The effect of dietary Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) on performance, egg quality characteristics and egg cholesterol content in laying hens

This research was carried out to determine the effect of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) with or without 5, 10% vetch (V) supplementation on performance, egg quality characteristics and egg cholesterol content. In the study, seventy-five 25 weeks-old commercial white laying hens were randomly divided into one control and 4 treatment groups each containing 15 hens. Control group was fed basal diet without JA or V. Treatment group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were fed diets containing 5% V, 5% JA, 5% JA + 5% V and 10% JA + 10% V, respectively. The feeding period lasted 16 weeks. In the study, it was determined that dried-ground JA contained dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, crude ash, inulin and metabolizable energy (ME) at the level of 93.30, 10.02, 0.36, 5.64, 9.05, 15.80% and 3 060 kcal/kg, respectively. At the end of the study, live weight was lower by 4.36–10.09% in the treatment group 10% JA + 10% V compared with the other groups, but feed efficiency was improved in this group. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in egg quality characteristics (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Egg production was not affected by supplementation of 5, 10% JA with or without 5, 10% V supplementation. Egg yolk cholesterol and total cholesterol content were not different in the groups (P > 0.05). As a result, the addition of JA with or without V has no adverse effect on performance and egg quality in hens.