METHODS AND USES FOR IMPROVING EGG PRODUCTION AND EGG QUALITY INVOLVING ADMINISTERING FEED COMPRISING MURAMIDASE

1 . A method for improving egg production and/or egg quality in egg laying birds comprising administering to the birds a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein egg laying birds are selected from the group consisting of chickens, ducks, goose, quail, turkey, pheasant, guinea fowl, pigeon and ostrich.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbial muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, or the subphylum Pezizomycotina, preferably Acremonium alcalophilum or Trichophaea saccate.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbial muramidase comprises one or more domains selected from GH24 and GH25.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbial muramidase is a polypeptide having at least 50%, e.g., at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbial muramidase is selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1 to 213 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 1 to 245 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and amino acids 1 to 208 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

7 . A method of improving egg production and/or egg quality in egg laying birds comprising administering to the birds a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases, wherein:

(a) the microbial muramidase is a microbial muramidase comprising one or more domains selected from GH24 and GH25, is dosed at a level of 150 to 300 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed; and

(b) the egg laying birds are selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick.

8 . A method of improving egg production and/or egg quality of egg laying birds comprising administering to the birds a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases, wherein:

(a) the microbial muramidase is a GH24 or GH25 muramidase obtained or obtainable from Acremonium alcalophilum or Trichophaea saccate , and is dosed at a level of 150 to 300 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed; and

(b) the egg laying birds are selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick.

9 . Use of one or more microbial muramidases in the preparation of a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive for improving egg production and/or egg quality in egg laying birds.

10 . The use of claim 9 , wherein the egg laying birds are selected from the group consisting of chickens, ducks, goose, quail, turkey, pheasant, guinea fowl, pigeon and ostrich.

11 . The use of claim 9 , wherein the microbial muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, or the subphylum Pezizomycotina, preferably Acremonium alcalophilum or Trichophaea saccate.

12 . The use of claim 9 , wherein the microbial muramidase comprises one or more domains selected from the list consisting of GH24 and GH25.

13 . The use of claim 9 , wherein the microbial muramidase is a polypeptide having at least 50%, e.g., at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3.

14 . The use of claim 9 , wherein the microbial muramidase is selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1 to 213 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 1 to 245 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and amino acids 1 to 208 of SEQ ID NO: 3.