Effects of nanosize zinc oxide on zinc retention, eggshell quality, immune response and serum parameters of aged laying hens

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2016-03, Vol.213, p.99-107
• Main Authors: Tsai, Y.H., Mao, S.Y., Li, M.Z., Huang, J.T., Lien, T.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Egg shell quality; Laying hens; Nanosize; Nutrient retention; Zinc
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.01.009

•We nanosize the zinc oxide to evaluation the nanoparticles zinc absorption of aged layers.•Nanosize zinc oxide for dietary supplementation can increase zinc retention of aged layers than regular ZnO.•We concluded that nanosized zinc oxide can enhance zinc absorption and showed its feeding effective in aged layers. The aim of this study was to investigate how dietary supplementation of nanosize zinc oxide affect zinc retention, egg production and eggshell quality, immune response and serum parameters of aged layers. In trial 1, twenty white Leghorn laying hens (68weeks-old) were assigned to the control, ZnO, organic-Zn (Zn-methionine) and nano-Zn (nanosize ZnO) groups. The Zinc was maintained at a 60mg/kg level in the treatment groups’ diet, while the control group’s diet contained 40mg/kg Zn to evaluate the nutrient retention and zinc bioavailability. In trial 2, eighty old white Leghorn laying hens (68weeks-old) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (as trial 1) to evaluate the egg production and eggshell quality, immune response and serum parameters. The results of trial 1 indicated that there were no differences in nutrient retention among the groups, but zinc retention was significantly higher in the nano-Zn and organic-Zn groups than that in the control and ZnO groups (P