Feeding Fish Oil and Linseed Oil to Laying Hens to Increase the n-3 PUFA in Egg Yolk

The research was carried out to assess the possibility of egg yolk enrichment with n-3 PUFA through supplementation of fish oil (FO) and linseed oil (LO) to layer diet. A total of 84 ISA Brown laying hens were divided into three groups. Each group consisted of seven cages with four hens per cage. Groups received diets differing in combinations of oils. The diet fed to group E1 contained 1.50% LO and 3.5% FO, group E2 had diets with 2.5% LO and 2.5% FO, and group E3 was fed diets with 3.5% LO and 1.5% FO. Contents of fatty acids in oils, diets and egg yolks were analyzed. The egg yolk content of α-linolenic acid (α-LNA) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in total fatty acids was increased (P P P > 0.05) were found among groups in the docosahexaenoic acid content. The omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio in groups E1, E2 and E3 was 2.96, 2.93 and 2.49, respectively. Increased concentration of linseed oil and reduced concentration of rapeseed oil in diets resulted in less SFA (P < 0.001) and more n-3 PUFA in egg yolks. It was determined that laying hens have the ability to synthesize EPA and DHA from α-LNA if they receive enough α-LNA through their diets