Desempenho e qualidade dos ovos de poedeiras comerciais de 30 a 64 semanas de idade consumindo gérmen integral de milho

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the experimental poultry facilities of Faculdade de Veterinária (Universidade Federal de Goiás – Goiânia/Goiás/Brazil), to evaluate the effects of integral corn germ (ICG) replacing corn in layer diets. Performance, interior and eggshell quality of 30 to 64-weeks Lohmann hens were evaluated. 300 Lohmann hens were allocated in randomized block design, with five treatments: 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% corn replacement with ICG in diets, with six 10-hen replications. Hen’s weight was the criterion to form the blocks. Positive linear effect was observed for feed intake and kg/kg and kd/dz for feed conversion. A linear effect for yolk pigmentation and a quadratic effect for yolk index was also observed. No statistical differences were observed for any other parameters. The inclusion of 50% ICG in layer diets did not affect the performance, egg internal and egg shell quality characteristics.