EFFECTS OF DIETARY LYCOPENE ON LAYING PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY OF BROWN LAYERS

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether dietary lycopene would affect laying performance and egg quality of Brown layers. Twenty eight weeks old layers were divided into 4 groups of similar mean weight, comprising 18 birds each. The birds were fed standard layer diets containing 0, 100, 200 and 400 ppm lycopene (Lyc-O-Mato® containing 0.8% Lycopene) for 8 weeks period. The birds were housed in individual cages in a complete randomized design. A 16:8 hours light:dark photoperiod was employed. Feed and water were given ad libitum. Laying performance was assessed by recording feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion efficiency and body weight. The results showed that lycopene supplementation did not have significant (P>0.05) effects on feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion efficiency, body weight, plasma glucose and tryglyceride concentrations. However, dietary supplemental lycopene increased yolk color score, shell weight, shell thickness and plasma cholesterol level (P