title: Effects of dietary 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine) on eggshell quality and laying performance of hens laying thin-shelled eggs.
abstract: Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential for dietary 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine) to influence eggshell quality and overall laying performance in hens. Forty-eight, 60-wk-old White Leghorn hens laying thin-shelled eggs were fed a corn and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10, or 0.15% putrescine for 4 wk. Twelve hens that laid thick-shelled eggs were also fed the control diet. The feeding of supplemental putrescine decreased feed consumption; however, egg weight decreased only at higher levels of supplementation. Increasing dietary levels of putrescine responded quadratically in eggshell deformation, eggshell weight, and eggshell weight as a percentage of egg weight (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in shell deformation, shell thickness, or shell weight when comparing hens laying thick-shelled eggs and those laying thin-shelled eggs that were fed 0.05% supplemental putrescine. Calcium intake, calcium retention, and calcium balance decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary putrescine. Pancreatic putrescine concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in hens laying thick-shelled eggs compared with hens laying thin-shelled eggs. It appeared that pancreatic cells synthesized more polyamines in hens laying thick-shelled eggs. This increase in polyamines might have caused improved eggshell quality by increasing calcium transport. It was concluded that 0.05% supplemental putrescine improved eggshell quality; however, higher levels proved to be toxic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000187:drug effects*; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism; D011700:Putrescine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D002118:Calcium; D011700:Putrescine