Honey administration in laying pullets during hot-dry season does not alter lipids and vitamin A content of eggs

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of honey on lipid profile and vitamin A content of eggs from laying pullets  during hot-dry season. One hundred and twenty laying pullets (aged 28 weeks) used were randomly assigned to 3 doses of honey: 0 (0H), 10 (10H) and 20ml honey  (20H) per litre water for 16 weeks. Each treatment group consists of 4 replicates with 10 birds per replicate. During a 16-week experimental period,  data on egg cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and vitamin A were determined and subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Egg cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and vitamin A concentrations were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by dosage of honey in drinking water. Birds on 0H, 10H and 20H recorded 1163.8, 1154.7 and 1160.0 mg/dL respectively for egg cholesterol and 129.8, 151.0 and 123.3 IU vitamin A, respectively. In conclusion, administration of honey in drinking water of laying pullets to combat heat stress during hot-dry season may not affect egg lipids and vitamin A content.

Keywords: anti-oxidants, fat, cholesterol, climate change, heat stress