Revista de Producción Animal (Jan 2018)
Effects of Supplementation with Powder from Various Medicinal Plants on Productivity and Quality of Eggs from Laying Hens
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of feed supplementation based on a mixture of from medicinal plants powder (40 % Psidium guajava L.; 20 % Morinda citrifolia L.) on production and quality of eggs from laying hens, 160 White Leghorn hybrid hens (L-33), 27 weeks old, were grouped in one control group without additives, and three feed supplements for 70 days, following a completely randomized design. The three supplements included a powder mixture (0.5; 1.0; and 1.5 %). The birds showed no morbi-lethality after consuming the complementary diets. Supplementation of 1.0 % of the mixture increased laying intensity (83.93 %). However, egg weight, live weight, feed consumption, rejected eggs, yolk color, and sensorial quality of the yolk and albumin, had significant differences (P > 0.05) among the treatments. Supplementation with 1.0 % of the powder increased (P 0.05). The inclusion of 1.0 % of the mixed powder is recommended in the diet of laying hens to increase egg production and shell thickness.