Table 2.
Effects of Zearalenone on Egg Quality of Laying Hens.
| Week | Items | Supplemental Levels of ZEN in Diets, μg/kg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BD | BD + 250 μg/kg ZEN | BD + 750 μg/kg ZEN | ||
| Week 2 | Egg weight (g) | 62.0 ± 1.5 | 60.6 ± 1.7 | 60.6 ± 1.4 |
| Egg index | 1.26 ± 0.04 | 1.27 ± 0.03 | 1.28 ± 0.02 | |
| Albumen height (mm) | 7.15 ± 1.62 | 7.40 ± 1.07 | 6.56 ± 0.60 | |
| Yolk color | 7.58 ± 1.73 | 8.75 ± 1.22 | 8.45 ± 2.14 | |
| Haugh unit | 83.92 ± 9.3 | 86.01 ± 6.3 | 80.67 ± 4.3 | |
| Egg shell thickness (mm) | 0.31 ± 0.02 | 0.32 ± 0.01 | 0.32 ± 0.02 | |
| Egg shell strength (N) | 44.7 ± 5.5 | 44.3 ± 7.3 | 47.6 ± 2.8 | |
| Week 5 | Egg weight (g) | 61.0 ± 2.0 | 60.4 ± 2.0 | 60.6 ± 2.9 |
| Egg index | 1.26 ± 0.03 | 1.27 ± 0.03 | 1.27 ± 0.01 | |
| Albumen height (mm) | 6.66 ± 0.66 | 6.30 ± 1.10 | 5.85 ± 0.73 | |
| Yolk color | 8.11 ± 0.92 | 8.37 ± 0.62 | 9.26 ± 1.75 | |
| Haugh unit | 80.75 ± 4.0 | 76.84 ± 8.1 | 74.85 ± 5.3 | |
| Egg shell thickness (mm) | 0.33 ± 0.01 | 0.33 ± 0.01 | 0.32 ± 0.01 | |
| Egg shell strength (N) | 42.9 ± 5.9 | 42.0 ± 6.6 | 44.5 ± 4.5 | |
Values are expressed as means ± SD (n = 8).