Abstract
To evaluate dietary soybean oil supplementation on production performance, egg quality, and keel bone health in laying hens. Two hundred and four laying hens at 20 weeks of age (WOA) were distributed into 12 cages containing 17 birds each. Birds were either fed a commercial diet (control group, CON) or a diet supplemented with 3% of soybean oil (SO group). Experiments lasted 17 weeks. Body weight, daily feed intake, production performance and egg quality were measured at 25, 29, 33, and 37 WOA. Birds were subsequently assessed for keel bone status by palpation, and keel was excised to measure bone length, microstructure, bone mineral density (BMD), elements contents, and the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), collagen type II alpha 1 (COL2α1), periostin (POSTN), and sclerostin (SOST). The results showed that dietary SO supplementation did not affect production performance and egg quality (P > 0.05), but improved body weight of hens at 29 and 37 WOA (P < 0.05), and decreased daily feed intake at 33 and 37 WOA (P < 0.05). Incidence of keel bone damage (especially fracture) was higher in hens of SO group. Keel bone length in birds of SO group was significantly decreased compared to CON (P < 0.05). Keel bone of supplemented hens showed increased trabecular separation at 29 WOA and higher levels of V, Mn, Fe, Se, and Ba at 33 WOA (P < 0.05). Moreover, decreased BMD, trabecular number and thickness were observed in keel bone of laying hens receiving supplementation at 29 and 37 WOA (P < 0.05); decreased levels of Li, Ca, Hg, and TI at 33 WOA and trabecular thickness at 37 WOA (P < 0.05) were also identified. mRNA levels of SOST and RANKL and the ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA levels were increased in birds fed a SO-supplemented diet (P < 0.05); COL2α1, OPG, and POSTN were downregulated at all sampling points (P < 0.05). Taken together, results indicate that feeding laying hens a diet supplemented with soybean oil can decrease daily feed intake and impair keel bone health but not influence production performance and egg quality.
Highlights
The incorporation of fats and oils has become routine in modern poultry production as a way to increase energy value of the diet
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of soybean oil added to the diet of laying hens on growth and production performance, egg quality, and keel bone characters consist of the rate of Keel bone damage (KBD), bone metabolism and remodeling, bone mineral elements homeostasis, microstructure, and mineral density
In the present study, elevated body weight was found in laying hens fed a 3% soybean oil (SO)-diet, but egg quality parameters and production performance were 25 weeks of age 29 weeks of age 33 weeks of age 37 weeks of age Values were expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 12
Summary
The incorporation of fats and oils has become routine in modern poultry production as a way to increase energy value of the diet. Previous studies have shown that SO supplementation in laying hen diets led to improved egg quality as revealed by increased daily egg weight and mass production [2, 3]. Other studies have indicated that providing a SOsupplemented diet to laying hens did not significantly improve production performance or egg quality [4, 5]. Broilers fed with SO-enriched diets showed increased body weight without major impact on bone quality [6]. Jiang et al have described reduced bone weight, strength, and serum calcium content in laying hens fed with SO-supplemented diets [7], suggesting that incorporation of SO into diets can impact bone quality. Layering hen diets containing high contents of SO can have adverse effects on eggshell quality and bone health
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