Effects of the Different Dietary Fish Oil Calcium Salt on Production Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters, Egg Quality Traits and Yolk Fatty Acid Profile in Laying Hens at Peak Production Period.

BACKGROUND

Consuming foods containing appropriate levels of omega-3, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, has been recommended for many years to prevent cardiovascular and nerve system disease or their related morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary fish oil calcium salt (FOCS) supplementation on production performance, blood biochemical parameters, egg quality traits and fatty acid (FA) profile of the egg yolk in laying hens at peak production period.

METHODS

In total, 192 45-week-old Hy-Line W80 laying hens were randomly assigned into 4 treatments, 6 replicates and 8 birds each with similar initial body weight (1593 ± 65 g) for a consecutive 8 weeks. The experimental treatments, based on the corn-soybean meal, were as follows: (1) control (basal diet; CON); (2) 0.75% FOCS (FOCS0.75); (3) 1.5% FOCS (FOCS1.5) and (4) 2.25% FOCS (FOCS2.25).

RESULTS

The results of the current study indicated that egg production (EP), egg weight (EW) and egg mass (EM) increased significantly in FOCS-treated birds compared to the CON group during the first 4 weeks and the whole experimental period. Blood not-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid (UA) decreased by FOCS supplementation (p < 0.05). The blood calcium of FOCS2.25 and the phosphorus of FOCS1.5 and FOCS2.25 groups were significantly reduced. At Week 8 of the experiment, shell thickness increased in the FOCS2.25 group (p < 0.05). FA profile analysis showed that polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), especially n-3 PUFAs, increased and saturated FAs (SFAs) decreased by FOCS supplementation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementation with FOCS0.75 is recommended to improve production performance and egg quality traits in laying hens during peak production. Moreover, FOCS2.25 can be used to enrich eggs with n-3 PUFAs without adverse effects on bird health and egg quality.