The effects of dietary use of linseed oil in laying hens on egg production, egg quality and blood parameters

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether dietary linseed oil would affect laying performance, egg quality and egg cholesterol level of Brown layers.Thirty weeks old layers were divided into 4 groups of similar mean weight, comprising 18 birds each. The birds were fed standard layer diets containing 0, 1, 2 or 4% linseed oil for 8 weeks period. The birds were housed in individual cages. During the study, a 16:8 hours light:dark photoperiod was employed, feed and water were given ad libitum. Laying performance was assessed by recording feed intake, egg weight, egg production daily; egg quality, egg cholesterol weekly and blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride level) biweekly. The results showed that linseed oil inclusion did not have significant (P>0.05) effects on feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion efficiency, body weight and plasma triglyceride level.However, dietary inclusion of 2% linseed oil increased albumen height, albumen index, decreased albumen width and egg yolk cholesterol level. However, dietary inclusion of 4 % linseed oil decreased plasma glucose and cholesterol concentration.The results obtained in the experiment suggest that providing dietary linseed oil could have a potential to produce functional egg.