. A non-intrusive method of assessing plumage condition in commercial flocks of laying hens. Animal Welfare, 15(2): 113-118.
Campbell DLM, Lee C, Hinch GN & Roberts JR. 2017. Egg production and egg quality in free-range laying hens housed at different outdoor stocking densities. Poultry Science, 96(9): 3128-3137. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex107
Cheng HW & Muir WM. 2004. Chronic social stress differentially regulates neuroendocrine responses in laying hens: II. Genetic basis of adrenal responses under three different social conditions. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29 (7): 961-971. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2003.09.002
De Jong IC, Van Voorst AS, Erkens JH, Ehlhardt DA & Blokhuis HJ. 2001. Determination of the circadian rhythm in plasma corticosterone and catecholamine concentrations in growing broiler breeders using intravenous cannulation. Physiology and Behavior, 74(3): 299-304. DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(01)00562-5
Enneking SA, Cheng HW, Jefferson-Moore KY, Einstein ME, Rubin DA & Hester PY. 2012. Early access to perches in caged White Leghorn pullets. Poultry Science, 91(9): 2114-2120. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2012-02328
Fidan ED & Nazligul A. 2013. Cage position and density effect on some welfare criteria in Denizli chicken. Indian Journal of Animal Science, 93(6): 645-648.
Guz BC, Molenaar R, de Jong IC, Kemp B, Van Den Brand H & Van Krimpen M. 2019. Effects of dietary organic minerals, fish oil, and hydrolyzed collagen on growth performance and tibia characteristics of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 98(12): 6552-6563. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez427
Hetland H, Svihus B & Krogdahl Å. 2003. Effects of oat hulls and wood shavings on digestion in broilers and layers-fed diets based on whole or ground wheat. British Poultry Science, 44(2): 275-282. DOI: 10.1080/0007166031000124595
Hy-Line International. 2007. 'Hy-Line W-36 commercial management guide.' (Hy-Line International: West des Moines, IA).
Incharoen T & Maneechote P. 2013. The effects of dietary whole rice hull as insoluble fiber on the flock uniformity of pullets and on the egg performance and intestinal mucosa of laying hens. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 8(4): 323-329. DOI: 10.3844/ajabssp.2013.322.329
Jahanian R & Mirfendereski E. 2015. Effect of high stocking density on performance, egg quality, and plasma and yolk antioxidant capacity in laying hens supplemented with organic chromium and vitamin C. Livestock Science, 177: 117-124. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2015.04.022
Jalal MA, Scheideler SE & Marx D. 2006. Effect of bird cage space and dietary metabolizable energy level on production parameters in laying hens. Poultry Science, 85(2): 306-311. DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.2.306
Janssen WMMA.1989. European table of energy values for poultry feedstuffs. Wageningen, Holanda.
Jensen P, Keeling L, Schütz K, Andersson L, Mormède P, Brändström H, Forkman B, Kerje S, Fredriksson R, Ohlsson C, Larsson S. 2005. Feather pecking in chickens is genetically related to behavioural and developmental traits. Physiology & Behavior, 86(1-2):52-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2005.06.029
Kang HK, Park SB, Kim SH & Kim CH. 2016. Effects of stock density on the laying performance, blood parameter, corticosterone, litter quality, gas emission and bone mineral density of laying hens in floor pens. Poultry Science, 95: 2764–2770. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pew264
Kheravii SK, Swick RA, Choct M & Wu SB. 2017. Dietary sugarcane bagasse and coarse particle size of corn are beneficial to performance and gizzard development in broilers fed normal and high sodium diets. Poultry Science, 96(11): 4006-4016. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex225
Knudsen KEB. 2014. Fiber and non-starch polysaccharide content and variation in common crops used in broiler diets. Poultry Science, 93(9): 2380-2393. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2014-03902
Kridtayopas C, Rakangtong C, Bunchasak C & Loongyai W. 2019. Effect of prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation in diet on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, stress, and bacterial population under high stocking density condition of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 98(10): 4595-4605. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez152
Lai PW, Liang JB, Hsia LC, Loh TC & Ho YW. 2010. Effects of varying dietary zinc levels and environmental temperatures on the growth performance, feathering score and feather mineral concentrations of broiler chicks. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 23(7): 937-945. DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2010.90495
Masouri L, Salari S, Sari M, Tabatabaei S & Masouri B. 2017. Effect of feed supplementation with Satureja khuzistanica essential oil on performance and physiological parameters of broilers fed on wheat-or maize-based diets. British Poultry Science, 58(4): 425-434. DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2017.1327701
Mateos GG, Jiménez-Moreno E, Serrano MP & Lázaro RP. 2012. Poultry response to high levels of dietary fiber sources varying in physical and chemical characteristics. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 21(1): 156-174. DOI: 10.3382/japr.2011-00477
Mateos GG, Lazaro R & Gracia M. 2002. The feasibility of using nutritional modifications to replace drugs in poultry feeds. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 11: 437-452. DOI: 10.1093/japr/11.4.437
Mirfendereski E & 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(2): 281-288. DOI: 10.3382/ps/peu074
Mohiti-Asli M, Shivazad M, Zaghari M, Aminzadeh S, Rezaian M & Mateos GG. 2012. Dietary fibers and crude protein content alleviate hepatic fat deposition and obesity in broiler breeder hens. Poultry Science, 91(12): 3107-3114. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2011-02040
Morrissey KLH, Widowski T, Leeson S, Sandilands V, Arnone A & Torrey S. 2014. The effect of dietary alterations during rearing on feather condition in broiler breeder females. Poultry Science, 93(7): 1636-1643. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2013-03822
Pourazadi Z, Salari S, Tabandeh MR & Abdollahi MR. 2020. Effect of particle size of insoluble fibre on growth performance, apparent ileal digestibility and caecal microbial population in broiler chickens fed barley-containing diets. British Poultry Science, 61(6): 734-745. DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2020.1799329
Rath NC, Huff GR, Huff WE & Balog JM. 2000. Factors regulating bone maturity and strength in poultry. Poultry Science, 79(7): 1024-1032. DOI: 10.1093/ps/79.7.1024
Samli HE. 2006. Using rice bran in laying hen diets. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 7(1): 135-140. DOI: 10.5513/jcea.v7i1.365
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(8): 346-353.
SAS Institute. 2008. SAS/STAT 9.1 User’s Guide: The REG Procedure (Book Excerpt). SAS Institute, North Carolina, USA.
Scheideler SE. 1993. Effects of various types of aluminosilicates and aflatoxin B1 on aflatoxin toxicity, chick performance, and mineral status. Poultry Science, 72(2), 282-288. DOI: 10.3382/ps.0720282
Su G, Kjaer JB, Sørensen P. 2006. Divergent selection on feather pecking behavior in laying hens has caused differences between lines in egg production, egg quality, and feed efficiency. Poultry Science, 85(2):191-7. DOI: 10.1093/ps/ 85.2.191.
United Egg Producers. 2016. Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg Laying Flocks.
Van Soest PV, Robertson JB & Lewis BA. 1991. “Methods for Dietary Fibre, Neutral Detergent Fibre, and Nonstarch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition.” Journal of Dairy Science, 74 (10): 3583–3597. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022- 0302(91)78551-2
Wang J, Qiu L, Gong H, Celi P, Yan L, Ding X, Bai S, Zeng Q, Mao X, Xu S & Wu C. 2020. Effect of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation and high stocking density on performance, egg quality, and tibia quality in laying hens. Poultry Science, 99(5): 2608-2615. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2019.12.054
Yngvesson J, Keeling LJ & Newberry RC. 2004. Individual production differences do not explain cannibalistic behavior in laying hens. British Poultry Science, 45(4): 453-62. DOI: 10.1080/00071660412331286163
Zhang YR, Zhang LS, Wang Z, Liu Y, Li FH, Yuan JM & Xia ZF. 2018. Effects of stocking density on growth performance, meat quality and tibia development of Pekin ducks. Animal Science Journal, 89(6): 925-930. DOI: 10.1111/asj.12997
Poultry Science Journal
Volume 11, Issue 1
January 2023
Pages 83-94

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics