Poultry Studies
2021, Vol 18, Num, 2 (Pages: 005-009)
Effects of Dried Spinach Leaf Supplementation on Performance and Egg Quality in Laying Hen Diets
Selma Büyükkılıç Beyzi 1 ,Yahya Keman 1 ,Yusuf Konca 1
1 Erciyes University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Melikgazi, Kayseri, 38039, Turkey
DOI :
10.34233/jpr.1059730
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This study was aimed to determine effects of the addition of dry spinach leaves to
laying hen diets on performance, egg quality and yolk colour. A total of 40 Lohman
white laying hens, 38 weeks old, were allocated to 4 treatment groups, with 10
replicates in individual cages. The treatment groups were as follows: 1) Negative
control group (NC, there is no colorant), 2) Positive control group (PC, there is
commercial colorant) in basal diet), 3) 1% ground dry spinach leaf addition to the diet
(SL1) and 3) 2% ground dry spinach leaf addition to the diet (SL2). Supplementation of
dried spinach leaf to the laying hen diet did not affect live weight, feed consumption,
hen-day egg production, feed conversion ratio (FCR), shape index, and shell thickness.
However, the highest egg weight was found in the NC group, and the lowest in the PC
and SL2 groups (P<0.01). The SP1 group`s egg mas was higher than the other groups,
and SP` group`s egg mas was lower than the other groups (P<0.05). The albumen
height was higher in the NC than the SL2 group (P<0.01) and similar PC and SP1 groups.
In the NC and PC groups, Haugh unit values were higher than SL2 groups (P<0.05). Egg
yolk lightness (L*) in the NC group was higher than SP1 and Sp2 supplemented groups
and SL` group`s yellowness (b*) and redness (a*) were higher than other groups
(P<0.01). In the PC group yolk color fan value was lower than those of other groups
(P<0.01). In conclusion, the use of 1% dry spinach leaves addition to laying hen diets
may sufficient to increase the egg yolk color without negatively affecting the
performance and egg quality.
Keywords :
Spinach leaf Laying hen Yolk color Lutein Sustainability