Effect of feeding full fat flax and canola seeds to laying hens on the fatty acids composition of eggs, embryos, and newly hatched chicks
1991
Cherian, G. | Sim, J.S.
Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens were fed diets containing 8 and 16% ground flax seed or 16% ground canola seed and were compared with birds fed a wheat and soybean control diet. Levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the egg yolk were monitored, and fertilized eggs were incubated after a plateau of omega-3 fatty acid level was reached. Fatty acid analyses were conducted on brain tissues of embryos at 15, 17, and 19 days of incubation and on newly hatched chicks. Fatty acid composition of plasma of the chicks was also determined. As compared with the controls, the omega-3 fatty acid content of eggs from hens fed flax and canola seed increased significantly (P<.05), and the brain tissue of embryos and chicks contained significantly (P<.05) more omega-3 fatty acids, predominantly docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 omega-3). The plasma of the chicks from hens fed flax seed contained significantly (P<.05) more omega-3 fatty acids than those fed the control diet. The arachidonic acid (C20:4 omega-6) content in the egg yolk and chick plasma lipids from the flax fed laying hens were significantly reduced. The present study demonstrates that the omega-3 fatty acid content of eggs, embryos, and chicks can be enriched by feeding oil seeds to laying hens.
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