• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.297-302
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• 2002

The effects of eggshell pigmentation and egg size (medium and large) on the spectral properties and characteristics of eggshells were examined in eggs from two genetic groups of breeder flocks. Birds from meat (Hybro, pigmented eggshell, PES) and layer (Leghorn, non-pigmented eggshell, NPES) at 40 and 46 weeks of age, respectively, were used. Measurements of per cent shell (PS), shell thickness (ST), shell volume (SV), shell density (SD), egg shell conductance (EC) and physical dimensions of eggs were made. The spectral properties of eggshells were measured over the wavelength (WL) range of 200 to 1,100 nm. Eggshell absorbed approximately 99.8 percent of the light and transmitted only about 0.12 percent with a maximum light transmission at the near-infra-red region of about 1075 nm. It attenuated shorter WL and transmitted longer WL. Eggshell pigmentation and egg size influenced light transmission into the egg. The NPES had higher EC and transmission of light and lower PS and SD than those of the PES. Large size eggs had higher EC, SD, SV, transmission of light and egg physical dimensions than those of medium size eggs. It is concluded that genetic make up of birds and egg size influenced eggshell characteristics including EC and that, as a consequence, the difference in the spectral properties of eggshells. The pigmentation of eggshell influenced the amount and WL transmitted into the egg. The size and EC of eggs influenced the amount of light transmitted through the eggshell. EC is a good indicator for the ability of eggshell to transmit light.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2010

This study attempted to clarify the difference in eggshell pigmentation between blue-shelled ducks (BSD) and whiteshelled ducks (WSD). The eggshell pigmentation deposition process is discussed. Ultraviolet spectro-photometer and HPLC were used to determine the biliverdin concentration in the shell gland, uterus liquid and eggshell at 6, 12, 18, 20, 23.5 h post-oviposition. The biliverdin concentration in the eggshell and uterus fluid showed significant differences between BSD and WSD, but not in the shell gland. The heme oxygenase activity in the shell gland of both kinds of ducks remained mostly constant during the ovulatory cycle with no variation. The assay of exogenous biliverdin injection into the shell gland antrum in the WSD indicated that exogenous biliverdin could be deposited continuously into the eggshell until the source was exhausted. A layer-by-layer dissolution assay was used to examine the eggshell pigment deposition process. The biliverdin concentration in the first to sixth layers of the eggshell in the BSD was significantly higher than that in the white-shelled counterpart. The blue pigment concentration increased persistently from the 6th layer to the $1^{st}$ layer. The BSD eggshells did not accumulate a large quantity of biliverdin in the most external layer. They tended to increase the deposition layer by layer. Our results demonstrated that different BSD and WSD eggshell colors were influenced by the amount of biliverdin in the uterus fluid and not determined by the amount of biliverdin in the shell gland. This implies the existence of a mechanism that controls biliverdin transportation from the shell gland into the uterus fluid, thereby playing a key role in regulating duck eggshell color.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-132
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• 2000

Eggshell strength and eggshell pigmentation are described in this paper since these are needed for quality egg production. A strong eggshell is determined by the components of the shell (cuticle, true shell and membranes) as well as the proper function of the gastrointestinal tract, the shell gland, the Kidneys and the endocrine system. When the puller reaches sexual maturity, the medullary bone must be ready for the laying hen at the peak egg shell formation. The amount of calcium in the layer diet, sources of calcium feed, the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the layer diet, adequate levels of vitamin D and the dietary mineral (electrolyte) balance in the body fluid are important factors along with the levels of other nutrients. Biological, environmental and managerial factors such as the age of laying flock, temperature and humidity of the hen house, bird strain, disease, egg collection through transportation and others and influence the shell breakage at various stages of movement of the eggs from the producer to the consumer. The pigments present in eggshells are protoporphyrin-Ⅸ, biliverdin-Ⅸ and its zinc chelate and occasional traces of coproporphyrin-Ⅲ. However, there are several causes of changes in eggshell pigmentation such as the age of hen, disease, drugs and surface defects due to abnormal post-cuticular deposits.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.84-86
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of yeast Rhodotourula glutinis(Glutincus) on the performance and egg quality of layers. A total of 360 ISA Brown layers of 72 weeks old were assigned to one of the following 6 diets ：control, 25 ppm ${\beta}$-carotene. 0.5％, 1％, 2％ and 4％ Glutinicus supplemented diet. Each treatment was replicated three times with 20 birds housed in 2 birds cage units. Glutinicus supplemented at the level of 0.5％ significantly(p＜0.05) improved egg production and FCR. Soft and broken egge production rate decreased as the level of Glutinicus supplementation increased. Eggshell was highest in Glutinicus 4％ supplementation. Egg yolk color increased linearly as the level of Glutinicus supplementation increased up to 2％ of the diet. It was concluded that Glutinicus supplementation at the level of 0.5％ can be recommended for the improvement of egg production while 2.0％ can be recommended for egg yolk pigmentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.702-707
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• 1998

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a microbial enzyme (Roxazyme-$G^{(R)}$), a multicarbohydrases preparation, supplementation to the wheat-based layer diets. Diets were formulated to include different levels of wheat replacing yellow corn on isocaloric and isonitrogenous basis. The energy value of wheat in the enzyme supplemented diets was adjusted (spec-modified) to have 5% more ME than the wheat in diets without enzyme. A total of 864 Hy-$Line^{(R)}$ brown layers were assigned to 4 dietary treatments: 10% wheat (T1), 25% wheat (T2), 25% wheat (spec-modified)+ 0.01 % Roxazyme-$G^{(R)}$ (T3), and all wheat (spec-modified)+0.01% Roxazyme-$G^{(R)}$ (T4). Hen-day egg productions of T1 and T4 were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than that of T2 but not different from T3. Hen-housed egg production of T4 was significantly (p < 0.01) greater than those of T1 and T3 but not different from T2. Egg weights of T1 and T2 were significantly (p < 0.0 1) greater than that of T4. Feed consumption of T2 was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than other treatments. Feed conversion ratio (feed/egg mass) was not significantly different among treatments. Eggshell thickness of T1 was significantly (p < 0.01) greater than other treatments but ratio of broken eggs was not significantly different among treatments. Haugh unit of T4 was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that of T2. Egg yolk color was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by treatments in which enzyme treatment potentiated the yolk pigmentation. It was concluded that a multi-carbohydrases supplementation enables complete replacement of yellow com with wheat without loss of productivity and major egg quality parameters.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.975-980
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis(Glutinicus) on the performance and egg quality of layers. A total of 360 ISA Brown layers at 72 weeks old were assigned to one of the following 6 diets: control, 25 ppm$\beta$-carotene, 0.50%0, 1%0, 2% and 4% Glutinicus supplemented diets. Each treatment was replicated three times with 20 birds housed in 2 bird cage units. Glutinicus supplementation at the level of 0.5% significantly(p < 0.05) improved egg production and FCR Soft and broken egg production rate decreased as the level of Glutinicus supplementation increased. Eggshell strength was highest in 4 % Glutinicus supplementation. Egg yolk color increased linearly as the level of Glutinicus supplementation increased up to 2% of the diet. It was concluded that Glutinicus supplementation at the level of 0.5% can be recommended for the improvement of egg production while 2.0% can be recommended for egg yolk pigmentation.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 1985

The effect of some organic solvents on interrupting diapause of Bombyx mori eggs was examined to provide a clue to the mechanism of diapause initiation. Methyl alcohol and benzene proved to be efficient in developing the prospective diapause eggs upto the stage of hatching or body pigmentation of the embryos. On the other hand, most of the eggs soaked in chloroform and mixture solution of chloroform-methyl alcohol (2:1) died in the early embryonic developmental stage with yellow or red brown colours, and the egg weights decreased upto ca. 40% of the original weight 8 days after the treatments. Methyl alcohol treatment for 2, 5 and 10 min to the 5hr-old-eggs led to empergence of the larvae, with high incidence (70∼80%) in the race of Kumchu X Chonghwa and with low indidence (1∼4%) in Daezo. The effect of same treatment to 20hr old eggs decreased to ca. 10% in the emergence of larvae in Kumchn X Chonghwa and increased to 20∼30% in Daezo, while the effect disappeared shortly after the diapause initiation (48hr-old-eggs). Considering the high dependency upon the egg age of the sensitivity to solvents, it was supposed that initiation and termination of diapause may be controlled by different mechanism. It was also suspected that the solvents exert their effect on the permeability of the eggshell.