Influence of linseed oil, natural and synthetic antioxidants on laying hens productivity, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonia nitrogen

Abstract

Poultry and eggs are nutritious and healthy foods that contain high-quality proteins and low levels of fat compared with other meats. Recent studies have shown that poultry performance is closely associated with colonic health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplemented linseed oil, lycopene and santoqun on laying hens produc tivity, short chain fatty acid and ammonia nitrogen concentration in caecum. A total of 40 Lohman Brown laying hens which were 30 weeks old were assigned to three treatment groups (10 hens per each treatment group) and fed with the experimental diets for 8 weeks. The I (control) group compound feed was supplemented with linseed oil (4.5%), the II (experimental) group – was supplemented with linseed oil (4.5%) + lycopene (25g/kg) and III (experimental) group – linseed oil (4.5%) = santoqun (0.15g/kg) and keeping in the same conditions. The results shown that on laying hens productivity parameter antioxidants did not had any statistical significant effect. Statistical significant results were get just in butyric acid content in laying hens caecum, it decreased from 22 to 35% (P>0.05). The results of this study clearly demonstrate that natural and synthetic antioxidants used in laying hens nutrition decreased SCFA and ammonia nitrogen content in caecum