Ma Yanfen, Lu Lizhi, Chen Qi, Hua Xuanke, Zhang Xinyun, Zhao Xinyu, Liu Xin
College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro products, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, PR China.
Poult Sci. 2025 May 3;104(8):105262. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105262.
The decline in laying performance during the late laying period of poultry causes significant economic losses. This study aimed to investigate the differences in production performance-related parameters between peak (D120) and late (D330) laying phases in Korean quail (Coturnix japonica). A total of 200 D120 quails and 200 D330 quails were randomly divided into 8 groups, with 50 quails per group. The laying rate and egg weight in each group were recorded daily for 8 weeks. At the 8th week, egg quality traits, serum biochemical indices, and the morphology of both ovarian tissue and eggshell gland were evaluated. Compared with D120 quails, the D330 quails exhibited the following changes: (i) Ovarian development deteriorated, with fewer follicles, leading to a reduction in laying rate. (ii) Albumen height, Haugh unit (HU), and eggshell thickness were significantly decreased. Eggshell strength was reduced by 10.05 %, and eggs became more elongated. However, there was no significant differences in egg weight, yolk weight, or yolk color. (iii) The length and density of eggshell gland villi decreased significantly, accompanied by increased lesions, resulting in functional impairment of the eggshell gland. (iv) Serum hormone levels changed significantly: 17β-estradiol (E), progesterone (P), and calcitonin (CT) levels decreased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels increased. (v) Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) decreased significantly in serum, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased significantly. (vi) Serum calcium (Ca) levels showed a nonsignificant decreased trend (P = 0.35), whereas serum phosphorus (P) levels increased significantly (P < 0.001). In conclusion, decreased serum E and P levels, along with reduced antioxidant capacity, contributed to ovarian and eggshell gland deterioration, ultimately impairing laying performance and egg quality in late laying quails.
家禽产蛋后期产蛋性能的下降会造成重大经济损失。本研究旨在调查朝鲜鹌鹑（Coturnix japonica）产蛋高峰期（第120天）和后期（第330天）生产性能相关参数的差异。将总共200只第120天的鹌鹑和200只第330天的鹌鹑随机分为8组，每组50只鹌鹑。连续8周每天记录每组的产蛋率和蛋重。在第8周时，评估蛋品质性状、血清生化指标以及卵巢组织和蛋壳腺的形态。与第120天的鹌鹑相比，第330天的鹌鹑出现了以下变化：（i）卵巢发育恶化，卵泡数量减少，导致产蛋率降低。（ii）蛋白高度、哈氏单位（HU）和蛋壳厚度显著降低。蛋壳强度降低了10.05%，蛋变得更长。然而，蛋重、蛋黄重或蛋黄颜色没有显著差异。（iii）蛋壳腺绒毛的长度和密度显著降低，同时病变增多，导致蛋壳腺功能受损。（iv）血清激素水平发生显著变化：17β-雌二醇（E）、孕酮（P）和降钙素（CT）水平降低，而促卵泡激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）和甲状旁腺激素（PTH）水平升高。（v）血清中的总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）以及过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的活性显著降低，而丙二醛（MDA）水平显著升高。（vi）血清钙（Ca）水平呈不显著的下降趋势（P = 0.35），而血清磷（P）水平显著升高（P < 0.001）。总之，血清E和P水平降低以及抗氧化能力下降导致了卵巢和蛋壳腺的恶化，最终损害了产蛋后期鹌鹑的产蛋性能和蛋品质。
