Effects of liquid Humate supplemented to drinking water on the performance and eggshell quality of hens in different laying periods

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of liquid humate (Farmagulator liquid(R)) supplemented to drinking water on performance (feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, egg production) and eggshell quality (shell strength and thickness, shell ash, cracked egg ratio) of hens in different laying periods. A total of 420 Lehmann Brown 26 week old hens were divided into two groups (control and liquid humate) and fed with standard layer diets. Liquid humate was supplemented to drinking water of treatment group at 0.25ml/l. Treatment group received liquid humate from 26(th) to 90(th) week of age. Data was collected at early (26(th)-42(nd) wk), middle (42(nd)-74(th) wk) and late (74(th)-90(th) wk periods of laying. Egg production improved (P<0.05) in liquid humate group in middle and late laying period, but did not improve in early and total laying period. Feed intake decreased (P<0.05) in early laying period while feed conversion ratio improved (P<0.05) in the middle laying period by supplementation of liquid humate. In liquid humate group, cracked egg ratio decreased (P<0.01) in all laying periods. Also, shell ash increased in middle (P<0.001), late (P<0.01) and total (P<0.001) laying periods, while shell thickness increased only in late laying period (P<0.05) by liquid humate supplementation. Shell strength, mortality and egg weight was not affected by liquid humate supplementation.