Publications

Titles

English :

Effect of dried alfalfa meal and chromium on the performance of Inshas layers

Arabic :

تأثير مسحوق البرسيم الحجازى المجفف و الكروميوم على اداء دجاج انشاص البياض

Abstract

A 3x4 factorial design experiment was conducted to study the effect of three levels of dried alfalfa meal (0, 5 and 10%) and four levels of chromium picolinate, CrPic (0, 600, 1200 and 1800 μg/Kg diet) on performance and egg quality of Inshas layers during the period from 24 to 38 weeks of age. A total number of 216 laying hens and 36 cocks of Inshas strain at 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 12 treatment groups (18 hens + 3 cocks / each treatment) nearly equal in average body weight and average daily egg production. Each treatment group was sub-divided into three replicates (6 hens and one cock) in each. Productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, cholesterol content in blood serum, egg yolk, and liver were studied . Inclusion of 10% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased body weight, egg number, egg production, egg mass, economical efficiency and exhibited the poorest feed conversion value during experimental period In addition of 5% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed intake during 30 to 34 weeks of age, egg yolk %, cholesterol and lipids % in blood serum, egg yolk and liver as compared with the control diet. Chromium supplementation at different levels had no effect on live body weight, while it a significant (P<0.05) increase in egg weight, fertility and hatchability percentages, egg specific gravity at 38 weeks of age and economical efficiency. However, serum cholesterol, yolk and liver cholesterol was significantly (P<0.05) decreased as a result of chromium supplementation. Laying hens fed diets containing 5% alfalfa meal plus 1200 Cr μg /Kg diet recorded the best economical efficiency values as compared with the other treatment groups. In conclusion, using 5% alfalfa meal with 1200 or 1800 μg Cr/Kg diet were beneficial in egg production and reducing egg yolk and liver cholesterol contents, and increasing the economical return Keywords: Dried alfalfa meal, chromium, performance, Inshas layers

Publication year

2009

Pages

719-746

Availability location

معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة

Availability number

Organization Name

Animal Production Research Institute (APRI)

City

الزقازيق

serial title