Organic minerals and lycopene in the diet of laying hens: production performance and egg quality

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of organic minerals and lycopene in the diet of laying hens on performance and egg quality. 288 hens were used, distributed in DIC in a factorial 2 x 3 (mineral sources x lycopene levels) with six treatments and six replicates of eight birds per experimental unit. The experimental diets were: inorganic minerals (MI) without the addition of lycopene; MI with the addition of lycopene (400mg/kg); MI with the addition of lycopene (800mg/kg); minerals organic (MOR) without addition lycopene; MOR with the addition of lycopene (400mg/kg); MOR with the addition of lycopene (800mg/kg). The following parameters were evaluated: feed intake, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion (kg/kg and kg/dz), egg weight, percentage shell, albumen and yolk, shell thickness specific gravity, unit Haugh, index and yolk color, pH of albumen and yolk. The organic minerals increase the feed intake when combined at levels of 0 and 800mg of lycopene. The combination of 400mg of lycopene with inorganic minerals increases feed intake. The addition of organic or mineral 400mg lycopene in diets improves egg production and egg weight of hens at 58 weeks of age. The yolk color is more pronounced for inorganic sources in relation to organic and more pronounced in diets with 800mg of lycopene. The Haugh unit is higher in lycopene free diets and diets with inorganic mineral and 400mg of lycopene and organic minerals. Diets with organic source associated with 800mg of lycopene provide higher Haugh units for organic source without lycopene.