Hassan, I., Omar, A., Osman, S., Shoeib, M., Azouz, H. (2009). EFFECT OF DRIED ALFALFA MEAL AND CHROMIUM ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INSHAS LAYERS.. Journal of Productivity and Development, 14(3), 719-746. doi: 10.21608/jpd.2009.44729
Ibrahim Hassan; Amal Omar; Sahar Hamed Osman; Mohamed Salah Shoeib; Hesham Azouz. "EFFECT OF DRIED ALFALFA MEAL AND CHROMIUM ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INSHAS LAYERS.". Journal of Productivity and Development, 14, 3, 2009, 719-746. doi: 10.21608/jpd.2009.44729
Hassan, I., Omar, A., Osman, S., Shoeib, M., Azouz, H. (2009). 'EFFECT OF DRIED ALFALFA MEAL AND CHROMIUM ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INSHAS LAYERS.', Journal of Productivity and Development, 14(3), pp. 719-746. doi: 10.21608/jpd.2009.44729
Hassan, I., Omar, A., Osman, S., Shoeib, M., Azouz, H. EFFECT OF DRIED ALFALFA MEAL AND CHROMIUM ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INSHAS LAYERS.. Journal of Productivity and Development, 2009; 14(3): 719-746. doi: 10.21608/jpd.2009.44729
EFFECT OF DRIED ALFALFA MEAL AND CHROMIUM ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INSHAS LAYERS.
Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
A 3x4 factorial design experiment was conducted to study the effect of three levels of dried alfalfa meal (0, 5 and 10%) and four levels of chromium picolinate, CrPic (0, 600, 1200 and 1800 µg/Kg diet) on performance and egg quality of Inshas layers during the period from 24 to 38 weeks of age. A total number of 216 laying hens and 36 cocks of Inshas strain at 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 12 treatment groups (18 hens + 3 cocks / each treatment) nearly equal in average body weight and average daily egg production. Each treatment group was sub-divided into three replicates (6 hens and one cock) in each. Productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, cholesterol content in blood serum, egg yolk, and liver were studied. Inclusion of 10% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased body weight, egg number, egg production, egg mass, economical efficiency and exhibited the poorest feed conversion value during experimental period. In addition of 5% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed intake during 30 to 34 weeks of age, egg yolk %, cholesterol and lipids % in blood serum, egg yolk and liver as compared with the control diet. Chromium supplementation at different levels had no effect on live body weight, while it a significant (P<0.05) increase in egg weight, fertility and hatchability percentages, egg specific gravity at 38 weeks of age and economical efficiency. However, serum cholesterol, yolk and liver cholesterol was significantly (P<0.05) decreased as a result of chromium supplementation. Laying hens fed diets containing 5% alfalfa meal plus 1200 Cr µg /Kg diet recorded the best economical efficiency values as compared with the other treatment groups. In conclusion, using 5% alfalfa meal with 1200 or 1800 µg Cr/Kg diet were beneficial in egg production and reducing egg yolk and liver cholesterol contents, and increasing the economical return.
effect OF DRIED ALFALFA MEAL and chromium on the performance of inshas LAYERS.
I. I. Hassan; Amal S. Omar; Sahar M.H. Osman; M.S. Shoeib and H. M. Azouz.
Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
ABSTRACT:
A 3x4 factorial design experiment was conducted to study the effect of three levels of dried alfalfa meal (0, 5 and 10%) and four levels of chromium picolinate, CrPic (0, 600, 1200 and 1800 µg/Kg diet) on performance and egg quality of Inshas layers during the period from 24 to 38 weeks of age. A total number of 216 laying hens and 36 cocks of Inshas strain at 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 12 treatment groups (18 hens + 3 cocks / each treatment) nearly equal in average body weight and average daily egg production. Each treatment group was sub-divided into three replicates (6 hens and one cock) in each. Productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, cholesterol content in blood serum, egg yolk, and liver were studied.
Inclusion of 10% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased body weight, egg number, egg production, egg mass, economical efficiency and exhibited the poorest feed conversion value during experimental period. In addition of 5% dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed intake during 30 to 34 weeks of age, egg yolk %, cholesterol and lipids % in blood serum, egg yolk and liver as compared with the control diet. Chromium supplementation at different levels had no effect on live body weight, while it a significant (P<0.05) increase in egg weight, fertility and hatchability percentages, egg specific gravity at 38 weeks of age and economical efficiency. However, serum cholesterol, yolk and liver cholesterol was significantly (P<0.05) decreased as a result of chromium supplementation. Laying hens fed diets containing 5% alfalfa meal plus 1200 Cr µg /Kg diet recorded the best economical efficiency values as compared with the other treatment groups.
In conclusion, using 5% alfalfa meal with 1200 or 1800 µg Cr/Kg diet were beneficial in egg production and reducing egg yolk and liver cholesterol contents, and increasing the economical return.
During the past 25 years there has been considerable interest in the factors that influence cholesterol metabolism in the laying hens and its deposition in the egg, blood and meat. Most of the cholesterol found in the egg yolk is synthesized in liver of the hen and transported by the blood in the form of lipoprotein, and deposited in the growing follicles. It thus logical to assume that a relationship should exist between yolk and plasma cholesterol levels (Hammad et al., 1996).
Alfalfa is a readily available, high protein, high fiber feedstuff with one of lowest rate of passage through the avian system (Garcia et al., 2000). Alfalfa is well balanced in amino acids and rich in vitamins, carotenoids and xanthophylls that give poultry carcasses and egg yolk their desirable yellow color (Sen et al., 1998 and Ponte et al., 2004). Alfalfa also contains high levels (2 to 3% DM) of saponins, which have been shown to have hypocholesterolemic, anticarcinogenic, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant properties (Klita et al., 1996 and Ponte et al., 2004). Some saponins form insoluble complexes with cholesterol in the digest inhibited the intestinal absorption of endogenous and exogenous cholesterol (Oakenfull and Sidhu, 1990). They added that, saponins can affect the enter hepatic circulation of bile acids by forming mixed micelles, which directly affect the re-absorption of bile acids from the terminal ileum. Some studies have shown that saponins from different sources lower serum cholesterol levels in a variety of animals including human subjects (Southon et al., 1988 and Matsuura, 2001).
The biologically active form of chromium is called glucose tolerance factor (GTF). It is a small organic molecule containing nicotinic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, cysteine and chromium (Mertz and Roginski, 1975). Without chromium at its core GTF is inactive (Hossain et al., 1998). Previous studies revealed the chromium role in the regulation of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids metabolism via an enhancement of insulin action (Evans and Bowman, 1992; Lien et al., 2001; Kroliczewska et al., 2004). Chromium also reduces plasma cholesterol (Press et al., 1990; Boleman et al., 1995 and Lien et al., 2001) and egg yolk cholesterol contents (Lien et al., 1996). However, chromium deficiency in diet may result in slow growth, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes and coronary artery diseases (Abrham et al., 1991). Because of the relationship between cholesterol and coronary heart disease in humans, researchers have devoted considerable efforts for obtaining low cholesterol products, for example, low cholesterol egg. Both alfalfa and chromium can reduce the concentration of cholesterol in plasma and egg yolk and alter lipids metabolism.
Therefore, this study investigates the effect of using chromium and dried alfalfa meal on the productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, total lipids and total cholesterol contents in serum and egg yolk of lnshas layers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experimental work of this study was carried out at Inshas Poultry Research Station, Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt, during the period from June to September 2007.
A 3 x 4 factorial design experiment was conducted to study the effect of three levels of dried alfalfa meal (0, 5 and 10%) each with four levels of chromium picolinate (0, 600, 1200 and 1800 µg/Kg diet) on the performance and egg quality of Inshas layers from 24 to 38 weeks of age. A total number of 216 laying hens and 36 cocks of lnshas stran at 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 12 treatment groups (18 hens + 3 cocks / each treatment). Laying hens of each treatment group were nearly equal in average body weight and average daily egg production. Each treatment group was sub-divided into three replicates (in each 6 hens and 1 cock). The basal experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 5 and 10% dried alfalfa meal. Each diet was supplemented with chromium picolinate, CrPic (contain 12.27% Cr) at 0, 600, 1200 or 1800 µg Cr /Kg of diet. The composition and chemical analysis of the experimental basal diets are presented in Table 1. All the experimental diets were
Table 1. Composition and chemical analysis of the experimental diets fed during the experimental period.
Ingredients
Dried alfalfa meal %
0
5
10
Yellow corn (8.5 %)
48.10
57.30
57.60
Soybean meal (44 % )
21.80
21.65
20.60
Wheat bran
14.60
3.70
0.00
Dried alfalfa meal (20%)
0.00
5.00
10.00
Limestone (CaCO3 )
7.70
7.50
7.30
Di-calcium phosphate
2.00
2.00
2.00
DL-methionine
0.10
0.10
0.10
Salt (NaCl)
0.25
0.25
0.25
Vit. Min. premix*
0.30
0.30
0.30
Cotton seed oil
5.15
2.20
1.85
Total
100
100
100
Price of ton feed (LE).
1697.95
1663.65
1648.05
Chemical analysis:-
a-Calculated analysis **:-
Crude protein, %
16.03
16.04
16.02
ME Kcal/kg
2739
2727
2717
Calcium, %
3.38
3.38
3.38
Available phosphorus, %
0.50
0.50
0.50
Crude fiber %
4.19
4.19
4.73
Lysine, %
0.80
0.78
0.77
Methionine,%
0.36
0.36
0.35
Methionine + cystine %
0.65
0.63
0.61
b-Determined analysis ***:-
Crude protein,%
15.91
15.85
15.89
Crude fiber,%
4.31
4.30
4.86
Ash %
3.03
2.88
3.00
* Vit. Min. premix: Each 2 kg of vitamin and mineral premix (Commercial source AGRIVET Co.) contains: Vit. A. 12000000 IU, Vit. D3 2000000 IU, Vit. E. 10000 mg, Vit. K3 2000 mg, Vit. B1 100 mg, Vit. B2 5000 mg, Vit. B6 1500 mg, Vit. B12 10 mg, Biotin 50 mg, Choline chloride 250000 mg, Pantothenic acid 10000 mg, Nicotinic acid 3000 mg, Folic acid 1000 mg, Manganese 60000 mg, Zinc 50000 mg, Iron 30000 mg, Copper 10000 mg, Iodine 1000 mg, Selenium 100 mg, Cobalt 100 mg, Carrier(Ca CO3) add to 2kg.
** Calculated according to NRC (1994).
*** Determined according to the methods of AOAC (1990)
formulated to cover the nutrient requirements of layers according to NRC (1994). All birds in each treatment group were housed individually in one cage. Each cage was provided with an individual feeder and one automatic pipette drinkers. Cocks were used to collect semen and artificially inseminated to hens (cock/6 hens) for two times per week. Birds were fed ad-libitum and the fresh water was available all the time during the experimental period. The cages were located in a temperature-controlled room, and the photoperiod during the experiment was fixed at 16 h. All experimental period were kept under the same managerial, environmental and hygienic conditions.
Individual body weight of laying hens was recorded at 24, 30, 34 and 38 weeks of age, while egg number and egg weight were recorded daily and feed intake was calculated weekly. Egg mass was calculated by multiplying egg number by average egg weight. Feed conversion (g feed/g egg mass) was also calculated weakly.
At 30, 34 and 38 weeks of age, two eggs were randomly taken from each replicate, being, 6 eggs for each treatment group and used to study egg quality measurements. Egg dimension (width and length) were measured using digital caliper to calculate egg shape index according to Romanoff and Romanoff (1949) using the following equation: Egg shape index = egg width (mm) / egg length (mm) X 100.
Yolk index were calculated according to Funk et al., (1958). Specific gravity of eggs was determined by using the saline floatation method according to Hempe et al., (1988). Salt solution was made in incremental concentrations of 0.005% in the range from 1.065 to 1.120%.
At 30, 34 and 38 weeks of age, about 36 eggs from each treatment group were collected and incubated. After hatching, chicks were counted and non-hatched eggs were broken to determine the percentages of fertility and hatchability. Fertility was calculated as the percentage of fertile eggs from the total number of set egg, while the hatchability was expressed as chicks hatched from fertile eggs and from total eggs.
At the end of the experimental period (38 weeks of age) 3 hens from each treatment group were randomly chosen having average body weight around the treatment mean, slaughtered. Blood and liver samples were collected individually at slaughtering from these birds representing each treatment for determination of serum cholesterol according to Warnick et al. (1983), total lipids according to Zollner and Kirsch (1962). Liver samples were prepared to determine the cholesterol according to Warnick et al. (1983) and total lipids according to Assmann et al. (1984).
At the end of the experimental period, 5 eggs were taken from each replicate and prepared to determine the egg yolk cholesterol and total lipids according to the method of Floch et al. (1973). The economical efficiency (EEf) of the experimental diets was estimated depending upon feeding cost and price of produced eggs.
Data were statistically analyzed according to ANOVA Procedures of SAS (SAS Institute, 1999). Means differences were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (Duncan, 1955).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Productive performance
Effect of dried alfalfa meal:
Results in Table 2 indicated that laying hens received the diet containing 10 % dried alfalfa meal (DAM) had significantly (P<0.05) lower body weight than those received 0 or 5 % DAM at 38 weeks of age. Similarly, Mourao et al. (2006) confirmed that inclusion of 15% alfalfa in the diets of laying hens significantly (P<0.05) decreased body weight at 44, 48 and 52 weeks of age. The aforementioned results may be due to that digestion and absorption of nutrients were negatively affected by DAM saponins which had an irritating effect on the membranes of the gastrointestinal tract (Oleszek, 1996).
The present results demonstrated that feeding laying hens diets furnished with 0% or 10% DAM revealed a significant (P<0.05) increase in feed intake during the period from 30 to 34 weeks of age (Table 2). These results agreed with those of Al-Haweizy and Al-Sardary (2007) who declared that increasing dehydrated alfalfa meal (8% or more) resulted in a significant (P<0.05) increase in feed consumption. Moreover, Bolden and Jensen (1985) observed no differences in body weight and feed consumption of laying hens when fed corn soy diet or the previous diet with 5% fish meal, alfalfa meal and torula yeast.
Feeding the high level of DAM (10%) during the period from 24 to 38 weeks of age resulted in significant (P<0.05) decrease in egg number, egg
production and egg mass, moreover, it exhibited the poorest (P<0.05) feed conversion value (Tables 3, 4 and 5). These results agreed with those of Potter et al., 1993; Jenkins and Atwal. 1994 reported that dietary saponins depressed egg production in poultry. This negative effect have been ascribed to several properties of saponins such as reduced intestinal motility (Oleszek et al., 1994), and reduction in digestibility (Shimoyameda et al., 1998). Also, Mourao et al. (2006) found that 15% dietary alfalfa for laying hens significantly (P<0.05) decreased total egg mass values. Al-Haweizy and Al-Sardary (2007) declared that increasing dehydrated alfalfa meal (8% or more) resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decrease in egg mass and exhibited the poorest feed conversion. Also, Turk and Barnett (1972) found that adding alfalfa meal to a corn-soy laying hen diet was the most effective of the fiber sources tested for decreasing feed efficiency and egg production. Contradicting results were obtained by Guclu et al. (2004) they observed that addition of 9% alfalfa meal to laying quail diets had no adverse effect on performance. Alfalfa in high concentration in the diet of layers decreases growth and egg production (Hey Wang et al., 1959).
Effect of chromium:
Results in Table 2 showed that no significant differences in body weight between treatment groups at different levels of chromium from 24 to 38 weeks of age. These results are in agreement with those of Fatma et al. (2002) and Lee et al. (2003) who reported that CrPic had no effect on growth, but feed efficiency was improved. Diets supplemented with 1200 µg Cr /Kg diet showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in feed intake during the whole experimental period (24-38 weeks of age) and an improvement in both egg number, egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion during the period from 24 to 30 weeks of age (Tables 2, 3,4 and 5). Similar results were obtained by Sahin et al. (2002a) who reported that increased supplemental chromium level (200, 400, 800 or 1200 µg Cr /Kg) in laying quail diets linearly increased egg weight, egg production and feed conversion. Also, Sahin et al. (2001) and Page (1991) demonstrated thatorganic chromium supplementation caused to improve in egg production in layers and quails. Furthermore, El-Koteat et al. (2008) found that chromium supplementation significantly improved egg production and egg mass during 40 to 52 weeks of age when compared to the control diet. Contrarily,
Table 5: Feed conversion of Inshas layers as affected bydietary dried alfalfa meal, chromium levels and their interactions during the different experimental periods.
Items
Feed conversion (g. feed/g.egg mass)
24-30
weeks
30-34
weeks
34-38
weeks
24-38
weeks
Dried alfalfa meal (%)
NS
*
NS
*
0
5.52±0.32
3.45±0.15b
3.32±0.13
4.00±0.09b
5
5.40±0.36
3.26±0.08b
3.33±0.08
3.92±0.09b
10
6.19±0.42
3.93±0.13a
3.87±0.33
4.55±0.20a
Cr/Kg diet (µg)
*
NS
NS
NS
0
6.70±0.36a
3.62±0.15
3.62±0.12
4.48±0.13
600
5.90±0.45ab
3.53±0.15
3.54±0.40
4.18±0.19
1200
4.81±0.32b
3.72±0.19
3.49±0.28
4.01±0.22
1800
5.41±0.35b
3.32±0.17
3.36±0.13
3.96±0.15
Interaction effects:
Dried
alfalfa
meal (%)
Cr/Kg diet
(µg)
*
*
NS
*
0
0
6.24±0.48ab
3.39±0.28abc
3.70±0.32
4.30±0.16ab
600
6.12±0.98ab
3.59±0.09ab
3.05±0.03
4.08±0.22ab
1200
4.63±0.41b
4.00±0.09a
2.99±0.08
3.88±0.14b
1800
5.11±0.14ab
2.82±0.14c
3.53±0.31
3.74±0.12b
5
0
6.50±0.97ab
3.39±0.09abc
3.36±0.05
4.22±0.11ab
600
5.39±0.42ab
3.17±0.13bc
3.22±0.20
3.86±0.20b
1200
4.56±0.07b
3.12±0.22bc
3.55±0.20
3.75±0.12b
1800
5.14±0.81ab
3.38±0.22abc
3.20±0.16
3.85±0.26b
10
0
7.35±0.28a
4.08±0.18a
3.79±0.09
4.92±0.12a
600
6.20±1.05ab
3.85±0.36ab
4.37±1.18
4.59±0.48ab
1200
5.23±0.95ab
4.04±0.34a
3.95±0.83
4.42±0.66ab
1800
5.97±0.74ab
3.76±0.22ab
3.35±0.22
4.28±0.30ab
Means having different letters at the same column are differ significantly.
* = (P<0.05); NS= Not significant
Fatma et al. (2002) and Lien et al. (2004) showed that Cr supplementation had no influence on egg production of laying hens.
Interaction effects:
All studied traits (body weight, feed intake, egg number, egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion) were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the interaction between alfalfa meal and chromium during the period from 24 to 38 weeks of age (Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5).
Laying hens fed the high level of alfalfa meal (10%) without chromium supplementation exhibited the poorest egg number, egg production, egg mass and feed conversion values as compared with the other treatment groups during the whole experimental period.The best values of egg number and egg production were recorded with the diets containing 5% alfalfa meal and supplemented with 600 µg Cr /Kgdiet while, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion were recorded with the diets containing zero alfalfa meal and supplemented with 1800 µg Cr /Kgdiet as compared with the other treatments during the experimental period from 24 to 38 weeks of age (Tables 3, 4 and 5).
Egg quality and egg components:
Effect of dried alfalfa meal:
The average of the three experimental periods (30, 34, and 38 weeks) clearly showed no significant differences between all the treatment groups for egg specific gravity and egg shape index (Table 6). No significant differences were observed among all the treatment groups concerning yolk index and egg shell % at 30, 34, 38 weeks of age and the average of all the previous periods (Table 7). Egg yolk % was almost significantly (P<0.05) decreased while, albumen % increased due to addition of dried alfalfa meal at 38 weeks of age (Table 8). In this respect, Nakaue et al. (1980) found no significant differences in specific gravity of eggs among groups of layers fed different levels of alfalfa meal. Similarly, Mourao et al. (2006) indicated that alfalfa supplementation did not affect egg specific gravity. Also, Abdel–Azeem (2005) showed that all egg quality traits were not affected by feeding laying Japanese quails on diets containing high fiber alfalfa meal.
Effect of chromium:
The effect of chromium supplementation on the overall mean of egg specific gravity was significantly (P<0.05) affected as presented in Table 6. Results of chromium supplementation at 600, 1200 and 1800 µg Cr /Kgdiet increased (P<0.o5) egg specific gravity as compared with the control group. These results are in good agreement with these obtained by Sahin et al. (2002 a and b) who reported that increasing supplemental chromium
linearly increased (P<0.05) egg specific gravity. On the other hand, addition of different levels of chromium in layer diets decreased yolk index, albumen % and yolk % while, shell % increased at 38 weeks of age and the average for the three periods as compared with the control diet (Table 7 and 8). However, the previous results disagreed with those obtained by El-Koteat et al. (2008) who found that dietary treatments with Cr did not affect egg components (yolk %, albumen % and shell %).
Interaction effects:
The Interaction between dietary dried alfalfa meal and chromium at different levels showed significant (P
Reproductive performance
Effect of dried alfalfa meal:
Results in Table 9 showed no significant differences in fertility and hatchability percentage values due to including of dried alfalfa meal in laying hen diets. However, dried alfalfa meal addition resulted in an insignificant decrease in fertility and hatchability values. In this respect, Kingan and Sullivan, (1964) stated that saponin content in alfalfa meal has negative effects on production rate, fertility and hatchability. Also, Stolzenberg and Parkhurst (1976) reported that the negative effects of saponins on animal reproduction have long been known and have been ascribed to abortifacient, antizygotic and implantation properties. On the other hand, Benie et al. (1990) demonstrated that alfalfa meal contains high levels of saponins (2 to 3 % of DM) were found to be extremely strong stimulators of luteinising hormone release from cultured hypophysial cells.
Effect of chromium:
At 38 weeks of age, fertility and hatchability percentages were significantly (P<0.05) increased for laying hens fed diets fortified with different level of chromium as compared with those of the control group
(Table 9). These results are agreement with those obtained by Contreras et al. (2002). Also, Richard and Marilyin (1981) indicated that male rats raised on a low chromium diet containing less than 100 µg chromium had lower fertility values compared to those fed the Cr-supplemented diets. On contrast, Butkauskas and Sruoga (2004) showed that chromium supplementation had no effect on Japanese quail fertility. However, in spite of their long term practical impact on reproduction, a few trace elements as chromium have not received much attention in formulating animal diets (Prasad and Gowda, 2005).
Interaction effects:
Layers fed on dried alfalfa meal with different levels of chromium did not show any significant interaction effects on reproductive performance, during the different experimental periods (Table 9).
Lipid and Cholesterol
Effect of dried alfalfa meal:
The results obtained revealed that increasing dried alfalfa meal percentage in laying hen diets decreased significantly (P<0.05) lipids and cholesterol in blood serum, egg yolk and liver as compared with the control group (Table 10). The possible explanation may be due to that dehydrated alfalfa meal is a good source of hypochloestrolemic compounds such as saponins which interact with the cholesterol to form complexes that may reduce sterols absorption from the gut as reported by Ponte et al. (2004). The present results are in partial agreement with the findings of McNaughton (1978) who observed a significant reduction in egg yolk cholesterol of laying hens fed alfalfa meal. Moreover, Guclu et al. (2004) and Abdel–Azeem (2005) found that liver cholesterol, liver lipids, plasma cholesterol, plasma lipids and yolk cholesterol level decreased by feeding laying quail diets containing alfalfa meal. On the contrarily, Mourao et al. (2006) found that the inclusion of alfalfa meal (15%) in diets of laying hens was unable to lower the levels of cholesterol content in the egg yolk. Efforts to reduce egg cholesterol levels by feeding sources of saponins to laying hens were generally not successful (Nakaue et al., 1980; Sim et al., 1984). The main source of egg cholesterol is endogenous synthesis in the ovary so reductions in blood cholesterol in laying hens don’t result in lower egg cholesterol. Sim et al. (1984) showed that dietary sarsasponin failed to lower the cholesterol
content of egg yolk or serum of laying hens even though it increased the excretion of cholesterol and decreased the transfer of dietary cholesterol to the eggs.
Effect of chromium:
The effect of chromium level on serum cholesterol, yolk and liver cholesterol and lipids was significant (P<0.05) as shown in Table 10.The higher level of chromium exhibited the lowest serum cholesterol, this reduction is consistent with yolk and liver cholesterol and lipids (Table 10). The egg cholesterol reductions observed were similar to those obtained by Lien et al. (1996 and 2004) and Fatma et al. (2002) and also reductions in laying hens plasma cholesterol (Boleman et al., 1995 and Lien et al., 2001) as a result of chromium supplementation. Similarly, El-Koteat et al. (2008) found that egg yolk cholesterol and serum total lipids and cholesterol were significantly (P<0.05) decreased by Cr supplementation of laying hen diets. Also, Ezzat et al. (2006) and El–Hommosany, (2008) demonstrated that supplementing the diets of quail and broiler with chromium is beneficial in reducing egg cholesterol.
Interaction effects:
Cholesterol in blood serum and egg yolk were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the interaction between dried alfalfa meal and chromium as indicated in Table 10. Birds fed diets supplemented with 1800 µg Cr /Kgdiet and contained 10 % dried alfalfa meal recorded the lowest blood serum and egg yolk cholesterol levels. However, it is clear that increasing the level of chromium in all diets with different levels of DAM showed gradual decrease in lipids and cholesterol of blood serum, yolk and liver (Table 10).
Economical efficiency:
Inclusion of 5% dietary dried alfalfa meal improved economical efficiency (EEf) as compared with the control diet (Table 11). Economical efficiency of chromium supplemented diets showed an improvement when compared with the control diet. Similar results were obtained by Ezzat et al. (2006) reported that the highest value of economical efficiency was obtained for quails fed diet supplemented with chromium up to 800 µg Cr / Kg diet.
Table 11. Economical efficiency of Inshas layers as affected by dietary supplementation of chromium, dried alfalfa meal levels and their interactions at 38 weeks of age.
Items
Egg
number
Price/
egg
(LE)
Total
Revenue
hen (LE)
Total
feed
intake/
hen(kg)
Price
/Kg
feed
(LE)
Total
feed
cost/ hen
(LE)
Fixed
/ hen
price
(LE)
Total
cost
Hen
(LE)
Net
Revenue
/hen
(LE)
(EEf)
%
Dried alfalfa meal %
0
59.35
0.5
29.68
10.39
1.71
17.77
2.00
19.77
9.91
50.12
5
61.57
0.5
30.79
10.34
1.67
17.27
2.00
19.27
11.52
59.77
10
54.12
0.5
27.06
10.36
1.66
17.20
2.00
19.20
7.86
40.96
Cr/Kg diet (µg)
0
55.33
0.5
27.67
10.41
1.67
17.38
2.00
19.38
8.28
42.72
600
58.80
0.5
29.40
10.49
1.68
17.62
2.00
19.62
9.78
49.82
1200
58.89
0.5
29.45
10.14
1.68
17.04
2.00
19.04
10.41
54.69
1800
60.36
0.5
30.18
10.41
1.69
17.59
2.00
19.59
10.59
54.04
Interaction effects:
Dried
alfalfa
meal %
Cr/Kg
diet
(µg)
0
0
58.20
0.5
29.1
10.51
1.70
17.87
2.00
19.87
9.23
46.47
600
58.87
0.5
29.435
10.49
1.71
17.94
2.00
19.94
9.50
47.63
1200
58.07
0.5
29.035
10.00
1.71
17.10
2.00
19.10
9.94
52.02
1800
62.27
0.5
31.135
10.55
1.72
18.15
2.00
20.15
10.99
54.55
5
0
58.87
0.5
29.435
10.37
1.66
17.21
2.00
19.21
10.22
53.19
600
63.40
0.5
31.700
10.42
1.67
17.40
2.00
19.40
12.30
63.39
1200
62.87
0.5
31.435
10.18
1.68
17.10
2.00
19.10
12.33
64.56
1800
61.13
0.5
30.565
10.40
1.69
17.58
2.00
19.58
10.99
56.14
10
0
48.93
0.5
24.465
10.34
1.65
17.06
2.00
19.06
5.40
28.35
600
54.13
0.5
27.065
10.57
1.66
17.55
2.00
19.55
7.52
38.47
1200
55.73
0.5
27.865
10.24
1.66
17.00
2.00
19.00
8.87
46.67
1800
57.67
0.5
28.835
10.28
1.67
17.17
2.00
19.17
9.67
50.44
Total revenue = Egg number / hen X Price/egg (LE). Fixed hen (LE) = Price bird (LE) + Rearing cost.
Net revenue/hen (LE) = Total revenue - Total cost/hen.
EEf = Net revenue/hen (LE) / Total cost/hen (LE).
Price of 1Kg chromium picolinate = 150 (LE)
EEf : Economical efficiency
Laying hens fed diets containing 5% alfalfa meals and supplemented with 1200 µg chromium /Kg diet recorded the best economical efficiency values, while laying hens fed diets containing 10% alfalfa meal without any chromium supplementation recorded the poorest economical efficiency values as compared with the other treatment groups.
In conclusion, using 5% alfalfa meal with 1200 or 1800 µg Cr/Kg diet were beneficial in egg production and reducing egg yolk and liver cholesterol contents, and increasing the economical return.
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تأثیر مسحوق البرسیم الحجازی المجفف والکرومیوم على أداء دجاج أنشاص البیاض.
إبراهیم إبراهیم حسن، أمال صالح عمر، سحر حامد عثمان، محمد صلاح شعیب، هشام عزوز
معهد بحوث الإنتاج الحیوانی- مرکز البحوث الزراعیة – الدقی – الجیزة – مصر.
صممت تجربة عاملیه 3 × 4 لدارسة تأثیر ثلاث مستویات من مسحوق البرسیم الحجازی المجفف ( 0 ، 5 ، 10% ) وأربع مستویات من الکرومیوم ( 0 ، 600 ، 1200 ، 1800میکروجرام / کجم ) على الأداء وصفات البیض لسلاله دجاج إنشاص البیاض من عمر 24حتی 38 أسبوع. استخدم عدد 216 دجاجة بیاضة و 36 دیک عند عمر 24 اسبوع قسمت عشوائیا إلى 12 مجموعة (18 دجاجة + 3 دیوک / مجموعة ) متساویة تقریبا فی متوسط الوزن ومتوسط إنتاج البیض الیومی. قسمت کل مجموعة إلى ثلاث مکرارات فی کلا منها 6 دجاجات ودیک واحد. وتم دراسة الأداء الانتاجی والتناسلی وصفات البیض ومحتوی الدم وصفار البیض والکبد من الکولیسترول.
وأوضحت النتائج ما یلی:
أدی استخدام 10% من مسحوق البرسیم الحجازی المجفف فی علائق الدجاج البیاض إلی خفض معنوی (P<0.05) لکل من متوسط وزن الجسم و إنتاج البیض ، عدد البیض ، حجم البیض ، الکفاءة الاقتصادیة وأظهرت أسوأ کفاءة تحویل غذائیة. کما أدت إضافة 5% من مسحوق البرسیم الحجازی المجفف إلى نقص معنویا(P<0.05) فی کل من الغذاء المأکول خلال الفترة من 30 إلی 34 أسبوع ونسبة صفار البیض ونسبة الکولسترول والدهون فی سیرم الدم وصفار البیض والکبد مقارنة بعلقة المقارنة.
إضافة الکرومیوم لم تؤدی إلی أی تأثیر معنوی علی متوسط وزن الجسم الحی ، بینما أدت إلی تحسن معنوی فی وزن البیض ، نسبة الخصوبة ، الفقس ،الکثافة النوعیة للبیضة عند 38 أسبوع والکفاءة الاقتصادیة. بینما أدت إضافة الکرومیوم إلی خفض معنویا لکل من کولیسترول الدم و صفار البیضة و الکبد.
الدجاج البیاض المغذی على علائق تحتوى على 5%من مسحوق دریس البرسیم الحجازی مع 1200 أو1800 میکروجرام کرومیوم / کجم علف سجل اعلی کفاءة اقتصادیة مقارنة بالمجامیع الأخری أو مجموعة المقارنة.
الخلاصة:أدی استخدام مسحوق البرسیم الحجازی المجفف بنسبة 5% مع إضافة الکرومیوم بمعدل 1200 أو 1800 میکروجرام /کجم علف إلی زیادة إنتاج البیض وخفض الکولیسترول فی الدم و صفار البیض والکبد وکذلک أدی إلی زیادة العائد الاقتصادی.