Production and egg quality in chicken layers fed with Tithonia diversifolia

We evaluated the effect of different dietary Tithonia diversifolia (TD: 0, 10, 20, and 30 %) on productive traits, egg quality, and economic efficiency in laying hens. Feed intake was higher in hens fed the 20 and 30 % TD diets (120.6 and 119.0 g/day) compared with those fed the 0 or 10 % TD diets (P < 0.0010). Feed egg weight conversion increased with dietary TD inclusion (P < 0.0010). The laying rate was higher (P < 0.0020) in hens on 0 and 10 % TD diets (94.5 and 94.6 %, respectively) than those on 20 and 30 % TD diets (89.7 and 84.9 %). Eggs and yolks were heavier in hens fed 0, 10, and 20 % TD compared with those fed the 30 % TD diet ( P < 0.0020 and P < 0.0040, respectively), which also had poorer albumen width ( P < 0.0010). The yolk had a more intense yellow as the level of dietary TD increased (P < 0.0001). Dietary TD did not affect economic efficiency. In summary, the inclusion of up to 10 % TD in laying hen diets seems feasible as it did not affect productive traits, economic efficiency, and egg quality traits.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the effect of different levels of dietary Tithonia diversifolia (TD: 0, 10, 20, and 30 %) on productive traits, egg quality, and economic efficiency in laying hens. The results showed that hens fed the 20 and 30 % TD diets had higher feed intake, but lower laying rate compared to those fed the 0 or 10 % TD diets. The inclusion of up to 10 % TD in laying hen diets did not affect productive traits, economic efficiency, and egg quality traits.