Inclusion of pyridoxine to flaxseed cake in poultry feed improves productivity of omega-3 enriched eggs.

Shahida Aziz Khan

doi:10.6026/97320630015333

Abstract

Flaxseed cake produced during flax oil production is rich in protein, and could be utilized in the production of omega-3 enriched eggs or value added eggs. But the presence of anti-nutrients in flaxseed cake adversely affects the bird and egg characteristics. Supplementation of pyridoxine may prove beneficial as noted by earlier research. In our study, we divided 30 layer birds into three groups and supplemented them with different combination feeds containing: (A) control ration, (B) fresh flax seed cake with pyridoxine and (C) fresh flax seed cake without pyridoxine. Crushed 2% flaxseed was also added to the flaxseed cake groups for deposition of sufficient omega-3 fatty acids into the eggs. Supplementation was given for a period of 4 weeks and egg as well as bird characteristics observed. Birds fed pyridoxine showed better incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into the egg yolk. Supplementation of flaxseed cake with pyridoxine resulted in better yields of omega-3 eggs as well as improved health of layer birds

Highlights

Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in controlling the inflammatory processes of the body that result in chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease etc. [1, 2]
It contains residual oil that is rich in alpha linolenic acid, which positively contributes to good animal health [7]
A decrease in bioavailability affecting the growth, feed intake, egg characteristics and hen physiology has been earlier noted when the Flaxseed cake (FC) was incorporated in poultry feeds

Summary

Introduction

Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in controlling the inflammatory processes of the body that result in chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease etc. [1, 2]. FC contains about 1% of residual oil, extendable up to around 16%, depending upon the seed strain, and processing conditions [8] This makes FC a potential candidate for production of omega-3 eggs, and increasing the deposition of omega-3 fatty acids into the bird egg yolk [9]. A 15% FC supplementation to layer birds showed a lower deposition of linolenic acid as compared to 15% flaxseed [10]. This is because of the fact that apart from the immense benefits, flaxseeds are known to contain certain anti-nutritional factors, [11] like cyanogenic glycosides, which get concentrated in the FC. The presence of high mucilage in FC leads to the formation of a gummy substance that suppresses the hen’s eating

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Conclusion