Changes in quality characteristics during storage time of eggs from layer hens fed diet supplemented with Panax ginseng Meyer leaf extract

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in quality characteristics during storage time (ST) of eggs from layer hens fed diet supplemented with Panax ginseng Meyer leaf extract (PGLE). Four groups of commercial hens (Atak-S; Turkish native hybrid) were fed with diets containing 0 (control), 50, 100 and 150 mg PGLE/kg for 12 wk. A total of 128 eggs were obtained from hens, which were collected 2 times during the peak production (wk 31 to 32). The eggs were stored after being laid and subjected to storage of 1, 14 and 28 d at 10°C inside a refrigerator. The egg weight, shape index, shell strength, shell thickness and egg surface area were not influenced by dietary PGLE levels at different storage times. In an overall storage period, dietary PGLE addition to diet significantly decreased the specific gravity and shell weight. Likewise the effect of different levels PGLE on albumen index at 14 d, albumen pH at 14 and 28 d, haugh unit at 14 d was statistically significant, but this effect was not reflected in the overall ST. The use of dietary PGLE in laying hen diets had no a beneficial effect on the external and internal egg quality during ST.