Volume 19, Issue 3 , November 2017, , Pages 657-670
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different level of garlic powder on the performance, egg quality traits and blood parameters in commercial laying hens. A total of one hundred and twenty eight 58-wk-old Lohmann lite (LSL) hens were allotted into 4 dietary treatment groups replicated ...
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This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different level of garlic powder on the performance, egg quality traits and blood parameters in commercial laying hens. A total of one hundred and twenty eight 58-wk-old Lohmann lite (LSL) hens were allotted into 4 dietary treatment groups replicated 4 times with 8 hens per replicate in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets included of control diet (no supplemented garlic powder) and 3 levels of garlic powder, (1, 2 and 3% of diet). Laying performance traits and egg quality parameters were recorded by replicate at 61 and 63 wk-old. Blood and egg yolk parameters were measured at the end of the trial. Results indicated that egg production percent, egg mass, feed intakeand feed conversion rate were not affected by experimental treatments. However, egg weight was increased by 3% garlic powder compared with the control diet (P<0.05). Haugh unit of eggs increased by 4.25 units, at 3% garlic powder over the control diet (P<0.05). Garlic powder supplementation of laying hen diets at 3% level lead to decreases in serum and egg yolk cholesterol (P<0.05). Blood parameters including high density lipoproteins, triglycerideand liver aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of garlic powder improved egg weight and albumen quality of eggs and has also lowering effect on cholesterol content of egg yolk.