Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis

Daidzein (Da), an isoflavone, resembles natural oestrogen in structure and activity. We investigated the effects of dietary Da on the reproductive performance, egg quality, and bone mineralisation of hens in the pre-peak laying period. A total of 432 laying hens (110 days) were randomly allocated to...

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Main Authors: Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna, Xinyu Chang, Rupeng Wu, Hai-jun Zhang, Kai Qiu, Shu-geng Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2385002
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author Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna
Xinyu Chang
Rupeng Wu
Hai-jun Zhang
Kai Qiu
Shu-geng Wu
author_facet Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna
Xinyu Chang
Rupeng Wu
Hai-jun Zhang
Kai Qiu
Shu-geng Wu
author_sort Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna
collection DOAJ
description Daidzein (Da), an isoflavone, resembles natural oestrogen in structure and activity. We investigated the effects of dietary Da on the reproductive performance, egg quality, and bone mineralisation of hens in the pre-peak laying period. A total of 432 laying hens (110 days) were randomly allocated to control (CON) or Da-supplemented diet (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg). Each treatment had six replicates of 18 birds/replicate, and the feeding trial lasted 8 weeks. Supplementation of dietary Da significantly improved laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, and feed-to-egg ratio (p < 0.05). Likewise, dietary Da significantly improved albumen quality (Haugh unit, thick albumen fraction, and albumen proportion) and eggshell quality (eggshell; strength, eggshell thickness, gloss, and colour) (p < 0.05). Dietary Da exerted a notable significant increase (p < 0.05) on magnum weight, follicle numbers, serum levels of growth hormones, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), reproductive hormone (oestrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone), and mRNA expression of related genes (ESR1, FSHR1, PRL1, GNHR1). Also, Da significantly increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the Da groups showed enhanced tibia strength, length, phosphorus, and bone mineral content (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary Da enhanced early onset of lay and improved albumen, eggshell, and bone quality in laying hens during the pre-peak period. Positive outcomes may be due to the efficient metabolism of Da and the safety level of inclusion. The enhancement of reproductive hormones, related genes, and antioxidant enzymes may explain daidzein’s effects on laying hens.Highlights Daidzein improved egg production significantly. Albumen, eggshell and tibia quality were enhanced. Optimal inclusion level at 25 or 50 mg/kg was safe.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1594-4077
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Italian Journal of Animal Science
spelling doaj-art-b0120f99beba4ac7b8b143a281e55c2b2025-01-02T11:34:22ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2024-12-012311169118010.1080/1828051X.2024.23850022385002Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axisUchechukwu Edna Obianwuna0Xinyu Chang1Rupeng Wu2Hai-jun Zhang3Kai Qiu4Shu-geng Wu5National Engineering Research Center of Biological Feed, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Biological Feed, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesUniversity College CorkNational Engineering Research Center of Biological Feed, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Biological Feed, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Biological Feed, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesDaidzein (Da), an isoflavone, resembles natural oestrogen in structure and activity. We investigated the effects of dietary Da on the reproductive performance, egg quality, and bone mineralisation of hens in the pre-peak laying period. A total of 432 laying hens (110 days) were randomly allocated to control (CON) or Da-supplemented diet (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg). Each treatment had six replicates of 18 birds/replicate, and the feeding trial lasted 8 weeks. Supplementation of dietary Da significantly improved laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, and feed-to-egg ratio (p < 0.05). Likewise, dietary Da significantly improved albumen quality (Haugh unit, thick albumen fraction, and albumen proportion) and eggshell quality (eggshell; strength, eggshell thickness, gloss, and colour) (p < 0.05). Dietary Da exerted a notable significant increase (p < 0.05) on magnum weight, follicle numbers, serum levels of growth hormones, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), reproductive hormone (oestrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone), and mRNA expression of related genes (ESR1, FSHR1, PRL1, GNHR1). Also, Da significantly increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the Da groups showed enhanced tibia strength, length, phosphorus, and bone mineral content (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary Da enhanced early onset of lay and improved albumen, eggshell, and bone quality in laying hens during the pre-peak period. Positive outcomes may be due to the efficient metabolism of Da and the safety level of inclusion. The enhancement of reproductive hormones, related genes, and antioxidant enzymes may explain daidzein’s effects on laying hens.Highlights Daidzein improved egg production significantly. Albumen, eggshell and tibia quality were enhanced. Optimal inclusion level at 25 or 50 mg/kg was safe.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2385002daidzeinlaying hensreproductive performancealbumen qualityeggshell trait
spellingShingle Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna
Xinyu Chang
Rupeng Wu
Hai-jun Zhang
Kai Qiu
Shu-geng Wu
Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis
Italian Journal of Animal Science
daidzein
laying hens
reproductive performance
albumen quality
eggshell trait
title Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis
title_full Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis
title_fullStr Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis
title_full_unstemmed Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis
title_short Effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first-cycle of production via reproductive-growth axis
title_sort effect of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance egg quality and bone mineralization in laying hens at first cycle of production via reproductive growth axis
topic daidzein
laying hens
reproductive performance
albumen quality
eggshell trait
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2385002
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