Effect of dietary supplementation of turmeric powder on egg quality and production in laying hens

Abstract:

A commercial layer flock in Daejeon, South Korea can lay over 300 eggs per hen-year, yet consumer preference increasingly favours eggs with deeper yolk colour, lower cholesterol, and longer shelf life qualities that standard corn-soya diets struggle to deliver without synthetic additives. This research examined whether turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% dietary inclusion could improve these parameters in White Leghorn laying hens over a 12-week trial (January-March 2023). A total of 160 hens (32 weeks of age) were randomly distributed into four groups of 40 birds each. Hen-day egg production, egg weight, shell thickness, yolk colour (Roche fan score), Haugh unit, albumen height, and yolk cholesterol were measured weekly or bi-weekly. Birds receiving 1.0% turmeric showed the highest hen-day production (82.8% at week 12 vs. 73.2% in controls, p<0.01), yolk colour score improved by 2.2 Roche units, and yolk cholesterol dropped by 12.4%. Shell thickness and Haugh unit also improved significantly. Sensory panels detected no off-flavours. Turmeric at 1.0% represents a practical, cost-effective dietary supplement for enhancing egg quality and production.