Production and egg quality in chicken layers fed with Tithonia diversifolia

Abstract

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.