Assessing Bone Health Status and Eggshell Quality of Laying Hens at the End of a Production Cycle in Response to Inclusion of a Hybrid Rye to a Wheat–Corn Diet

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there are negative effects of the partial replacement of white corn with rye along with xylanase supplementation on overall bone quality, eggshell mineralization, and mechanical strength in laying hens. From the 26th week of life, ISA Brown laying hens were fed either a wheat–corn diet or a diet containing 25% rye, with or without xylanase. The experimental period lasted for 25 weeks, until birds reached their 50th week of age, after which bone and eggshell quality indices were assessed. Eggshell thickness and eggshell Ca content of eggs from rye-fed hens were improved by xylanase supplementation. No differences in the mechanical properties of the eggshells were observed between treatments, except for the diet-dependent changes in egg deformation. Rye inclusion had no effect on the mechanical properties of bone. Xylanase supplementation, irrespective of the diet, had a positive effect on bone strength and increased tibia Ca content, as well as the content of several microelements. Hence, hybrid rye combined with wheat can replace 25% of corn in layer diets without compromising shell quality or bone mineral content. Xylanase supplementation in these diets is recommended since its inclusion improves both bone strength and quality.

The Benefits of Exogenous Xylanase in Wheat–Soy Based Broiler Chicken Diets, Consisting of Different Soluble Non-Starch Polysaccharides Content

“…The beneficial effect of XYL in wheat-based diets is mainly attributed to the reduction of digesta viscosity, improving digestion and absorption of nutrients, dietary energy availability and subsequent growth performance of broilers [2,3]. In layers, XYL has been assessed as improving bone strength and eggshell quality [4]. Some further benefits of XYL may be related with the partial hydrolysation of the cell wall pentosans producing short-chain xylo-oligosaccharides, which can possess prebiotic properties when fermented in the chicken caeca [1].…”

Effect of Hen Genotype and Laying Time on Egg Quality and Albumen Lysozyme Content and Activity

“…In a study by [1], the effect of genotype and egg laying time on shell strength was found for hens of the native Moravia breed kept on litter. Other research shows that eggshell thickness and eggshell Ca content of eggs from rye-fed hens can be improved by xylanase supplementation [32].…”