Hen performance, egg quality, and the sensory evaluation of eggs from SCWL hens fed dietary flax

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty-five 19-wk-old Single Comb White Leghorn pullets of a commercial strain were fed diets containing either 0, 10 or 20% ground flax seed. Birds fed 20% dietary flax were smaller and ate more feed (P < 0.01). Hen performance in terms of egg production and egg-shell deformation was unaffected by dietary flax throughout the trial. Egg weight followed this trend until period 12, when control-fed hens laid significantly larger eggs (P < 0.01). The metabolizable energy of diets containing 10 and 20% ground flax was significantly less than that of the control corn-soybean diet (P < 0.01). Malondialdehyde levels in the liver of birds fed 20% dietary flax were moderately elevated, although this was not indicative of serious lipid peroxidation. Percentage liver fat was significantly lower in birds fed all levels of dietary flax (P < 0.05). There was a significant increase of N-3 fatty acids, and particularly linolenic acid, in the livers of birds fed all levels of dietary flax. The data from taste-panel studies involving fresh and stored eggs were somewhat inconclusive, although in general there was a slight perception of off-flavour in eggs from flax-fed birds. Key words: Hen performance, egg quality, dietary flax