Effect of dietary canthaxanthin and iodine on the production performance and egg quality of laying hens.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of canthaxanthin (CX) and iodine (I) on the production of laying hens, on counteracting debilitation of the vitelline membrane, and on inhibiting Salmonella growth in eggs stored at 30°C. Three hundred hens were reared in cages. Birds were divided into six feeding groups (10 hens × 5 repetitions) that were administered 0, 3 or 6 ppm of CX and 1 or 10 ppm of I with their diets. Laying rate, egg weights, and feed conversion ratios were controlled. The quality of fresh eggs was assessed in wks 25-26, 48-50 and 62-63 of hens lives. An additional batch of eggs was incubated at the temperature of 30°C, and egg quality changes were monitored on days 3, 6 and 9 of storage. Additionally, eggs collected from four experimental groups of hens whose diets had been iodated with 1 or 10 ppm of I and supplemented with 0 or 6 ppm of CX were infected under laboratory conditions with Salmonella, and incubated for 5 and 10 d. The laying rate, egg weights, and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved. Dietary inclusion of CX contributed to a higher resistance of the vitelline membrane of egg yolks, but only for fresh eggs. Vitelline membrane degradation during egg storage at 30°C was significantly counteracted by dietary inclusion of I at a dose of 10 ppm. The same I dose resulted in the complete inhibition of Salmonella growth until day 10 of incubation, but exclusively for eggs collected from 40-week-old hens. Dietary supplementation with 10 ppm of I was found to impart high level of resistance to the vitelline membrane against the growth of Salmonella in case of eggs stored at 30°C; therefore, I was found to be more beneficial by ensuring longer preservation than that of CX. However, dietary supplementation with CX was found to increase the resistance of vitelline membrane in fresh eggs.

[The effect of selenium and vitamin E on the healing process of experimental corneal lesions in the eye of the rabbit]. / Wplyw selenu i witaminy E na gojenie doswiadczalnego uszkodzenia rogówki w oku królika.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of antioxidants: selenium and vitamin E efficacy in the treatment of experimental corneal lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Solution of selenium in 0.9% NaCl, concentration 0.01 g/L, to which vitamin E was added to obtain suspension of 2.5 g/L was used in 9 rabbits. The cornea was damaged by removing the epithelium from the central area of 7 mm diameter. To the right eye selenium solution with vitamin E was instilled. RESULTS: In two eyes in which antioxidants were used evident prompt healing of corneal ulceration was noticed. Mean lesion diameter in eyes treated with antioxidants was: on 1st day 5.44 mm, in 2nd day 1.61 mm and on the 3rd day 0.33 mm. In control eyes diameters were: 6.67 mm, 2.28 mm and 0.56 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Solution used in our study was tolerated very well. Faster healing process was noticed in eyes where antioxidants were used.