Inclusion of Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) In Laying Hens Ration

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) on laying hens performance and egg quality. Lipids and cholesterol content of the egg were also determined. Fifty four 16 weeks old Hisex laying hens were used in this study. The experiment started when the birds reached 25 weeks of age and the egg production reached approximately 60%. The birds were housed in battery cages and allotted randomly into three treatment groups of 18 birds each, with 6 replicates (3birds/replicate), and hens were adapted to the experimental rations for two weeks. The experimental diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of laying hens (16.5% crude protein and 2900 Kcal ME/kg diet). The diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous with 0, 5, and 10% levels of gum arabic. Hens were fed on ad libitium basis and the experiment lasted for 13 weeks. The parameters measured were body weight gain, weekly feed intake, feed conversion ratio and hen-day egg production. Egg weight, shape index, and shell thickness, albumen height, yolk index and yolk color were measured every two weeks. Samples of eggs were analyzed for lipids and cholesterol content. The birds looked apparently healthy throughout the experimental period. The treatment had no significant effect (P<0.05) on the parameters measured, except for body weight gain reduction with increasing gum arabic level in the diet. The inclusion of gum arabic in laying hens diets had no significant effect on lipid % and cholesterol content of the egg.