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

2015年，加拿大鸡蛋行业为加拿大农业总运营贡献了1.6%的现金收入，相当于9.615亿加元。这些行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和高产的母鸡和营养蛋产品的净目标。营养是最大限度地提高动物整体健康和性能的关键领域之一。具体参考产蛋母鸡的营养，考虑到不同的目标来提供营养物：a）满足禽类的维持和生产需求; B）确保足够的营养储备以对应激源（环境的、微生物的、病毒的、毒理学的等）产生有效的响应;以及c）相对于消费者偏好来优化或增强蛋的营养概况。ω-3和ω-6多不饱和脂肪酸被认为是动物包括家禽的必需脂肪酸。特别是，ω-3脂肪酸具有多种功能，并发挥促进健康的作用。目前对产蛋母鸡的欧米茄-3脂肪酸的大部分研究都集中在使鸡蛋富含人类消费者所需的这些营养素所需的水平上，通常是通过向母鸡饲喂亚麻籽和鱼油或藻油。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，并进一步确定任何类型的ω-3的最佳量（水平），旨在在未成熟和成熟的产蛋鸡中产生有效的免疫调节作用，以克服由于免疫挑战而产生的负面影响。 该研究项目的预期效益包括：1）通过最佳营养优化母鸡健康，从而提高鸟类健康和福利; 2）开发新型饲料配方，推动特种鸡蛋市场。

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.