SERUM AND EGG YOLK CHOLESTEROL LEVELS OF BIRDS FED DIETARY GARLIC AND NATURAL COCOA POWDER
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6843Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Natural cocoa powder (NCP) and Garlic on the laying capacity and some egg quality characteristics of a commercial laying flock. A total of 270 Golden sex linked layers in their 8" week of lay were used for the study, The birds were allowed to acclimatize for a week and then randomly divided into nine treatment groups with thirty birds per group. Each treatmeni group was replicated twice. The birds in TI, T2, T3, T4, TS, T6, T7, T8, and T9 were fed basal diet (layer’s mash) supplemented with natural cocoa powder (NCP) and garlic powder (GP) at 0gNCP and 0gGP, 0gNCP and 50gGP, 0gNCP and 100gGP, 50gNCP and 0gGP, 50gNCP and 50gGP, 50gNCP and 100gGP, 100gNCP and 0gGP, 100gNCP and _50gGP, and 100gNCP and 100gGP per 100kg diet respectively. TI served as the control group. The experimental diet and water were provided ad-libitum. Eggs were collected and the effect of dietary treatments on egg quality characteristics and cholesterol levels determined. Results showed that supplementation of Natural cocoa powder and garlic had significant (P<0.05) effecis on the hen day production, serum and yolk cholesterol, and egg, yolk, and albumen weight. The highest egg, yolk and albumen weight were obtained for birds in T2 (68.95, 15.40, and 45.35g) and T3 (65.40, 16.55, and 39.90g) which were supplemented respectively with only 50 and 100g of GP and were significantly higher than the controls (64.2, 15.95, and 40.45g). Eggs from birds in T4 and T7 supplemented with only 50 and 100g of NCP were similar (p>0.05) to the control. Combined supplementation of NCP and GP significantly increased yolk and albumen weight at lower doses which was significantly lowered at higher doses. Serum and yolk cholesterol were significantly decreased in all the treatment groups when compared with the control. The results show that both natural cocoa and garlic powder have great cholesterol reducing potential but increased egg, yolk, and albumen weight could be achieved by GP alone or with NCP at a combined dietary level of 50:50g.
