Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXII, Issue 2
Written by Tatiana Dumitra PANAITE, Margareta OLTEANU, Mariana ROPOTA, Cristina SOICA, Petru Alexandru VLAICU, Petruta VISINESCU, Rodica Diana CRISTE
Vegetable raw materials rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially in α linolenic (C18:3n3) are represented by flaxseed meal (51.67 ± 0.062% α-linolenic acid) and rice bran (1.79 ± 0.023% α-linolenic acid). A 6-wk study was conducted on 80, Tetra SL layers (38 weeks) assigned to two groups (C and E), to evaluate the effect of using raw materials rich in PUFA in layer diets, on layer performance. Hens were housed in an experimental hall under controlled environmental conditions, in 3-tier batteries (4 layers/cage), and 16h/24 h light regimen. The commercial (C) diet had 2.800 kcal ME, 17.8% CP and 0.885 gα - linolenic acid/ 100 g total FAME. Unlike for diet C, the experimental (E) diet formulations used 2.5% flaxseed meal and 10% rice bran which increased the concentration of α- linolenic acid (4.575 g/100 g total FAME) in this diet. The average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, laying percentage and egg weight were monitored throughout the experimental period. Eighteen eggs per group were collected during the final experimental day, and physical measurements were performed on the eggs. Daily feed intake (121.088 g/day/hen) and feed conversion ratio (1.965 kg feed/kg egg) were not influenced by using flaxseed meal (2.5%) and rice bran (10%) in laying hens diet compared with the C group. Also, the laying percentage was higher (P˃0.05%) at the E group (95.23%) compared to the C group (94.4%).
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