Effects of Culban Seed ( Vicia Peregrina L.) on Performance and Egg Characteristics of Laying Hens

Abstract

In this study, the effects of Culban seed ( Vicia peregrine L.) on live body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg production, egg qualit y characteristics, egg yolk fatty acid profiles and yolk cholesterol content in laying hen s were investigated. The experiment consists of seven treatment groups with ten replica tions containing one laying hen in each and for 32 weeks old seventy laying hen were used i n the study. The hens were fed the experimental diets containing 10 and 20% Culban see d meal in raw and autoclaved form. In addition, the autoclaved form was supplemented w ith enzyme (Bacozymex). There was also a control group which was fed a Culban meal fr ee-diet. The lighting regime was 16.5 hours light and 7.5 hours darkness. The experiment lasted sixty three days. The supplementation with Culban seed had significant ef fects on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, albumen index, egg weight, e ggshell weight, shell strength, haugh unit, yolk lipid, yolk cholesterol ratio and yolk t otal poly unsaturated fatty acids. The presence of culban seed in feed has negative effect s on the overall performance of laying hens, mortality, internal and external quality of e ggs. Therefore, in alternative protein sources Culban seed. Therefore Culban seed could be recommended as a protein source (up to 20%) for laying hen diets. Keywords: Culban seed ( Vicia peregrina ), Egg characteristics, Egg cholesterol, Egg fatty acids, Laying hen performance.