We examined egg production and quality responses of adding up to 7.5% defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) in a corn–soybean meal diet fed to pullets (19 to 27 wk of age). The concentration of CP and crude fat in BSFLM sample was 59.3 and 7.0% DM, respectively. A corn–soybean meal diet was formulated with 0 or 5.0 or 7.5% BSFLM and fed (n = 6) to a total of 108, 19-wk-old Shaver White pullets placed in conventional cages (6 birds/cage). The birds had free access to feed and water. Hen-day egg production (HDEP) and average egg weight were monitored daily and feed intake (FI) weekly. Egg quality parameters were assessed on individual eggs collected on the 5th d of wk 22, 24, and 26 and included individual EW (IEW), albumen height (HU), yolk color (YC), egg shell-breaking strength (SBS) and thickness (ST). A quadratic response (P < 0.02) was observed for HDEP, EW and egg mass. Specifically, birds fed 0 and 7.5% BSFLM diets had similar (P > 0.05) values for these parameters with birds fed 5.0% BSFLM showing lower (P < 0.05) HDEP than 0 or 7.5% BSFLM fed birds. The HDEP was 89.4, 84.8, and 87.8 for 0, 5.0, and 7.5% BSFLM, respectively. Feeding BSFLM linearly (P < 0.01) increased FI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (FI/egg mass). There was no diet effect (P > 0.05) on IEW and HU, however, BSFLM linearly (P = 0.02) reduced CV of IEW. The IEW was 53.7, 52.3, and 53.0 g for 0, 5.0, and 7.5% BSFLM-fed birds, respectively and corresponding CV values of IEW were 7.9, 5.2, and 5.1%. Feeding BSFLM linearly (P < 0.01) increased YC, SBS, and ST. In conclusion, birds fed 7.5% BSFLM had similar HDEP and egg mass but poor FCR relative to corn–soybean meal diet without BSFLM. The effects of BSFLM on egg quality characteristics warrant further investigations.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of hens (feed intake, rate of lay, egg weight, and BW gain), egg quality and blood biochemistry (enzymes, electrolytes, proteins, and other plasma constituents) of laying hens fed diets containing hemp products. Forty-eight Lohmann LSL-Classic (white-egg layers; 19 wk of age) were individually caged and fed 1 of 6 wheat-barley-soybean-based diets for a period of 12 wk. The diets consisted of hempseed (HS; 10, 20, or 30%), hempseed oil (HO; 4.5 or 9.0%), or a control diet (corn oil-based). All diets were formulated to contain similar levels of crude fat (11%), energy (2,800 kcal/kg), and CP (17%). Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using the repeated measure analysis of the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. The results indicated that the inclusion of up to 30 and 9.0% HS and HO, respectively, to diets of laying hens had no significant effects on hen performance, egg quality, or plasma level of metabolites (proteins, glucose, uric acid, and cholesterol) and electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, P, and Ca). Overall plasma enzyme concentrations, particularly gamma-glutamyl transferase, were significantly (P < 0.01) lowest at the 10 and 20% levels of HS inclusion, or at the 4.5% HO level of inclusion of the hempseed products compared with the higher levels or control fed hens. Similar effects were also observed for plasma aspartate aminotransferase levels but with the HS enriched diets only (P < 0.05), particularly being lowest at the inclusion levels of 10 and 20% HS compared with the control. The results may imply a possible protective effect of HS- and HO-containing diets, particularly at 10% HS, 20% HS, and 4.5% HO levels, on liver damage/injury. In summary, both HO and HS appear to be well tolerated by laying hens as judged by markers of plasma clinical chemistry supporting the safety and efficacy of hemp products for use in laying hen rations.

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This study investigated the efficacy of a single strain of Bacillus subtilis (SSB) in modulating the composition of cecal microbiota and its link to the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and apparent retention (AR) of components. A total of 720, 4-week-old Shaver White chicks were allotted to control (CON), 1.1Eϩ08 (low, LSSB), 2.2Eϩ08 (medium, MSSB), or 1.1Eϩ09 (high, HSSB) CFU/kg of diet groups. At grower (10-week), developer (16-week), and laying (28-week) phases, excreta and cecal digesta samples were taken for AR, microbial, and SCFA analyses. Microbial analysis involved high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA gene. Bacterial diversity decreased (P Ͻ 0.05) at the developer phase as the SSB dose increased; however, a distinct clustering pattern (P Ͻ 0.05) of bacterial community was noted. Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium were differentially enriched in the developer for SSB-fed compared to CON-fed birds. Although no differences in microbial diversity were detected in grower and layer phases, different species of Clostridium (XVIII, XIVa, IV, and XIVb)-major butyrate producers-were identified in all phases, with stronger effect sizes for SSB-fed compared to CON-fed birds. Isobutyric acid was elevated in dose response (P ϭ 0.034) in layer phase. In addition, the relative abundances of Alistipes, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium were positively correlated (P Ͻ 0.05), with AR of most components for SSB-fed birds in the pullet phase. The results suggested that supplementing chickens' diet with B. subtilis DSM 29784 may selectively enrich beneficial bacterial communities, which in turn are critical in promoting the growth and performance of hens. IMPORTANCE In egg-laying chickens, the trend in the move away from the cage to alternative housing systems and restriction in antimicrobial use requires alternative approaches to maintain health and prevent diseases. There is increased research and commercial interest toward alternative gut health solutions while improving the performance and product safety in poultry production systems. One such approach, in recognition of the importance of the gut microbial community, is the use of microbes as feed supplements (such as probiotics). Unlike meat-type chickens, studies assessing the efficacy of such microbial supplements are limited for egg-laying chickens. Thus, by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the hen microbiota in response to various levels of B. subtilis DSM 29784 during the pullet phase (grower and developer) and the layer phase, the present study demonstrates the importance of direct-fed microbes in modulating gut microbiome, which may relate to improved performance efficiency in the pullet and layer phases.Citation Neijat M, Habtewold J, Shirley RB, Welsher A, Barton J, Thiery P, Kiarie E. 2019. Bacillus subtilis strain DSM 29784 modulates the cecal microbiome, concentration of shortchain fatty acids, and apparent retention of dietary components in Shaver White chickens during grower, developer, and laying ...