Effect of Different Levels of Germinated Barley on Performance and Egg Quality in Laying Hen

Objective: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of germinated barley on performance and egg quality in laying hen. Methods: One hundred and twenty laying hens, 44-weeks old, Lohmann LSL hens were used in this experiment. Birds were assigned randomly to the groups, each of which consisted of 20 birds (4 replicate cages each containing 5 birds). The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design. Six experimental diets were used, diets that contained: corn-soybean meal, barley, barley plus enzyme supplementation (safizym: β-glucanases, Xylanases and Celluloses) and germinated barley replaced barley at 33, 66 and 100 percent. Experimental period was 10 weeks. The performance of laying hens measured weekly, but biweekly for egg quality. Results: The results of experiments indicated, by increasing of germinated barley in diets of laying hens feed convention ratio egg production and egg mass production significantly improved as compared to barley treatment (P 0.05). Daily feed intake of laying hens was significantly decreased with the increase in germinated barley replacement and enzyme supplementation (p 0.05). Egg weight of hens under germinated barley diets was lower than in those fed other treatments (P 0.05) and the highest reduction was obtained with 100% inclusion germinated barley. Shell thickness, albumen index and haugh unit reduced in hens fed germinated barley diets (p 0.05), but using different levels of germinated barley had not significant effect on shape index, yolk index, breaking strength, specific gravity and yolk color score.