The experimental work of the present study was carried out at
the Poultry Research Station, Poultry Department, Faculty of
Agriculture, Fayoum University. This experiment was conducted for
11 weeks to study the effect of Egyptian clover dry leaves and orange
peels as natural feed additives (NFA) on laying hens. A total number
of 108 Hy- Line W- 36 laying hens 49 weeks old were used. The
hens were randomly distributed into 9 groups of 12 birds each. Each
group was subdivided into 12 replicates (one hen / replicate) and
assigned randomly for one of the experimental diets.
The experimental treatments were as follows:-
1. Hens were fed the basal or control diet (D1).
2. Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% Egyptian clover dry leaves (ECL).
3. Hens were fed D1+ 0.4% ECL.
4. Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% dry orange peel (OP).
5. Hens were fed D1+ 0.4 % OP.
6. Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% ECL+ 0.2% OP.
7. Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% ECL+ 0.4 % OP.
8. Hens were fed D1+ 0.4% ECL + 0.2% OP.
9. Hens were fed D1+ 0.4% ECL+ 0.4 % OP.
Results obtained could be summarized in the following:
1- There were insignificant differences among treatments in
productive performance except, egg weight (EW). It is clear that
laying hens fed diet 8 (containing 0.4 ECL+0.2 OP) had higher
EW, whereas, those fed control diet had lower EW during the
experimental period (49 to 60 weeks of age).
2- No significant differences in egg quality among all dietary
treatments except, yolk color, shape index% and Haugh unit. It is
clear that laying hens fed diet 9 (containing 0.4 ECL +0.4 OP)
had higher yolk color, hens fed diet 7 (0.2 ECL+0.4 OP) had
higher shape index%, hens fed control diet had higher Haugh unit
3- The results of serum constituents indicated that NFA
supplementation significantly affected triglycerides, AST and
ALT values.
4- There is insignificant effects on immune response as a result to
NFA supplementation was found in laying hen diets throughout
the whole experimental period.
5- Hens fed diet 2 (containing 0.20 ECL) gave the best economical
and relative efficiency values being 1.429 and 110.6 %,
respectively followed by hens fed diet 7 (0.2 ECL+ 0.4 OP)
(1.345 and 104.1%, respectively), diet 6 (0.2 ECL+ 0.2 OP) and
than by diet 5 (0.4 OP), all of which are superior compared to
the control diet.
In conclusion, the best performance was seen when 0.20 ECL
or 0.2 ECL+ 0.4 OP or 0.2 ECL+ 0.2 OP were incorporated as feed
additives in laying diets as it gave the best economical and relative
efficiency values.