Performance and egg quality of laying hens fed with mineral sources and rosemary oil

Abstract In order to evaluate the effect of rosemary oil and micro mineral sources on the performance and egg quality of laying hens, 288 hens were used and distributed in a completely randomized design using a 2x3 factorial (mineral sources x rosemary oil) with six different diets and six replications. Diets were formulated containing inorganic or organic minerals, with or without added rosemary oil (100 and 200 mg kg-1). The treatments showed interaction for average egg weight, yolk color, albumen and yolk percentage, with significant results from the use of organic minerals compared to inorganic minerals. The addition of 200 mg kg-1 rosemary oil in diets improved laying rate, egg mass, specific gravity, number of pores on the shell when compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the use of 200 mg kg-1 of rosemary oil improves the performance of red laying hen eggs. The association between organic minerals and 100 mg kg-1 rosemary oil in laying hen diets increases yolk color and percentage of albumen. The use of organic minerals is superior to inorganic minerals as to improve the quality of eggs, increasing average egg weight, yolk color and percentage of albumen.