Egg lipid and vitamin A content in laying pullets administered honey during hot-dry season

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of honey on lipid profile and vitamin A content of eggs from laying pullets during thehot-dry season. One hundred and twenty laying pullets (aged 28 weeks) used were randomly assigned to 3 doses of honey: 0 (0H), 10 (10H) and 20ml honey (20H) per litre water for 16 weeks. Each treatment group consists of 4 replicates with 10 birds per replicate. During16 weeks experimental period, data on egg cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and vitamin A were determined and subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Egg cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and vitamin A concentration were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by dosage of honey in drinking water. In conclusion, administration of honey in drinking water of laying pullets to combat heat stress during hot-dry season may not affect egg lipids and vitamin A content.