The Use of Garlic (Allium sativum Linn) Bulb and Husk Powder as an Organic Feed Additive on Egg Quality of Laying Hens

This study was carried out to evaluate the egg quality of laying hens fed different levels of the garlic bulb and husk powder (GBHP). A total of three hundred and twenty, 30-weeks-old Isa Brown laying hens were randomly allocated into 8 dietary treatments with 4 replications (10 birds per replicate). The birds were fed either basal diet without feed additive (NC, negative control), basal diet supplemented with 0.015% virginiamycin antibiotic (PC, positive control), basal diet supplemented with garlic bulb and husk powder at the level of 0.25% (GBHP 0.25), 0.50% (GBHP 0.50), 0.75% (GBHP 0.75), 1.00% (GBHP 1.00), 1.25% (GBHP 1.25), or 1.50% (GBHP 1.50). The egg quality parameters observed were egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell proportion, eggshell thickness, albumen weight, albumen proportion, Haugh units, yolk weight, yolk proportion, yolk color score, and yolk cholesterol content. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA. Duncan's multiple range test was used to determine the statistical significance among the treatment means. The results showed that the use of different levels of GBHP increased (P<0.01) egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell proportion, eggshell thickness, and albumen weight. However, the diets had no effect (P>0.05) on albumen proportion, Haugh units, yolk weight, yolk proportion, yolk color score, and yolk cholesterol content. In conclusion, the inclusion of GBHP at 0.75% could be used as the organic feed additives to replace synthetic antibiotics without any negative effect on egg quality.