Effect of Dried Alfalfa Meal and Chromium on the Performance of Inshas Layers.

Abstract

A 3x4 factorial design experiment was conducted to study the effect of three levels of dried alfalfa meal (0, 5 and 10%) and four levels of chromium picolinate, CrPic (0, 600, 1200 and 1800 µg/Kg diet) on performance and egg quality of Inshas layers during the period from 24 to 38 weeks of age. A total number of 216 laying hens and 36 cocks of Inshas strain at 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 12 treatment groups (18 hens + 3 cocks / each treatment) nearly equal in average body weight and average daily egg production. Each treatment group was subdivided into three replicates (6 hens and one cock) in each. Productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, cholesterol content in blood serum, egg yolk, and liver were studied. Inclusion of 10% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased body weight, egg number, egg production, egg mass, economical efficiency and exhibited the poorest feed conversion value during experimental period. In addition of 5% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed intake during 30 to 34 weeks of age, egg yolk %, cholesterol and lipids % in blood serum, egg yolk and liver as compared with the control diet. Chromium supplementation at different levels had no effect on live body weight, while it a significant (P<0.05) increase in egg weight, fertility and hatchability percentages, egg specific gravity at 38 weeks of age and economical efficiency. However, serum cholesterol, yolk and liver cholesterol was significantly (P<0.05) decreased as a result of chromium supplementation. Laying hens fed diets containing 5% alfalfa meal plus 1200 Cr µg /Kg diet recorded treatment groups. In conclusion, using 5% alfalfa meal with 1200 or 1800 µg Cr/Kg diet were beneficial in egg production and reducing egg yolk and liver cholesterol contents, and increasing the economical return.