Defining the optimal omega-3 fatty acid intake for pullets and laying hens to support health and productivity

2015年，加拿大蛋业贡献了1.6%的现金收入，相当于9.615亿美元。这些产业的核心是一系列基本的生物过程，每一个过程都有助于生产健康多产的母鸡和营养丰富的蛋制品。营养是最大限度地提高动物整体健康和生产性能的关键领域之一。针对蛋鸡的营养，营养素的供应有明确的目标：a)满足蛋鸡的维持和生产需要；B)确保充足的营养储备，以对压力源（环境、微生物、病毒、毒理学等）作出有效反应；c)根据消费者的偏好优化或提高鸡蛋的营养成分。Omega-3和omega-6多不饱和脂肪酸被认为是包括家禽在内的动物的必需脂肪酸。特别是omega-3脂肪酸具有多种功能，具有促进健康的作用。目前对蛋鸡的omega-3脂肪酸的研究大多集中在用人类消费者需要的这些营养物质来丰富鸡蛋所需的水平上，通常是通过给母鸡喂亚麻籽和鱼油或海藻油。然而，目前的家禽营养指南中没有提供这类重要脂肪酸的需求量估计。目前的建议旨在解决这一限制，并进一步确定两种类型的omega-3的最佳量（水平），旨在在未成熟和成熟的蛋鸡中发挥有效的免疫调节作用，以克服免疫挑战带来的负面影响。本研究项目的预期效益包括：1)通过优化营养来优化母鸡的健康，从而提高鸟类的健康和福利；2)开发新型饲料配方，推进特色鸡蛋市场。

In 2015, the egg industry in Canada contributed 1.6% of cash receipts to total Canadian farming operations, an amount equivalent to $961.5 Million. At the heart of these industries lies a series of fundamental biological processes, each contributing to the net goal of producing healthy and productive hens and nutritious egg products. Nutrition is one of key areas of focus for maximizing the overall health and performance of animals. With specific reference to the nutrition of laying hens, nutrients are supplied with distinct goals in mind: a) meeting the maintenance and production needs of the birds; b) ensuring adequate nutritional reserves to mount an effective response to a stressor (environmental, microbial, viral, toxicological, etc); and c) optimizing or enhancing the nutritional profile of the egg relative to consumer preferences. Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids for animals including poultry. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids possess multiple functions and exert health-promoting effects. Most of the current research on omega-3 fatty acids for laying hens has focused on levels needed to enrich eggs with these nutrients that are in demand by human consumers, typically through feeding flaxseed and fish oil or algal oil to hens. However, a requirement estimate for this important class of fatty acids is not provided in the current nutrition guidelines for poultry. The current proposal aims to address this limitation, and further determine the optimum quantity (level) of either types of omega-3 that aims to develop effective immunomodulatory effects, in both immature and mature laying hens, to overcome the negative impacts due to an immune challenge. The anticipated benefits of this research project include: 1) optimization of hen health through optimal nutrition, thus enhancing bird health and welfare; 2) development of novel feed formulations to advance the specialty egg market.