Welcome to Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin,

Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2009, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (8): 19-21.

Special Issue: 畜牧兽医 园艺

• 畜牧兽医科学 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of black tea powder on egg laying and reproductive performance of Huainan Spotted-yellow Chicken

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  • Received:2008-12-18 Revised:2009-02-16 Online:2009-04-20 Published:2009-04-20

Abstract: 【Objective】The research was to study effects of black tea powder on egg laying performance and reproductive performance in Huainan Spotted-yellow Chicken. 【Method】 528 Huainan Spotted-yellow Chickens (290 d of age) were used in a 50 d performance trail with four diets: Control group with zero percent black tea powder in feed, three trail groups with 0.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent black tea powder supplemented in control diet, respectively. Laying rate, feed conversion rate, percentage of healthy chicks, hatchability of male chicks, fertility of setting eggs, percentage of setting eggs and weight at birth were recorded and analyzed among each tested group. 【Result】The diet with 0.5 percent black tea powder showed a trend to increase laying rate, feed conversion rate, percentage of healthy chicks, ad hatchability of male chicks (P>0.05) compared to control group. Though the average eggs weight was lower than that of control group at the most significant level (P<0.01), Fertility of setting eggs (99.33%) was significantly higher than that of control group (93.67%) (P<0.05); percentage of setting eggs and weight at birth were 94.57% and 32.25 g, respectively, which were most significantly higher than control group (90.29% and 30.75 g) (P<0.01). The diets with more black tea powder (1.5% and 2.5%) had negative impact on egg laying and reproductive performance of Huainan Spotted-yellow Chicken. 【Conclusion】Diet with black tea powder of lower concentration (0.5%) could improve the egg laying performance and reproductive performance in Huainan Spotted-yellow Chicken.