Study of the effect of lecithin-containing feed additive on the economic and biological qualities of laying hens

Purpose. Study of the effect of lecithin-containing feed additive on the economic and biological qualities of laying hens. Materials and Methods. The experiment was conducted at Krestyansky Dvor LLC (Danilovka, Volgograd Region). The objects of the study were 375 32-week-old laying hens (Hysex Brown cross) and the new feed additive Lecitomaks. Three groups were formed (125 laying hens in each). The first group (control) received the main diet. The poultry of the second group were given the feed additive Lecitomaks daily together with compound feed at a rate of 250 g/t of feed, and the third group – at a rate of 500 g/t of feed, respectively. The experiment lasted 60 days. The poultry were weighed on the first day and then on the 30th and 60th days (10 individuals from each group). The digestibility coefficients of feed nutrients were determined according to the method of E.A. Petukhova and V.A. Alikaev (1982); hematological parameters of the experimental bird were measured using URIT 800 Vet and URIT 3020 Vet analyzers (China). Variation statistics methods and the Statistica 10.0 program were used to process the results obtained. Results. No significant differences in the weight of the birds between the control and experimental groups of laying hens were noted during control weighings during the experiment. According to the balance experiment data, when the feed additive "Lecitomaks" was included in the diet of laying hens, the digestibility of dry matter in experimental groups 1 and 2, compared to the control group, was higher by 0.9 and 2.9%, organic matter – by 3.1 and 4.4% (P≤0.05), crude protein – by 1.2 and 1.9%, crude fat – by 2.1 and 3.0% (P≤0.05), crude fiber – by 6.6 and 12.8% (P≤0.01), nitrogen-free extractive substances – by 1.3 and 3.0%. Egg productivity of laying hens for 1-60 days in experimental groups 1 and 2 was higher than in the control group by 3.0 and 5.2%, safety of poultry by 2.4 and 3.2%. No side effects were observed when using the feed additive "Lecitomaks" in poultry. Conclusion. The use of new feed additive, the composition of which is based on lecithin, has a positive effect on the economic and biological characteristics of laying hens.