The Effect of Rosehip Seed Supplementation into Laying Hens Diets on Performance, Egg Quality Traits, Yolk Lipid Profile and Serum Parameters

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of dietary rosehip seed (RS) supplementation into layer diets at different levels on performance, egg quality traits and some serum parameters. A total of 72 Lohmann layers, 46 weeks old, were divided into three treatment groups. The control group was fed with commercial layer diet (K), and the other two groups were fed with basal diet + 10% ground rosehip seeds\xa0 (K1) and basal diet + 15% ground rosehip seeds\xa0 (K2) for 12 weeks.\xa0 The water and feed were provided as ad-libitum during the trial. The rosehip seed supplementation level at 15% into layer diets increased the feed consumption and egg yield (p 0.05)\xa0 among the groups in respect to other egg quality traits such as shape index, shell strength, albumen and yolk indexes and Haugh unit values. Total cholesterol, cholesterol esters, free fatty acids and triglyceride contents in the egg yolks from treatment groups were not affected by dietary treatments (p> 0.05). Serum parameters such as albumin, total cholesterol, VLDL, triglyceride and ALT values increased (p <0.05) with the RS supplementation at level of 15%\xa0 into layer diet. Results showed that rosehip seed supplementation into layer diets may be beneficial to improve egg quality traits especially such as shell thickness and to decrease damaged egg ratio. But further investigations are needed to clarify the use of rosehip seed in layer diets and its effects on performance, egg quality and serum parameters. Key words: laying hen, rosehip seed, performance, egg quality, serum parameters