Supplementation of hen diets with dried or freshly harvested Talinum triangulare: the effect on egg production and egg lipid profile

Abstract

This study investigated the comparative effects of administration of dried and fresh Talinum triangulare (Tt) plant supplements on the egg production and egg quality of laying hens. Two hundred and ten pullets, purchased at the age of 18 weeks, were randomly assigned to seven study groups: A1 , A2 , A3 ; B1 , B2 , B3 ; and C. Aqueous extracts derived from a dried sample of Tt were administered at 62.5, 250, and 1000 mg/L doses for treatment of Group A (A1, A2, and A3 ); or from freshly harvested samples of Tt at 62.5, 250, and 1000 mg/L dose for treatment of Group B (B1 , B2 , and B3 ). Hens in Group C (CC) served as an un-supplemented experimental control group. Laying rate and egg lipid profile were determined at two-month intervals following standard procedures. Supplementation with Tt significantly enhanced egg production, with extended higher laying rates in groups A and B. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration and an increase in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration of eggs were observed in the supplemented groups (A and B). Dietary supplementation with dried samples of Tt at doses of 250 and 1000 mg/L increased the number of eggs laid, and resulted in the production of eggs with lower LDL and higher HDL cholesterol. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms behind the hypolipidemic principle and egg production enhancement.