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The objective of the current study was to conduct an initial comparison of commercial yeast products in layer hen diets on egg production parameters and the corresponding impact on the cecal microbiota. A short-term feeding study was conducted with 35 laying hens receiving either a control, or 1 of 4 different yeast fermentation products, Immunowall, Hilyses (both from ICC, São Paulo, Brazil), Citristim (ADM, Decatur, IL), and Maxi-Gen Plus (CBS Bio Platforms, Calgary, Canada) with 7 hens per treatment from 40 to 46 wk of age. At the end of the trial, hens were euthanized, the ceca removed and prepared for denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) microbial compositional analyses. Although initial shell weight and shell thickness were similar among the treatment groups, hens fed Hilyses had lower shell weight and thickness at the end of the experiment. The most predominant DGGE bands with the strongest intensity were identified as Lactobacillus species and excised double bands were identified as Bacillus, Clostridium, or Lachnospiraceae. In this short-term feeding trial, the commercial yeast products tested had little effect on egg production and shell quality, and only moderately impacted the composition of mature layer hen cecal microbiota.

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Poultry farming is an important activity in animal protein production worldwide, either by laying hen farming or broilers. Over the last decades, the change in production systems with confinement of large numbers of hens has increased productivity and reduced costs; however, it has also increased sanitary issues. In this setting, arthropods that are adapted to poultry houses have gained great importance. They cause direct damage to hens, either by blood spoliation caused by ectoparasites or lesions in the digestive tract (e.g., lesser mealworm) or by indirect damages, by transmitting pathogens or by affecting egg quality, when they attain pest status. Synthetic chemical products comprise the most frequently used control strategy against these pests, with relative efficacy and many side effects. In Europe, some countries also adopt alternative prevention or control measures. In Brazil, however, although there are some groups of researchers that work on developing alternative control, its use is virtually zero. The present review shows a critical overview of this context in Brazil, based on the alternatives that have already been studied and made available, but have not been implemented, yet, and the potential stumbling blocks created by the very poultry market against these advances.

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Poultry production is linked to veterinary drug use to treat diseases. Few ectoparasitic compounds are approved for poultry. Fipronil is a pesticide widely used in agriculture. It is also a drug authorized to control ectoparasites in small animals and, in some countries, in cattle. There has been evidence of fipronil extra-label use in laying hens, mainly to control the red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. Fipronil's popularity is due to its high toxicity to invertebrates. It could be metabolized to more toxic metabolites that potentially damage human health. In the present study, we carry out a quantitative exposure assessment and risk characterization for fipronil residues in laying hen eggs for local consumption in five cities of Buenos Aires province in Argentina, namely, Azul, Balcarce, Juarez, Chaves, and Tandil. Consumption surveys and egg sampling were conducted for three summer periods. Eggs were analyzed by UFLC-MS-MS. Fipronil prevalence, residue concentrations, residue stability to cooking methods, egg consumption, among the most important variables were modeled. The results indicated that 20.7% of samples contained fipronil residues. The highest residue was fipronil sulfone metabolite. Fipronil concentrations quantified ranged between 10 and 2510 ppb (median value = 150 ppb). When eggs were cooked, fipronil residues were stable. The exposure assessment and risk characterization revealed that the highest probability of consuming eggs with fipronil residues above the admissible limits was for young adults (20.8%), followed by babies (16.9%), young children (16.4%), children (13.4%), teenagers (10.3%), older adults (9.41%), and adults (8.65%). These results suggest an unacceptable risk associated with egg consumption with fipronil residues for all age groups. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Fipronil is widely used as an extra-label way on laying hens since its use is prohibited in poultry production both in Argentina and in most countries. This molecule has been classified as Class II, a moderately hazardous pesticide because it could damage various human organs. Fipronil residues in eggs could be one of the exposure pathways for consumers. Monitoring residual levels and carrying out the health risk assessment in eggs are thus in an urge.

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ABSTRACT In this study we evaluated the inclusion of chemical silage from red tilapia viscera (Oreochromis sp.) in diets for ISA Brown line laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and its influence on nutritional parameters and egg quality. A total of 56 16-week-old laying hens were randomly divided into two groups (one per diet), which in turn were subdivided into 7 groups, each with 4 birds. Eggs were collected during the first 13 weeks of laying. During this period the egg quality parameters were evaluated until week 11; the bromatological characterization of the egg was carried out in the 2nd and 4th week of laying. The results indicated that the inclusion of chemical silage in 17,18% dry matter does not result in statistically significant differences in egg quality parameters or in their bromatological composition, with respect to the control. This led to the conclusion that chemical silage can be used as an alternative to protein inputs such as fish meal and soybean cake in the diet of laying hens, without modifying the quality of the final product.

RESUMEN En este trabajo se evaluó la inclusion de ensilado químico de vísceras de tilapia roja (Oreochromis sp.) en dietas para gallinas ponedoras (Gallus gallus domesticus) de la raza Isa-Brown, y su influencia sobre parámetros nutricionales y la calidad del huevo. Se utilizó un total de 56 gallinas ponedoras de 16 semanas de edad divididas al azar en dos grupos (uno por dieta), los cuales a su vez se subdividieron en 7 grupos de 4 aves cada uno. Se les recolectó huevos durante las primeras 13 semanas de postura. Durante este periodo se realizó la evaluación de los parámetros de calidad del huevo hasta la semana 11. La caracterización bromatológica del huevo se realizo en las semanas 2 y 4, luego de haber sido puestos. Los resultados indicaron que la inclusion de ensilado químico en un 17,18% materia seca, no genera diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p < 0,05) en los parámetros de calidad del huevo ni en su composición bromatológica, con respecto al control. Esto permitió concluir que el ensilado químico puede ser usado como alternativa a insumos proteicos como harina de pescado y torta de soya en la alimentación de gallinas ponedoras, sin modificar la calidad del producto final.

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Small and medium-sized table egg producers have a large volume of data and information on daily production, which is not used in the decision-making process. It is important to define the best mathematical model for the prediction of both the growth and the egg production of brown layers to relate pullet growth traits with productivity in a commercial cycle. For the above purpose, growth and production data were obtained from 15 brown layer flocks, six mathematical models of growth and five of egg production were tested. Correlations were made between the parameters of growth and egg production, as well as between the parameters derived from the mathematical models. The prediction equations for the egg production indicators were estimated.As a result,the best model for predicting layer growth (Gompertz) and for egg production was obtained (Yang). The growth parameters with the greatest influence on egg production were the maximum growth rate (MGR) and the theta value (TV). Body weight at 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16 weeks of age had effects on egg production. As a conclusion maximizing the growth of the brown layer in key stages of its development has positive effects on egg production.(AU)

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In the last few years, feed additives have been used in animal nutrition to improve nutrient utilization, health parameters and animal performance. However, the use of antibiotics as feed additives has allowed the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which can bring as a consequence, an increase in the morbidity and mortality of diseases that were previously treatable with antibiotics. In this context, antimicrobial peptides (AMP) have appeared as a promising strategy because they have multiple biological activities and represent a powerful strategy to prevent the development of resistant microorganisms. Despite the small number of studies applied in vivo, AMP appear as a potent alternative to the use of antibiotics in animal nutrition, due to an increase in feed efficiency and the prevention/treatment of some animal diseases. This review discusses the problems associated with antimicrobial resistance and the use of AMP as a strong candidate to replace conventional antibiotics, mainly in the animal industry.

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In the present study, seventy-two 30-week-old laying hens (Brown Hisex) were separated into two groups (control and treatment) and fed with a standard layer diet. In the treatment group the amount of effective microorganism (EM) added to the drinking water is equal to1000 ppm EM dose. Throughout the 8-week study period, 16 h thermoneutral (20-22 ºC) and 8 h hot (35-37 ºC) environmental temperature regime was applied daily. The results indicated that EM supplementation affected performance and some egg quality characteristics of layers exposed high environmental temperature. Feed intake and conversion ratio, yolk index, albumen index, yolk colour b, Haugh unit were decreased by supplemental EM. Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, total oxidant- antioxidant concentration were not affected by EM. It is concluded that EM supplementation in laying hens could have potential to improve feed intake and feed conversion ratio under high environmental temperature. However, supplemental EM with drinking water decreased some egg quality parameters.

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This study evaluated the effects of chromium yeast (Cr yeast) and two apparent metabolizable energy (AME) levels on productive performance, egg quality, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in laying hens. A total of 192 Bovans White laying hens at 47 weeks of age were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments (six replicates each) in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement: four levels of supplemental Cr (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 ppm as Cr yeast) and two AME levels (2,780 and 2,900 kcal AME kg−1). No significant effect of Cr yeast supplementation on feed intake, egg weight, egg production, intact eggs, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, or egg quality was observed. Egg quality parameters and Cr content in the yolk were not affected by dietary treatments. Plasma glucose and lipid levels were not influenced by either Cr yeast or AME levels used in this study. However, Cr yeast supplementation improved yolk percentage and hepatic glycogen content. The inclusion of Cr yeast at 0.2 and 0.4 ppm induced the highest hepatic glycogen content with the energy levels 2,900 and 2,780 kcal AME kg−1, respectively. Laying hens fed 2,900 kcal AME kg−1 showed the highest abdominal fat. The results observed in the present study support the hypothesis that the lack of positive effects of Cr yeast supplementation on production performance and egg quality may be related to good management practices, as the birds were not subjected to stressful conditions.

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In the present study, seventy-two 30-week-old laying hens (Brown Hisex) were separated into two groups (control and treatment) and fed with a standard layer diet. In the treatment group the amount of effective microorganism (EM) added to the drinking water is equal to1000 ppm EM dose. Throughout the 8-week study period, 16 h thermoneutral (20-22 ºC) and 8 h hot (35-37 ºC) environmental temperature regime was applied daily. The results indicated that EM supplementation affected performance and some egg quality characteristics of layers exposed high environmental temperature. Feed intake and conversion ratio, yolk index, albumen index, yolk colour b, Haugh unit were decreased by supplemental EM. Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, total oxidant- antioxidant concentration were not affected by EM. It is concluded that EM supplementation in laying hens could have potential to improve feed intake and feed conversion ratio under high environmental temperature. However, supplemental EM with drinking water decreased some egg quality parameters.(AU)

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Egg production and egg shell quality decrease toward the end of the first laying cycle in hens (approximately by week 80). Even so, farmers often choose to work a second cycle with them. Defective egg shell production has been mainly linked to a decrease in gastrointestinal absorption of calcium. Here we studied pharmaceutically-designed modified-release small pellets (FOLAs) containing calcium to improve calcium bioavailability (F). The influence of FOLA alone or with capsicum-oleoresin was studied in a total of 400 Bovans-White hens randomly divided into four groups of 20 laying hens each and with five replicates per group (n = 100) as follows: (1) control group (GC) receiving a diet containing basal levels of 4.1% of calcium-carbonate; (2) group GF treated as GC but with the same dose of calcium-carbonate in FOLA; (3) group GFc5 was treated as GF but with 6 ppm of capsicum-oleoresin (500,000 Scoville Heat Units [SHU]); and (4) group GFc10 treated as GFc5 but with 1,000,000 SHU capsicum-oleoresin. Plasma concentrations of calcium were determined during 5 days at predetermined times sampling more often on days 1 and 5 for blood plasma kinetics of calcium. Relative bioavailability (Fr) values based on the area under the serum calcium concentration vs. time curve (AUC) were obtained and compared to GC. The AUC was statistically different among all groups (P < 0.5), but the GFc10 had the greatest Fr (194%), with serum calcium concentrations ranging from 25.37 to 31.2 µg/dL. Calcium residence time (RT) between GC and GF showed no statistical differences while GFc5 and GFc10 had statistically superior RT values. Simultaneously, the number of shell-less eggs per group and their thickness was evaluated by utilizing the same groups but with 150 hens per group on 6 days. Shell-less eggs decreased to zero in Group GFc10 and produced eggs with the greatest shell thickness from day 2 onwards. The inclusion of calcium-carbonate in the pharmaceutical form FOLA induced higher serum calcium concentrations (GF, GFc5, and GFc10) particularly during the night-phase of the hen's cycle-this coincides with the time at which egg shell formation occurs.

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We evaluated the effect of adding proteases in diets of laying hens at peak production on the performance, egg quality, relative weight of digestive organs, and intestinal morphometry. Hy-Line W36 layer hens (390; 28-39 weeks old) were distributed in five treatments, with 13 animals each, with six replicates. The treatments were: control (standard formulation without nutritional reduction or protease inclusion), negative control A - NCA (nutritional reduction according to protease A matrix, without protease), negative control B - NCB (nutritional reduction according to protease B matrix, without protease), NCA + protease A, and NCB + protease B. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks, divided into three cycles of 28 days. Hens subjected to treatments (NCA and NCB) showed a decrease in feed intake. However, the addition of proteases A and B promoted improvement in this trait. The diets NCA and NCB had a negative influence on the production rate of the hens, but the diet supplementation with protease B resulted in significant improvement on egg laying rate. Hens subjected to nutritional reduction presented the worst results regarding mass and conversion by egg mass. However, the addition of enzymes reversed these results. Although the diets did not affect the relative weights of yolk, albumen, eggshell, Haugh unit, and specific gravity of the eggs, a higher eggshell thickness was observed in hens that received NCA, NCB, and NCB + protease B diets. The diets did not influence the relative weights of digestive organs and the small intestine morphometry. Hens fed diets supplemented with A and B have performance recovered in relation to those that received diets with reduced levels of nutrients.(AU)

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Aspects related to the epidemiology of Diptera belonging to genus Chrysomya were studied in order to determine predisposing factors for their occurrence in commercial laying hens farms from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. An observational, analytical and sectional survey was conducted to verify the main epidemiological determinants of infestations by Chrysomya spp. Forty-three farms were visited in 2012 and these 13 (30,23%) were infested by Chrysomya putoria, 4 (9,30%) by Chrysomya megacephala and 2 (4,65%) by Chrysomya albiceps and in 2 farms (4,65%) was not possible to identify the species of Chrysomya. The epidemiological determinants for the occurrence of infestations by Chrysomya spp. were investigated using multiple logistic regression models. Housing clustering type and its conditions were important factors involved in epidemiology of these species (OR=5.05, 95% CI = 2.66 to 9.58, p = 0.000). It was also observed that the increase of the humidity of manure leads to increase chances of infestations (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.36 to 2.40, p = 0.000). The presence of the beetle "lesser mealworm" (Alphitobiusdiaperinus) (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.067 to 0.36, p = 0.000) was characterized as a protective factor against infestations, probably due to predation behavior of the beetle. Some regions of the state were characterized as lower risk areas for Chrysomya spp. infestation as compared to other regions. Management measures, such as constant monitoring of water leaks on manure, adequate composting of dead poultry and periodic removal of manure could assist in decreasing the presence of Chrysomya spp. inside the laying houses.

Aspectos relacionados à epidemiologia das infestações por dípteros do gênero Chrysomyaforam estudados com o objetivo de determinar os fatores predisponentes para sua ocorrência em granjas comerciais de postura do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo observacional, analítico e seccional para verificar os principais determinantes epidemiológicos das infestações por Chrysomya spp. Foram visitadas 43 granjas avícolas em 2012 e dessas 13 (30,23%) apresentaram infestação por Chrysomya putoria, 4 (9,30%) por Chrysomya megacephala, 2 (4,65%) por Chrysomya albiceps e em 2 granjas (4,65%) não foi possível identificar as espécies de Chrysomya. A verificação dos determinantes epidemiológicos foi realizada utilizando modelos de regressão logística múltipla. Diferenças entre os núcleos das granjas avícolas e que não foram avaliadas neste estudo, apresentaram-se importantes na epidemiologia destas moscas (OR=5.05 95% IC = 2.66 a 9.58, p = 0.000). Observou-se também que o aumento na umidade do esterco dos aviários aumenta as chances de ocorrência de infestações (OR = 1.81, 95% IC = 1.36 a 2.40, p = 0.000). A presença de coleópteros popularmente conhecidos como "Cascudinhos", Alphitobiusdiaperinus (OR = 0.15, 95% IC = 0.067 a 0.36, p = 0.000), foi caracterizada como um fator protetor contra infestações, provavelmente devido ao comportamento predador deste coleóptero. Algumas regiões do estado apresentaram menores chances de ocorrência de infestações por Chrysomya spp. quando comparadas a outras regiões. Algumas medidas de manejo, como monitoramento constante de vazamentos de água no esterco, compostagem adequada de aves mortas e remoção periódica do esterco, poderiam auxiliar na diminuição da presença de Chrysomya spp. no interior dos galpões de postura.

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Heat stress induces oxidative stress, and reduces body antioxidant metabolite levels, which can affect poultry production performance. Dietary antioxidants protect birds against the adverse effects of heat stress. The effects of increasing concentrations of dietary curcumin on the antioxidant parameters of layers maintained under high-temperature conditions for nine weeks were evaluated. Roman laying hens (n = 336, 22 weeks old, 1420 g BW) were divided into three treatment groups. The first group served as a thermoneutral control (kept at 25 ± 1 °C). The second group was exposed to high temperatures (32 ± 1 °C, 6 h/d), given a basal diet. The third group was further divided into five treatment groups (100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mg/kg Curcumin) fed a basal diet (treatments H1, H2, H3, H4, H5) under high temperatures conditions (32 ± 1 °C, 6 hours/day). As a result of this study, total superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in H2 and H3 groups, and total antioxidant capacity was higher in H2, H3, and H5 groups. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in the H3 group. Malondialdehyde concentration was lowered in curcumin supplemented hens compared with control groups hens. Laying hens in all curcumin treatment groups had slightly higher activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC in the liver, heart, and lungs, compared with heat stressed control group. It was concluded that dietary curcumin given to laying hens under heat stress may enhance their antioxidant status, and alleviate the detrimental effects of stressful environmental conditions.

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The apparent faecal digestibility of the essential amino acids from 3 PUFA layer diets and feeding solutions to avoid possible adverse effects of such diets were investigated in two experiments conducted on Lohmann Brown laying hens. Experiment 1 used 72 layers assigned to three groups (C1, E1-1, E2), while experiment 2 used 96 layers assigned to four groups (C2, E1-2, E3, E4). All experimental diets have been enriched in 3 PUFA by supplementing a conventional diet (C1, C2) with 5% flaxseed meal and 2% camelina meal. Diets E2 and E4 had an increased level of Cu (150 mg/kg), diets E3 and E4 were supplemented with 0.0125% enzyme mix, while diets E1-1 and E1-2 were only supplemented with 5% flaxseed meal and 2% camelina meal. The digestibility coefficients of the studied essential amino acids (threonine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, cystine, methionine) were lower (p0.05) in groups E1-1 and E2 from experiment 1, than in the control group (C1). In experiment 2, the supplemental enzyme mix (E3) increased (p0.05) the digestibility coefficients of phenylalanine, lysine, cystine and methionine, compared to the diet with camelina and flaxseed meals (E1-2). The simultaneous inclusion of copper and enzyme mix in the E4 diet increased (p0.05) lysine digestibility compared to group E1-2 and sulphur amino acids digestibility, compared to the other groups (C2, E1-2 and E3). In both experiments, only the feed conversion ratio was different (p0.05) in favour of the control groups (C1 and C2), compared to the other groups.

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The objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of different dietary fiber sources and the usage of xylanase on diet of commercial layers and their influence on productive performance, egg quality, and digestive organ biometry. A total of 864 Lohmann® White hens was fed diets with three different fiber sources (wheat bran, soybean hull, or coffee husk) with or without xylanase inclusion (concentration of 160,000 BXU/g) in a 3×2 factorial arrangement, with six replicates of 24 birds each, from 25 to 44 weeks of age. There were no interactions between dietary fiber and xylanase inclusion. The enzyme supplementation did not influence any parameters evaluated. There were dietary fiber effects on body weight gain, viability, egg weight, eggshell quality, yolk pigmentation, and liver and gizzard relative weights. Wheat bran, soybean hull, and coffee husk can be used in laying hen diets without detrimental effect on productive performance. The enzyme used had no effect on the performance and eggshell quality of laying hens.(AU)

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Heat stress induces oxidative stress, and reduces body antioxidant metabolite levels, which can affect poultry production performance. Dietary antioxidants protect birds against the adverse effects of heat stress. The effects of increasing concentrations of dietary curcumin on the antioxidant parameters of layers maintained under high-temperature conditions for nine weeks were evaluated. Roman laying hens (n = 336, 22 weeks old, 1420 g BW) were divided into three treatment groups. The first group served as a thermoneutral control (kept at 25 ± 1 °C). The second group was exposed to high temperatures (32 ± 1 °C, 6 h/d), given a basal diet. The third group was further divided into five treatment groups (100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mg/kg Curcumin) fed a basal diet (treatments H1, H2, H3, H4, H5) under high temperatures conditions (32 ± 1 °C, 6 hours/day). As a result of this study, total superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in H2 and H3 groups, and total antioxidant capacity was higher in H2, H3, and H5 groups. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in the H3 group. Malondialdehyde concentration was lowered in curcumin supplemented hens compared with control groups hens. Laying hens in all curcumin treatment groups had slightly higher activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC in the liver, heart, and lungs, compared with heat stressed control group. It was concluded that dietary curcumin given to laying hens under heat stress may enhance their antioxidant status, and alleviate the detrimental effects of stressful environmental conditions.(AU)

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The apparent faecal digestibility of the essential amino acids from 3 PUFA layer diets and feeding solutions to avoid possible adverse effects of such diets were investigated in two experiments conducted on Lohmann Brown laying hens. Experiment 1 used 72 layers assigned to three groups (C1, E1-1, E2), while experiment 2 used 96 layers assigned to four groups (C2, E1-2, E3, E4). All experimental diets have been enriched in 3 PUFA by supplementing a conventional diet (C1, C2) with 5% flaxseed meal and 2% camelina meal. Diets E2 and E4 had an increased level of Cu (150 mg/kg), diets E3 and E4 were supplemented with 0.0125% enzyme mix, while diets E1-1 and E1-2 were only supplemented with 5% flaxseed meal and 2% camelina meal. The digestibility coefficients of the studied essential amino acids (threonine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, cystine, methionine) were lower (p0.05) in groups E1-1 and E2 from experiment 1, than in the control group (C1). In experiment 2, the supplemental enzyme mix (E3) increased (p0.05) the digestibility coefficients of phenylalanine, lysine, cystine and methionine, compared to the diet with camelina and flaxseed meals (E1-2). The simultaneous inclusion of copper and enzyme mix in the E4 diet increased (p0.05) lysine digestibility compared to group E1-2 and sulphur amino acids digestibility, compared to the other groups (C2, E1-2 and E3). In both experiments, only the feed conversion ratio was different (p0.05) in favour of the control groups (C1 and C2), compared to the other groups.(AU)

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The current study was conducted to determine the effects of the licorice root (Glycyrrhriza glabra) in laying hens diets on performance, egg cholesterol, some plasma parameters and antioxidant capacity. One hundred, 40-week old laying hens were divided into four groups, each group consisted of 25 hens and were placed in individual cages. The mean of the initial body weight of laying hens was 1829.18±9.595 g. Commercial laying hen diet was supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% levels of licorice root powder and four different dietary groups were formed. From the experimental findings, it was ascertained that the licorice root supplementation had no significant effect on egg weight and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05), but feed consumption decreased with increasing licorice root (p<0.05).Egg yield was recorded as 88.94%, 89.56%, 86.82% and 85.02% in the groups of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, respectively (p<0.05).Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) and egg yolk cholesterol level decreased with the addition of licorice root, while plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was increased with licorice root addition (p<0.05). Licorice root addition had a positive effect on total antioxidant capacity (TAS) of plasma. It was determined that the total antioxidant capacity was increased by increasing amount of licorice root. From the overall findings, it can be concluded that licorice root could be used as a feed additive without any adverse effect on performance. It has been demonstrated that the licorice root enables the production of functional eggs.

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The current study was conducted to determine the effects of the licorice root (Glycyrrhriza glabra) in laying hens diets on performance, egg cholesterol, some plasma parameters and antioxidant capacity. One hundred, 40-week old laying hens were divided into four groups, each group consisted of 25 hens and were placed in individual cages. The mean of the initial body weight of laying hens was 1829.18±9.595 g. Commercial laying hen diet was supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% levels of licorice root powder and four different dietary groups were formed. From the experimental findings, it was ascertained that the licorice root supplementation had no significant effect on egg weight and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05), but feed consumption decreased with increasing licorice root (p<0.05).Egg yield was recorded as 88.94%, 89.56%, 86.82% and 85.02% in the groups of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, respectively (p<0.05).Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) and egg yolk cholesterol level decreased with the addition of licorice root, while plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was increased with licorice root addition (p<0.05). Licorice root addition had a positive effect on total antioxidant capacity (TAS) of plasma. It was determined that the total antioxidant capacity was increased by increasing amount of licorice root. From the overall findings, it can be concluded that licorice root could be used as a feed additive without any adverse effect on performance. It has been demonstrated that the licorice root enables the production of functional eggs.(AU)

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Mycotoxins, which are produced by some fungi under improper storage conditions before or after harvesting in plant products, cause acute or chronic toxicities. Ochratoxin A (OA) which is also one of the harmful mycotoxins pose a threat to animal and human health. This study was carried out in order to determine OA levels in mixed feed and feedstuffs materials used in livestock enterprises throughout Sivas province. The 59 mixed feeds and 30 feedstuffs materials collected from different enterprises was analysed. Ochratoxin A concentrations were quantified using immunoassay (ELISA). In result, OA was found to be positive in 64 (71.91%) of the 89 samples analysed, whereas OA was not found in 25 samples (28.09%).

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