Evaluation of Dietary Hempseed and Hempseed Oil on Performance, Egg Quality and Some Blood Parameters in Laying Hens after Peak Period

Abstractr The aim of this study was to recognize the effects of dietary hempseed and hempseed oil on performance, egg quality and blood parameters of laying hens. A total of 320 Hy-line 55-weeks (post-peak egg production) laying hens were randomly allotted to eight dietary treatments; each with five replicates (8 birds each). The experimental treatments were four levels of hempseed (5, 10, 15, 20%) or three levels of hempseed oil (2, 4, 6%) added to the basic diet, as well as a control group (no hempseed or hempseed oil added to the diet). The experiment lasted 12 weeks (three 4-week periods) and began at the hen’s age of 55 wk. Eggs were collected daily and weighed. Birds fed 6% hempseed oil had the highest egg production and egg mass as well as the lowest feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Increasing hempseed oil levels from 4 to 6% increased the Haugh unit in the third period (P < 0.05). The egg yolk color index decreased when either hempseed or hempseed oil were added to the diet though hempseed decreased yolk index to a greater degree. The treatments did not influence total protein level in plasma. The highest level of hempseed oil (6%) significantly decreased blood plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the highest level of hempseed (20%) (P < 0.05). Blood HDL-C level was higher in hens fed the 6% HO diet compared to those fed 20% HS. In conclusion, the two lower levels of hempseed (5 and 10%) had suitable effects on the performance of laying hen post-peak, and the addition of hempseed oil to diets was more effective on egg quality than hempseed addition. Therefore, we suggest that hempseed oil is a usable oilseed in laying hen diet.