Effect of some feed additives on performance of local layer strains. 1- effect of vitamin e or vitamin c supplementation on egg production and egg quality of fayoumi laying hens

Abstract: The objective of this work was to study the impact of different levels of Vitamin E or Vitamin C on laying performance and egg quality. Hens were fed the experimental diets from 32 to 44 wks of age. The birds were fed a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either] 25 or 250 mg of L-ascorbic acid/kg of diet or 50 or 100 mg of α-tocopherol acetate/kg of diet. Birds were exposed daily to heat stress (35° C) for three hours from] 2-3 PM. Result obtained can be summarized as following:
- Fayoumi layers fed diets supplemented with vitamin C or E produced greater (P<0.05) number of eggs compared to birds fed basal diet without supplementation with those vitamins These results reveal that vitamin C supplementation is effective in ameliorating the stressful conditions during heat exposure as indicated by improved egg production in vitamin C supplemented groups.
- Birds fed diet supplemented vitamin E at level of 100 mg / kg of layer feed significantly (P<0.05) increased egg weight and egg production % of Fayoumi laying hens compared with either birds fed diet fed diet supplemented vitamin E at level of 50 mg / kg of layer feed or groups of birds fed basal diet.
- Either both levels of vitamin E or C to Fayoumi basal diets significantly (P<0.05) increased shell percentage, egg surface area and egg shape index while they did not effect on Specific gravity compared with other birds fed unsupplemented their diets with either vitamin E or C.
- Birds fed diets supplemented with either high level of vitamin E or C significantly (P<0.05) improved the Shell thickness (mm) of eggs compared with other treatment group of birds.
- Supplemented basal diets of Fayoumi layer hens with either Vitamin E or C at high levels significantly (P<0.05) increased Hugh units. yolk %. Yolk color and significantly (P<0.05) reduced albumin % compared with other groups of birds.
In conclusion, dietary supplementation of laying hens with anti-oxidant vitamins vitamin E or vitamin e can attenuate heat stress induced oxidative damage. These positive effects were evidenced by increases of egg production and improvement of egg qualities in comparison to non-supplemented birds.

Publication year

2008

Pages

19-32

Availability location

معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شار ع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة

Availability number

Organization Name

Animal Production Research Institute (APRI)

serial title

Egyptian Journal of Applied Science

ISSN