Lipids sources on layer hen diet: performance and egg quality

The effects of different sources of fat in the diet of layer hens on performance and egg quality were recorded in two experiments. Four treatments were defined by the lipid source added to the diets: soybean oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil and control diet (without oil added). The experiments were carried out with layers from 20 to 54 weeks of age, respectively, for eight weeks. Production parameters (feed intake, feed conversion, egg production, and egg weight) and quality of eggs (percentages of yolk, albumen, and shell; total solids of yolk; Haugh units; pH of albumen; and yolk color) were evaluated. Among the parameters of production and quality of the eggs, only the weight of eggs and percentage of yolk of young hens were affected by the inclusion of vegetable oils in the diet. These eggs were significantly heavier and had higher percentage when compared with the eggs of hens fed the control diet. It was concluded that the utilization of different sources of oils in layers diet did not change performance and egg quality, except egg weigh of young layers, that increased with the utilization of vegetables oils.