Choline and methionine supplementation in layer hens fed flaxseed: effects on hen production performance, egg fatty acid composition, tocopherol content, and oxidative stability

ABSTRACT: Choline is an essential nutrient in laying hen diets and is needed for the formation of phosphatidylcholine (PC), that serves as a rich source of long chain (≥20 C) n-3 fatty acids (FA) in eggs. Methionine (Met) is the first limiting amino acid in layer hen diets and serves as a lipotropic agent with antioxidant properties. The objectives of the current study is based on the hypothesis that choline and Met supplementation will enhance egg PC and n-3 FA status, lipid stability, and production indices in layer hens fed flaxseed. Ninety-six, 40-wk-old laying hens (W-36 White Leghorns) were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups, with 6 replicates containing four hens per cage. Hens were fed corn-soybean meal-based diet containing 0% flaxseed (Control), 15/100 g flaxseed (Flax), Flax+50% more methionine requirement for W-36 White Leghorns (Flax+Met), or Flax+0.15g/100g choline chloride (Cho) (Flax+Cho). All experimental diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and fed for a period of 120 d. Egg production and egg mass (g/hen/d) was higher for Flax+Met and Flax+Cho when compared to Flax and Control (P < 0.05). Egg weight was greater (P < 0.05) among hens fed the Control and Flax+Cho diets compared to Flax diet. Feeding flaxseed to hens led to over 6-fold increase in total n-3 FA. Choline supplementation increased egg α-tocopherol content (P < 0.05) while reducing lipid oxidation products measured as thiobarituric acid reactive substances in egg yolk (P < 0.05). Neither Met nor Cho had any impact on docosahexaenoic (22:6 n-3) acid concentration in eggs from hens fed flaxseed. However, addition of Met and Cho to layer diets increased docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 n-3) levels in eggs from hens fed flaxseed (P < 0.05). The PC content was lower in Control and Flax+Met (P < 0.05) when compared to Flax+Cho group. No difference was found in total lipid or phosphatidylethanolamine content of eggs (P > 0.05). The results from the current study suggest that n-3 FA content of egg yolk can be greatly increased by feeding flaxseed but reduced egg production. However, dietary Met and Cho can improve production performance in hens fed flaxseed-containing diets. Addition of Cho to flaxseed increased in egg weight, yolk α-tocopherol levels, PC content and oxidative stability of eggs when compared to hens fed flaxseed. Met and choline could be used in flaxseed (>15%) to increase egg production and egg mas.