Supplementation of organic minerals and its effect on production performance and egg quality of laying hens

Abstract

The present study was conducted to find the effect of different levels of organic minerals on egg production and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 45 laying hens were selected and divided into three groups with 3 replicates of 5 birds each. The control group was provided with commercial ration having inorganic minerals and the other two groups were supplemented with organic minerals at the rate of 7.5 (OM-50) and 15 mg/kg (OM-100). The experiment lasted for 5 weeks including 1 week of adaptation period. Overall feed intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the control. Significantly lower feed intake was recorded in group OM-100. Numerically lower (better) FCR was recorded in OM-100 at all recorded stages. Significantly (P<0.05) higher egg weight, egg shell weight and egg shell thickness was found in OM-100 compared to the control. Similarly, albumin height, Haugh unit and yolk weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher in M-100. It was concluded from the present results that organic minerals at the level of 50 and 100 mg/kg improved the performance and egg quality of laying hens. However, better results were found in OM-100.