Effect of replacing corn with sorghum in laying hen diets on performance and egg quality characteristics

This study was performed to evaluate use of Sorghum (Germinated and non- Germinated) on dietary laying hens and effects on performance characteristics and quality traits egg. This experiment was performed for two months on 180 layer hens (the strains of Hy-line W36) at the 64th week of age، assigned to a completely randomized design of 3 treatments (each treatment in 4 replicates). Treatments were included: 1) corn-soybean (control) and treatment 2 &3) contain of 32 percent Germinated Sorghum and Intact Sorghum، respectively. The results of experiment showed that adding of Intact Sorghum on diet cause to decrease feed intake (P<0. 05)، egg weight and egg mass (P<0. 01) in comparison with control، however Germinated sorghum don’t negative effect on feed intake، egg weight and egg mass. Egg shell weight، thickness shell and albumen quality (Hough unit) were significantly (P<0. 05) decreased by using of Intact Sorghum on diet in comparison with the control diet. While، the diets of contain Germinated Sorghum has no effect on egg shell weight and thickness shell. The results of this study showed that by using of 32 percent Germinated Sorghum on diet has no negative effect on performance characteristics and quality traits egg and can be used as substituted of corn on dietary laying hens.