Effect of dietary fatty acid saturation on egg production at end-of-lay

Abstract

________________________________________________________________________________ AbstractThis study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fatty acid saturation on production performances of laying hens at end-of-lay. Five isoenergetic (12.6 MJ AME/kg DM) and isonitrogenous (170 g CP/kg DM) diets were formulated using different lipid sources at a constant 30 g/kg inclusion level. The control diet was formulated using a blend (50 : 50) of linseed-and fish oil, while the other treatments consist of pure fish oil (polyunsaturated n-3), sunflower oil (polyunsaturated n-6), high oleic acid (HO) sunflower oil (monounsaturated n-9) and tallow (SFA). Two hundred, individually caged Hy-Line SilverBrown laying hens (20 weeks of age) were randomly allocated to the five dietary treatments (n = 40 replicates/treatment) and received the experimental diets for 54 weeks from 20 to 74 weeks of age. During weeks 58, 62, 66, 70 and 74 of age (end-of-lay period), all eggs produced were recorded and individually weighed while feed intake, as well as body weights of birds, were determined. Data for the respective collection weeks were pooled to calculate and statistical analyse production parameter means for the end-oflay period. Average daily feed intake of birds in the polyunsaturated n-3 treatment (97.5 g/b/d) were the lowest while that of the polyunsaturated n-6 treatment (102.4 g/b/d) the highest. Furthermore, despite the significant effect of fatty acid saturation on feed intake, it had no effect on hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg output, feed efficiency or body weight of hens during end-of-lay. Since results of the current study fail to indicate a clear trend regarding dietary fatty acid saturation on feed intake of birds, it could be concluded that the long term exposure to a range of fatty acid saturation levels, has no negative effect on hen performance.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids in Poultry Nutrition: Effect on Production Performance and Health

“…These authors reported no significant differences in hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg output, feed efficiency, and body weights at end-of-lay. Similar results were reported by Cachaldora et al [44,45] who concluded that dietary fatty acid saturation had no significant effects on the egg production performance of layer hens. In contrast, Shang et al [46] stated that body weight gain, rate of egg production, egg weight, and feed efficiency decreased linearly with an increase in dietary fatty acid unsaturation levels during the 8-week experimental period between 40 and 48 weeks of age.…”

Impact of feeding mixture containing lupin meal on improvement of polyunsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk

“…In this study, levels of n-3 and n-6 PUFA also increased in accordance with the increasing lupin meal content in the feed mixture. By contrast Buitendach et al (2013) did not find any impact of supplementing fatty acids into the feed mixture for hens on their productivity. They added to the feed mixtures linseed oil, fish oil, sunflower oil and tallow.…”

Influence of Tenebrio molitor L Supplementation on Egg Quality and Omega-3 Content

“…This is because the crude protein content in all treatments was not different (22%), although the omega-3 content was different. Fatty acid saturation was significantly influence production of laying hens at the end of production period (58-74 weeksold), on egg production performance, egg weight, egg production, feed efficiency, and body weight (Buitendach et al 2014). Egg production is influenced by linoleic fatty acid and amino acid methionine.…”