The effect of feeding flaxseed as a source of omega-3 fatty acids to broiler and layer breeders during rearing and lay on body weight, reproductive performance, and hatchability performance indices

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) are fed to chickens to enrich eggs for human consumption. Feeding n-3 FA to breeder flocks could benefit the breeders and improve their offspring’s health, welfare, and productivity. This study assessed the impacts of feeding flaxseed (n-3 FA source) on broiler breeders’ and layer breeders’ production performance. In experiment one, Ross 708 broiler breeders were fed a control or flaxseed (2.57% co-extruded flaxseed and pulses) diet during rearing and laying. In experiment two, Shaver White and ISA Brown layer breeders were fed a control or flaxseed diet. Diet tended to affect broiler breeder body weight (BW) ( P = 0.06) and significantly affected BW uniformity ( P = 0.045). There were no significant pairwise comparisons. Broiler breeders fed flaxseed produced more eggs than control breeders ( P < 0.001) and had better feed conversion per egg mass ( P < 0.001). Maternal diet tended to affect broiler offspring sex ( P = 0.08), but there were no significant pairwise comparisons. Flaxseed diet did not affect layer breeder weight ( P = 0.90) but decreased uniformity ( P = 0.07). Strain ( P = 0.04), but not diet ( P = 0.95), influenced the sex of layer offspring. More female chicks hatched from Shaver White than ISA Brown breeders. Feeding flaxseed did not negatively affect productivity. Feeding n-3 FA may benefit broiler breeder egg production.