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Experimental Result Paper | Animal Science | Nepal | Volume 12 Issue 9, September 2023 | Popularity: 5.7 / 10

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Investigating the Laying Performance and Egg Quality of Chicken by Supplementation of Stinning Nettle in Nepal

Maheshwar Dahal, Doj Raj Khanal

Abstract: The effects of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on productive performance in layer chicken have been demonstrated in a pilot study conducted at the National Animal Health and Research Center (NAHRC), Khumaltar, Lalitpur. A total of 50 - day - old female chicks and 10 male chicks of the Hyaline strain were divided into two groups; control (C) and treatment (T) comprising of 25 female chicks and 5 male chicks in each group. The treatment (T) group received commercial layer feed along with shade - dried nettle powder from eight weeks onwards at a 1% level daily up to 16 weeks. From 17th weeks onwards treatment group received 7% nettle once a week up to 20 weeks while the control (C) group received only commercial layer feed. In both groups, the amount of commercial feed offered to chickens was based on the standard feeding norms. Daily egg production was recorded to determine weekly laying performance. Egg quality parameters such as eggshell thickness and egg albumen height were measured by using micrometer screw gauze and tripod micrometer, respectively. Blood samples were collected on the 8th week of post - vaccination against Newcastle disease (ND) and antibody against ND viruses was measured by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) method. Egg quality was assessed by measuring Haugh Unit in both treatment and control groups. Haugh Unit of the opened eggs was also calculated from both groups. Available data until 20 weeks of the trial revealed a higher number of egg production in the treatment group than in the control group by 19.7 %. The albumin height was significantly (p<0.001) higher in T (6.54?0.23) mm group than in C (5.76?0.22) mm group. The eggshell thickness was significantly higher in the T group (0.40?0.23) mm than C (0.37?0.22) mm group. The treatment group had a higher level of antibody titer against ND virus (64 - 512) on 4HAU as compared to the control group (32 - 128). Haugh unit was relatively higher in T (82.43?2.29) group than in C (75.69?1.44) group. These findings indicated that nettle supplementation increases egg productivity, improves the egg quality and immune status and enhances laying performances.

Keywords: Chicken, egg quality, Haugh Unit, nettle, laying performances

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 9, September 2023

Pages: 1150 - 1153

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.21275/SR23420062503

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