Effect of Supplementary Actinomycetes (Nocardia sp. CS682) Ferment on the Laying Performance, Blood Parameters, Immunoglobulin and Small Intestinal Microflora Contents in Laying Hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of CS682, a fermentation product of Actinomycetae(Nocardia sp. CS682), and its commercial product DSC682∨_ on the performance, blood parameters, intestinal microflora, and immune response in laying hens. Hy-Line Brown∨_ laying hens were housed in two bird cages. Feeding trial lasted 5 wk under 16.5 h:7.5 h(L:D) lighting regimen. In Exp.1, a total of 480 birds of 86 wk old were assigned to four dietary treatments: Control, Antibiotics (6 ppm avilamycin), CS682-0.1 (CS682 0.1%) and CS682-1.0 (CS682 1.0% supplementation). Each treatment was replicated five times with 24 birds (or 12 cages) per replication. In Exp. 2, a total of 1,000 birds of 26 wk old were assigned to five dietary treatments: Control, Antibiotics (6 ppm avilamycin), DCS682-0.05 (DCS682 0.05%), DCS682-0.1 (DCS682 0.1%), DCS682-0.2 (DCS682 0.2% supplementation). Each treatment was replicated five times with 40 birds (or 20 cages) per replication. In Exp. 1, there were no significant differences among treatments in egg production, egg weight, broken and soft egg production, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Also, there were no significant differences among treatments in eggshell thickness, eggshell color and Haugh unit. However, eggshell strength was significantly (p less than 0.05) greater in CS682 and Antibiotics treatments than Control, and egg yolk color was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in CS682-1.0 than Control. In Exp. 2, feed intake was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower in DSC682-0.05 than Control. Lightness(L) of Hunter Lab color of eggshell of DCS and Antibiotics treatments was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than Control. Egg yolk color of DCS 0.1 and 0.2 treatments was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than Control. Haugh unit increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in Antibiotics and DCS682-0.1 treatments. The immunoglobulin levels of plasma (IgG and IgA) and eggyolk (IgY) were not significantly affected by treatments. Antibiotics and CS682 or DCS682 treatments significantly (p less than 0.05 or 0.01) influenced some of the erythrocytes and leukocytes parameters in blood. In Exp.1, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) decreased by CS682 treatments and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was highest in Antibiotics treatments. In Exp.2, the level of monocyte (MO) decreased in DCS682-0.10 and 0.20 treatments. The cfu of C. perfringens and S. typhimurium in small intestinal content were highest in Control and lowest in Antibiotics in both experiments. In Exp. 2, DSC682-0.05 and -0.1 treatments were highest and Antibiotic treatment was lowest in Lactobacilli spp. The results of the present layer experiments indicated that supplementation of 0.1~0.2% CS682 or DCS682 may increase eggshell strength, color of eggshell and eggyolk, Haugh unit, and control harmful intestinal microbes.