Effect of full-fat sunflower or flaxseed seeds dietary inclusion on performance,egg yolk fatty acid profile and egg quality in laying hens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of full-fat flaxseed of full-fat sunflower seeds on performance parameters,egg quality parameters and egg yolk fatty acid profile in laying hens.A total of 150 Babcock Brown hens at 27 weeks of age were distributed in 3 experimental treatments,as follows:T1,control;T2,diet containing 13.5% full-fat whole flaxseed seeds;and T3,diet containing 13.5% full-fat ground sunflower seeds.Feed and water were provided ad libitum and the experiment lasted for 8 weeks.No significant differences were found on egg quality parameters,but total egg production and rate of lay were significantly(P <0.05) lower in the group receiving sunflower seeds compared with the control,and significant differences(P <0.05) in egg yolk saturated,monounsaturated,polyunsaturated,omega-6(n-6) and omega-3(n-3) fatty acids were observed,as well as in the n-6:n-3 ratio.The results show that the dietary inclusion of 13.5% flaxseed full-fat seeds significantly increases the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) content in the eggs and lowers the n-6:n-3 ratio without affecting performance parameters.Inclusion of full-fat sunflower seeds increases the n-6 PUFA content but affects total egg production and rate of lay.Further studies are needed to determine the level of inclusion of full-fat sunflower seeds that does not affect performance.