Influence of rosehip (Rosa canina L.) leaves as feed additive during first stage of laying hens on performances and egg quality characteristics.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosehip leaves (RL) supplementation on the production performances and egg quality of laying hens during the first stage of laying. For that, 90 Lohmann Brown Classic hens, aged 26 wk, were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments as follows: a control diet (RL0), an experimental diet containing 0.5% rosehip leaves (RL0.5), and an experimental diet containing 1% rosehip leaves (RL1). The laying hens were accommodated in an experimental hall with identical pens (3.96 m), and controlled microclimate conditions. The dietary treatments were administered for a 6-wk experimental period (26-32 d of age). During this time, production performance of hens was recorded. To assess the impact of RL on egg weight and its components evolution, egg yolk and albumen color, and primary chemical composition of egg constituents were determined every 2 wk. The effect on egg yolk fatty acids profile was determined only at the end of the trial. The results showed that RL0.5 and RL1 dietary treatments significantly improved laying rate, feed conversion ratio and egg mass compared with RL0 group. A significant effect on egg weight and its components was observed only over time, showing that RL has no effect on these parameters. Significant changes in egg yolk coloration were observed over time, with significant increases in L*, a* and b* chromomeric parameters in both RL0.5 and RL1 compared to RL0. Significant alterations were obtained from the sum of egg yolk fatty acids. The RL1 egg yolk presented significantly higher n-3, and significantly lower n-6 fatty acids, compared with both RL0 and RL0.5. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of rosehip leaf supplementation on laying hens performance and egg quality.