Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding Epimedium koreanum to laying hens on performance, as well as to determine its effects on interior and exterior egg quality along with fat soluble vitamin and cholesterol contents in the egg yolk. The experimental diets contained 0.0, 1.0, 5.0, or 10.0 g/kg E. koreanum. No significant changes were observed in the rate of egg production, with all treatments exceeding 95%. Linear increases in egg weight and mass (p<0.01) were found with dietary E. koreanum supplementation. A dramatic increase (P = 0.05) was found in the number of extra large (60 - 70 g) size eggs with a concomitant reduction (p = 0.06) in the number of small (50-55 g) size eggs. Feed consumption and feed conversion were cubically (p<0.01) affected by E. koreanum supplementation. Albumen weight and yolk color linearly increased (p<0.01). The percentage of albumen linearly increased (p<0.01) whereas yolk percentage decreased (p<0.01). Vitamin E content in the egg yolk was quadratically (p = 0.02) affected by the treatments. In addition, cholesterol content of the egg yolks was quadratically (p<0.01) increased. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of E. koreanum can have beneficial effects on the performance of laying hens in terms of improving egg weight, albumin weight, yolk color, and vitamin E content. However, these advantages may be more than offset by a significant increase in the cholesterol content of the egg yolk.

Key words: Epimedium koreanum, layer, egg quality, egg production, vitamin, cholesterol.