Veterinary Archives, Vol. 73. No. 3, 2003.
Original scientific paper
Effect of feeding powdered Nigella sativa L. seeds on poultry egg production and their suitability for human consumption.
Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar
; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Zahid Nasir
; Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Abdur Rehman Abid
; Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Abstract
The effect of Kalongi (Nigella sativa, L.) seeds was studied on the performance of layers and cholesterol contents of their egg-yolks. A total of 96 White-Leghorn birds of 40 weeks of age and at the egg laying stage were randomly divided into 12 experimental units, eight birds in each unit. These units were randomly allotted to four treatments in such a way that each treatment received 3 experimental units. Four test rations were prepared by supplementing a commercial layer-ration with powdered Kalongi seeds at the rates of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%. Effects of feeding these rations on feed intake, egg production, egg mass, egg shell thickness, Haugh unit, yolk index, blood spots, meat spots and total cholesterol in eggs were determined after a period of 12 weeks. Blood samples of the two birds selected at random from each replicate were taken at 0, 6 and 12 weeks. The serum obtained from these samples was analyzed for total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides. Data on feed intake, feed refused and egg production were used to calculate the feed conversion ratio. Results showed that Nigella sativa seeds significantly (P<0.05) increased egg production, egg mass, egg-shell thickness and Haugh unit. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) change in yolk index, blood and meat spots. The Nigella sativa seeds also significantly (P<0.05) reduced yolk cholesterol contents. The serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol and total cholesterol levels were also reduced, while serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was increased by supplementing the commercial layer-ration with Nigella sativa seeds.
Keywords
Nigella sativa; Kalongi; White-Leghorn; yolk cholesterol; serum lipids; egg
Hrčak ID:
74865
URI
Publication date:
22.6.2003.
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