Effect of Feed Additive on Base of L-carnitine in Drinking Water on Internal and External Egg Quality

Abstract

The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of feed additive on base of L-carnitine (30%) on some parameters of egg quality. Totally 40 White Leghorn laying hens were divided in two groups: control group (n=20) received drinking water without any additives and experimental group (n=20) received feed additive in dose 1 ml per 1.2 l of drinking water for a period of 5 days in 2 week intervals from 26 to 56 week of age. Hens in both groups were feeding ad libitum with commercial layer diet. A total of 200 eggs (100 eggs from both group) were collected to study for external and internal quality of eggs. Albumen index and Haugh unit were improved (p<0.05), while yolk index and yolk color were not affected by administration of L-carnitine (p˃0.05). The albumen percentage increased (p<0.05) and that yolk percentage decreased (p<0.05) in response to supplementation of L-carnitine. Addition of L-carnitine did not influence egg weight, egg shape index and egg shell quality (shell percentage, shell thickness, shell strength).

Keywords

• egg quality
• feeding
• hen
• laying
• l-carnitine