China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 233-244.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.01.021

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Effects of Different Levels of Fat Powder on the Egg-laying Performance and Egg Quality of Hy-Line Brown Laying Hens

ZOU Yinghao1,2(), WANG Yong3, SUN Lihua3, CHEN Xing2, WANG Jie2, LIU Guohua2, WANG Kun1, ZHENG Aijuan2(), ZHENG Shugui1()   

  1. 1.College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shenyang Agricultural University,Shenyang 110866,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Risk Assessment Laboratory of Animal Product Quality Safety Feed Source Factors of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Institute of Feed Research,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Beijing 100081,China
    3.Guangzhou UBT Technology Group,Guangzhou 511356,China
  • Received:2025-04-25 Online:2026-01-05 Published:2025-12-26
  • Contact: ZHENG Aijuan, ZHENG Shugui E-mail:18840609963@163.com;zhengaijuan@caas.cn;zsg1@syau.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of fat powder on the egg-laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical indicators, and nutrient apparent metabolic rate of Hy-Line Brown laying hens, in order to provide a scientific basis for the application of fat powder in the feed ration of laying hens. Method A total of 270 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, aged 44 weeks, were selected and randomly divided into three groups, with six replicates per group and 15 hens in each replicate. The hens in control group were received a basic feed, while in the experimental groups were fed with 2% and 4% fat powder in the basic feed, respectively. The pre-feeding period was 1 week, and the experimental period was 8 weeks. The number of eggs, abnormal eggs and egg weight were recorded every day, and the feed consumption was recorded every week to calculate the average daily feed intake, egg production rate, average egg weight and feed-egg ratio. Eggs and serum were collected at 48 and 52 weeks of age to determine egg quality and serum biochemical indexes. Feces were collected at 52 weeks of age to determine the apparent metabolic rate of nutrients. Result Compared with control group, ①The mean daily feed intake of laying hens at 49-52 weeks of age was significantly higher in 2% fat powder group (P<0.05). ② Eggshell thickness was significantly lower at 48 weeks old in 2% and 4% fat powder groups (P<0.05), while egg specific gravity was significantly higher at 52 weeks old (P<0.05). ③Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher (P<0.05), while the content of immunoglobulin A was significantly lower (P<0.05) in serum of 48 weeks old laying hens in 2% fat powder group. ④Glutamine aminotransferase activity and immunoglobulin G content were significantly increased (P<0.05), while immunoglobulin A content was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in serum of 52 weeks old laying hens in 2% fat powder group. Conclusion Addition of 2% and 4% fat powder significantly improved feed intake and egg quality in Hy-Line Brown laying hens, but there might be a risk of inhibiting lipid metabolism.Based on the results of this experiment, the recommended amount of fat powder to be added was 2%.

Key words: fat powder; Hy-Line Brown laying hens; egg-laying performance; egg quality; serum biochemistry indicators; apparent metabolic rate

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