Effect of Varying Supplementation of Vitamin C on the Performance and Short Term Egg Quality Parameters of Layer Hens
C. Ezenwosu *
Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
M. O. Onodugo
Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
I. J. Enyinnia
Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
A. E. Onyimonyi
Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A twelve-week study was conducted to determine the effect of varying supplementation of vitamin C on the performance and short term egg quality parameters of layer hens. Hundred and forty old layer hens (Golden Nest-link strains) of 1.6kg average body weight were used for the study. At first point of lay (20weeks), the hens were transferred and randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) in a battery cage system with 35 birds per treatment in a completely randomized experimental design. Each treatment had 5 replicates with 7 birds per replicate. Vitamin C was incorporated in the drinking water of the birds at varying levels of 0mg, 200mg, 300mg and 400mg for treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Results showed that Vitamin C had significant effect (P<0.05) on average egg number, egg weight, shell weight, body weight, egg length, egg diameter, and total number of eggs laid by the birds. Also, vitamin C had significant (P<0.05) effect on the internal eggs parameters. In conclusion, birds on vitamin C supplementation had the highest (P<0.05) performance in all the parameters measured, therefore, vitamin C supplementation in layer hen nutrition is recommended at level of 400mg in their drinking water.
Keywords: Vitamin C, egg production, layers, hens, golden nest-link strain