The effects of eleutherococcus senticosus on egg laying hens

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus on the number of eggs, the weight of the eggs, the quality of the eggs (height of the albumin; colour of the egg yolk) laid, as well as the mortality of the hens fed Eleutherococcus senticosus for 28 days. It was hypothesized that Eleutherococcus senticosus would increase the number of eggs, the weight of the eggs, improve the quality of the eggs laid and decrease the mortality rate of the hens. The study design is a two by two experimental design. The 1440 egg laying hens, which all came from the same breeding farm, were housed by Golden Lay at Whitelodge. Seven hundred and twenty hens made up the treatment groups receiving Eleutherococcus senticosus. Seven hundred and twenty hens made up the placebo groups receiving normal water. In the first week no medication was given to the treatment group. In the second, third, fourth, fifth week 300 ml of E'leutherococcus senticosus was introduced daily into the drinking water of the treatment group. The eggs were collected, counted and weighed manually on a daily basis. Once a week 72 eggs were collected randomly for quality testing ( height of the albumin, colour of the egg yolk). The height of the albumin was measured by means of a tripod. The colour of the egg yolk was compared to the Roche colour chart. In the sixth and seventh week the treatment group received no medication.