<b>Effects of oily anatto extract inclusion in laying hens rations with total or partial replacement of maize by low tannin sorghum</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v28i4.603

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of oily anatto extract addition on laying hens rations with replacement of maize by low tannin sorghum. Three hundred and twenty four birds were used in a completely randomized design, with nine treatments, a control diet and a 2 x 4 factorial (two sorghum levels and four levels of oily anatto extract), and six replicates of six birds each experimental unit. Replacement of maize by sorghum did not alter birds performance (P>0.05), however, sorghum inclusion decreased albumen weight and increased shell weight and percentage (P<0.05). There was a linear effect on yolk weight when anatto extract was added to rations with 100% of sorghum. It was verified that inclusion of 0.15% of anatto extract on sorghum ration promotes yolk coloration score similar to the one observed for maize ration.