Calcium anacardate as source of anacardic acid in laying Japanese quail diet.

Anacardic acid is naturally found in various parts of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) and marketed as calcium anacardate. This product has antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity, and has been used in humans in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and tumors. In meat and egg production systems, anacardic acid is used as a substitute for growth-promoting antibiotics. The study objective was to evaluate effects of adding calcium anacardate as source of anacardic acid in laying Japanese quail diet on bird performance and eggs quality. A total of 252 Japanese quail with 22 week-old were studied, using a completely randomized design composed of six treatments with six replicates and seven quails per experimental unit. Treatments applied were: diet without growth promoter; diet with 0,1% growth promoter; and four diets without growth promoter and addition of 0.25; 0.50; 0.75 and 1.0% calcium anacardate (CA), respectively. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and treatment means compared with a SNK test (5%). The data from treatments containing CA were submitted to regression analysis. Treatments did not influence feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg volume, feed conversion ratio and eggs quality parameters. The addition up to 1% of calcium anacardate in laying Japanese quail diet, does not influence their performance and egg quality.

Effect of Syzygium cumini leaves on laying hens performance and egg quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Syzygium cumini leaves (SCL) in laying hens diets on productive performance, egg quality and lipid oxidation of yolk. A total of 108 Hysex White laying hens were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replicates of six birds each. The treatments consisted of SCL inclusion at dietary levels of 0, 5 and 10 g/kg. There was no significant effect of SCL inclusion on feed intake, laying percentage, weight and egg mass, feed conversion ratio, Haugh units, specific gravity, percentage of yolk, albumen and egg shells and shell thickness. However, the inclusion of SCL significantly influenced the yolk color and yolk lipid oxidation measured by TBARS values. Yolk color increased and TBARS values ​​decreased with the inclusion of SCL. The inclusion of SCL in laying hens diets improves pigmentation and lipid stability of yolk.

Effect of Syzygium cumini leaves on laying hens performance and egg quality

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Syzygium cumini leaves (SCL) in laying hens diets on productive performance, egg quality and lipid oxidation of yolk. A total of 108 Hysex White laying hens were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replicates of six birds each. The treatments consisted of SCL inclusion at dietary levels of 0, 5 and 10 g/kg. There was no significant effect of SCL inclusion on feed intake, laying percentage, weight and egg mass, feed conversion ratio, Haugh units, specific gravity, percentage of yolk, albumen and egg shells and shell thickness. However, the inclusion of SCL significantly influenced the yolk color and yolk lipid oxidation measured by TBARS values. Yolk color increased and TBARS values ​​decreased with the inclusion of SCL. The inclusion of SCL in laying hens diets improves pigmentation and lipid stability of yolk.