Modulation of Cholesterol in Laying Chickens Fed Sun-Dried Garlic Powder

Abstract

Poultry eggs are excellent source of all essential nutrient for persons of all ages but they have been reported to contain high level of cholesterol. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of graded levels of sun-dried garlic powder on performance, serum lipids and egg yolk cholesterol of Isa Brown laying hens. Fresh garlic bulbs were purchased from a commercial market in the northern part of Nigeria. The fresh garlic paste was subsequently thinly spread on clean a mat in direct sunlight for two days during harmattan period. The sun-dried garlic was added as an additive to the basal diet at 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% inclu­sion level. Fifty 18 weeks-old Isa Brown chickens were randomly distributed to the 5 dietary treatments. There were no significant differences observed for feed efficiency, egg weight and egg mass among the treatments. The highest feed intake was observed by chickens fed 1% garlic-based diet when compared with the control group, while 3% and 4% garlic-based diets obtained lower feed intake than the control. Birds on 1% and 2% garlic inclusion had the best hen day production.