Effects of F-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum inoculation at twelve weeks of age on egg yolk composition in commercial egg laying hens
2003
Burnham, M.R. | Peebles, E.D. | Branton, S.L. | Maurice, D.V. | Gerard, P.D.
Effects of F-strain Mycoplasmagallisepticum (FMG) on the composition of egg yolks from commercial Single Comb White Leghorn laying chickens were investigated during 1 production cycle. 10 hens were assigned to each of 8 (trial 1) or 16 (trial 2) negative pressure fibreglass biological isolation units. Birds in half of the total units served as sham-inoculated controls, and those in the other half were inoculated with FMG at 12 wk of age. Eggs were collected and yolks were harvested at various times during the prepeak, peak and postpeak periods of both trials for constituent analysis. Moisture content, total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and fatty acids contents were analysed. In both trials, total yolk lipid at 22 wk of age was significantly decreased in birds inoculated with FMG (P ≤ 0.05). In trial 1, yolk cholesterol at 28 wk was significantly decreased in FMG-inoculated birds (P ≤ 0.05). Yolk linoleic acid in trial 1 and yolk stearic and arachidonic acids in trial 2 were significantly increased in FMG-inoculated birds compared to FMG-free birds (P ≤ 0.05). In trial 2, yolk myristic, palmitoleic and oleic acid percentages were significantly decreased in FMG-inoculated birds compared to FMG-free birds (P ≤ 0.05). These data suggest that alterations in egg production in commercial layers in response to an FMG infection at 12 wk of age are associated with changes in yolk composition.
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