Effect of folic acid supplementation on egg folate content and laying hens performance

This study was conducted the effects of supplemental folic acid (FA) on egg folate content and blood plasma folate level, performance and egg quality of laying hens from 54 wk of age. In this study were used 80 Hy-line W-36 laying hen, allocated in completely random design to 4 treatments and 5 replicated cages contain 4 birds per cage. Experimental treatment were consisted of basal diet and 2, 3,4 plus three levels 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg folic acid in diet. Experiment period was week 8. Folic acid supplementation did not affect egg quantity consisting of weight, production percentage and egg mass, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and egg quality consisting of shape index, egg surface area Specific gravity, Shell weight, Shell thickness and Huagh unit (P>0.05). Yolk folate content and plasma were increased with folate supplementation.Based on regression relationships, showed that 137.5 mg folic acid/kg diets represent the best effects with respect to folate content of egg yolk.