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Objective: To compare different omega-3 fatty acid
sources for enrichment of egg from economical and
qualitative aspects. Design: Completely Randomized Design. Animals: One hundred and eighty Single Comb White
Leghorn laying hens, 24 weeks old.
Procedure: Ten groups of 18 hens (6 hens/cage) were
randomly assigned to each of ten dietary treatments and in completely randomized design, were fed diets
containing 2.5 ko3%l, 5 ko3/d and 7.5 ko¾l flax seed, canola seed and fish meal or a wheat- soybean control
diet, for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, percentage
of linolenic acid (n-3), linoleic acid (n-6), oleic acid (n 9
and some of saturated fatty acids were determined.
Statistical Analysis: Analysis of variance of data were performed by SAS software and comparison of the
means were done by Duncan’s multiple range test.
Results: There were significant difference among groups
on linolenic acid, linoleic acid percentage and ratio of
linoleic acid (n-6) to linolenic acid (n-3) (P greatest value for linolenic acid was in the group given
7.5 ko3%l flax seed. During this period, there were no
significant differences (P>O.05) among treatments on
egg production, egg weights, daily feed intake, feed
conversion, and quality of eggs (P>O.05).
Clinical implications: With note to increasing in
linolenic acid amount of egg yolks in the group given 7.5
ko¾l canola seed and because of low cost and abundance
of canola seed in Iran, and not to be influenced of
performance of laying hens and quality of eggs, 7.5ko3%l
canola seed could be recommended. J.Fac. Vet.Med.
Univ. Tehran. 60,1: 87-91,2005.