HATCHABILITY OF EGGS FROM HENS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH GRADED LEVELS OF CHROMIUM PICOLINATE WITH OR WITHOUT VITAMIN C

Abstract

A total of 216 point of lay Noiler pullets were purchased from a reputable farm. The birds were assigned to 8 treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) using 2 x 4 factorial arrangement (2 levels of vitamin C and 4 levels of CrPic). A basal diet was formulated, divided into eight equal portions and diet 1 to 4 were supplemented with 0.00, 0.40, 0.80 and 1.20mg/kg CrPic. Diets 5 to 8 were supplemented with 200mg/kg vitamin C; 0.40mg/kg CrPic+200mg vitamin C; 0.80mg/kg CrPic+200mg vitamin C, 1.20mg/kg CrPic+200mg Vitamin C, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 16 weeks and hatchability of eggs set from hens were investigated. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance from General Linear Model procedures for completely randomised design with a 2 × 4 (2 levels of vitamin C and 4 levels of Chromium picolinate) factorial arrangement. Generally, level of CrPic at 0.8mgkg recorded higher (P>0.05) number of fertile eggs, number of egg hatched, fertility of total egg set, hatchability of egg set and hatchability of fertile egg when compared to others. The interaction between CrPic and Vitamin C was also not significant (P > 0.05) for all the parameters considered. The study revealed that the percentage fertility and hatchability of eggs of hens set increased by CrPic treatments with or without Vitamin C, mostly at 0.8mg/kg diet compared to control diet.