Effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharides on laying performance and serum biochemical parameters of yellow broiler breeder hens

Abstract

24-week-old local yellow broiler breeder hens were selected to study the effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharides(FOS)or antibiotics(bacitracin zinc)on laying performance, serum biochemical indices and dietary mutrient metabolizability. The results showed that: compared with the control group, dietary FOS supplemented with 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% could increase the laying rate, average egg weight, feed egg ratio, eggs percent of pass, fertility rate and hatchability of qualified egg, and reduce serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride, and improve the apparent metabolizability of dietary nutrients. The effects of diet supplemented with FOS was better than those of diet supplement with 0.05% antibiotics.It was suggested that the appropriate additive amount of FOS in diets for yellow broiler breeder hens should be 0.4%.