Low-fiber alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) meal in the laying hen diet: Effects on productive traits and egg quality

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects on laying performance and egg quality resulting from partial substitution of soybean meal (SBM) with low-fiber alfalfa (LFA; Medicago sativa L.) meal in the diet of early-phase laying hens. ISA Brown layers, 18 wk of age, were randomly allocated to 2 dietary treatments and fed for 10 wk. The hens were fed 2 wheat middling-based diets: a control diet, which contained SBM (15% of diet), and a test diet containing LFA (15% of diet) as the main protein source. Low-fiber alfalfa meal was obtained by a combination of sieving and air-classification processes. Feed intake was recorded daily, and egg production was calculated on a hen-day basis; eggs from each group were weekly collected to evaluate egg components and quality. The partial substitution of SBM with LFA had no adverse effect on growth performance of early-phase laying hens. Egg production and none of the egg-quality traits examined were influenced by dietary treatment, except for yolk color (P < 0.001) and yolk percentage (P < 0.05) as well as yolk cholesterol and β-carotene contents (P < 0.001), which were improved in hens fed the LFA diet. Including LFA increased serum β-carotene and reduced serum cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.001). Our results suggest that partially replacing conventional SBM as protein source with low-fiber alfalfa meal in the laying-hen diet can positively influence yolk quality without adversely affecting productive traits.

Fast-growing chickens fed with lucerne protein-xanthophyll concentrate: growth performance, slaughter yield and bone quality

“…In ducks fed lucerne-supplemented diet (3, 6 and 9%), there were no differences in the body weight, average daily gains, mortality rate and feed intake compared with the control group (Jiang et al, 2012). Partial replacement of soyabean meal with lucerne in laying hen nutrition did not have adverse effects on production traits (Laudadio et al, 2014). There are only a few studies indicating a possible effect of lucerne addition on bone formation processes, which are essential for animal welfare (Yıldız and Alpay, 2008).…”

Effects of lupin seed supplementation on egg production performance, and qualitative egg traits in laying hens

“…Egg yolk colour in laying hens is one of the major parameters for the quality of an egg and is an important criterion for consumers (Teoh et al 2015). Egg yolk colour is correlated with pigment content and ranges from yellow (e.g., lutein, zeaxanthin, apo-ester) to red (e.g., canthaxanthin, citraxanthin, astaxanthin) (Laudadio et al 2014). The use of yellow lupin seed meal in the feeding mixture resulted in a more distinct yellow/red egg yolk (Dvorak et al 2007).…”

Feeding Forage in Poultry: A Promising Alternative for the Future of Production Systems

“…Moreover, hens reared on alfalfa or clover need significantly less feed protein than confined hens [7]. In particular, alfalfa forage can supply carotene, vitamins and other nutrients, especially high amount of protein up to 19% as dry matter basis [61,62]. In addition, it was found that organically reared broilers may overcome growth impairments associated with methionine deficiency through foraging [63].…”

“…It was assessed that the poultry products from grass-fed flocks tend to have less total cholesterol and more vitamins A and E, as well as high omega-3, and an improved omega-3 to omega-6 ratio [67]. It was found that egg cholesterol decreased as alfalfa meal increased in a laying hen diet [62]. Studies demonstrated that hens with access to high-quality pasture had eggs with at least twice as much vitamins A and E and omega-3s, compared to hens having no access to different pastures [68][69][70][71].…”