Dimitri M. Malheiros

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of free or microencapsulated trace mineral (TM) premixes at normal and high dietary inclusion levels on the internal and external quality and mineral composition of broiler breeder eggs. Twelve breeder pens were randomly assigned to one of four treatments consisting of a factorial arrangement of two TM premix forms (free and microencapsulated) and two dietary inclusion levels of TM premix (100% and 300% of Aviagen recommendations). Hens fed the microencapsulated TM had significantly greater vitelline membrane strength than those fed the free TM (1.92 g vs. 1.81 g, respectively (p < 0.05)). Hens fed high dietary TM levels produced eggs with significantly greater shell elasticity and yolk color than hens fed the lower TM inclusion level (0.224 mm vs. 0.247 mm, and 8.89 vs. 8.62, respectively (p < 0.05)). Only the whole-egg Mn concentration was observed to be significantly (p < 0.01) increased by the higher dietary inclusion level of TM compared to lower (0.0301 mg/g vs. 0.0248 mg/g, respectively (p < 0.01)). There were no treatment effects on eggshell mineral composition. Regardless of the dietary inclusion level, feeding broiler breeders microencapsulated TM does have some beneficial effects on the internal egg quality properties, whereas increased dietary TM supplementation levels improve the shell quality, yolk color index, and whole-egg Mn concentration. There were no significant premix form X TM premix dose effects observed.

Lipid matrix microencapsulation is hypothesized to improve bioavailability for broiler breeders supplemented with normal and protect against excessive levels of inorganic trace minerals. At 27 weeks (wk), nine females and two males were assigned to each of the 12 floor pens. Each pen was randomly assigned to dietary treatments (trt) in a factorial arrangement of two mineral premix forms, free (FRTM) and microencapsulated (MITM), and two mineral premix supplement dosages (100% and 300% of Aviagen recommendations). At 55 wk termination, 15 hens/trt were randomly selected to assess tibia and jejunum morphology. Breeders receiving MITM improved hen day % (HD %), hen housed (HH%), and FCR but produced the lightest chicks at hatch. The TM form had no significant effect on histology, but TM 100% had greater villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and villi area than TM 300% (p < 0.5). No significant treatment effects on bone weight, length, and bone mass density were observed. However, MITM treatments increased tibia thickness, and FRTM supplementation increased ash% and Cu content. Hens fed 300% TM had higher bone Mn content than 100% TM, whereas hens fed MI100 had the highest Fe content. Feeding lipid matrix microencapsulated trace minerals to broiler breeders does have positive impacts on the production of eggs, but no effects were observed in the histomorphology of the jejunum or tibia bone parameters.

The objective of this study was to determine the ideal amino acid ratio for Japanese quail based on egg quality. In total, 120 Japanese quail were used. A completely randomized design was used with 12 treatments and 10 replicates per treatment. The treatments consisted of a balanced protein (BP) and the subsequent 11 diets were obtained by the 40% deletion of the BP a specific test for Lys, Met + Cys, Thr, Trp, Arg, Gly + Ser, Val, Ile, Leu, His, and Phr + Tyr. The trial lasted for 25 days. At the end of the trial, egg weight (EW), albumen height, albumen diameter, albumen index, yolk height, yolk diameter, yolk index, Haugh unit, eggshell weight (ESW), and eggshell percentage were measured. The ideal ratio was calculated when a statistical difference was detected using Dunnett’s test. Only the EW and ESW variables differed from those of BP. The ideal amino acid ratios considering Lys as 100 for EW and ESW were Met + Cys 82 and 83, Thr 60 and 68, Trp 18 and 21, Arg 109 and 112, Gly + Ser 99 and 102, Val 77 and 87, Ile 61 and 67, Leu 155 and 141, His 34 and 37, Phe + Try 134 and 133, respectively.