EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF PURSLANE (Portulaca oleracea L.) ON YOLK OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS CONTENT, EGG QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RHODE ISLAND RED HENS

This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of 100 g/kg and 200 g/kg purslane meal on yolk ω-3 fatty acids content, egg quality and productive performance in Rhode Island Red laying hens. Sixty-four hens of 30 weeks of age, with an average body weight of 2100 g, were randomly allocated into four treatments: 0 g/kg (negative control), 100 g/kg and 200 g/kg purslane meal, and 14.7 g/kg flaxseed oil (positive control) in the diet. Hens were housed in cages equipped with individual feeders and drinking troughs. They received food and water ad libitum and 18 h of light during 56 days. The inclusion of 200 g/kg purslane and 14.7 g/kg flaxseed oil in laying hens diet showed higher (P 0.05) parameters of egg quality such as egg longitudinal and transverse diameter, albumin and yolk diameter, yolk height, and yolk weight. Hens that received 200 g/kg purslane in their diet increased (P < 0.05) feed intake, egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion compared with those fed with the negative control. It was concluded that the dietary inclusion of both 100 g/kg and 200 g/kg purslane increases yolk ω-3 fatty acids content without any adverse effect on egg quality traits and productive performance of Rhode Island Red hens