title: Effects of supplemental L-carnitine in drinking water on performance and egg quality of laying hens exposed to a high ambient temperature.
abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate effects of L-carnitine supplied with drinking water on performance and egg quality of laying hens under high environmental temperature. In the study, 47-week-old laying hens (Brown hisex) were divided into two groups (control and treatment) and fed with a standard layer diet. Treatment group was received 50 p.p.m L-carnitine with drinking water for an 8-week period. Throughout the study, 8 h hot (35-37 degrees C) and 16 h thermoneutral (20-22 degrees C) environmental temperature regime was employed daily. The results showed that L-carnitine supplementation affected some egg quality characteristics of layers under high environmental temperature. Relative albumen weight and height were increased (p < 0.05) by supplemental L-carnitine. Live weight gain, feed intake, egg mass, egg weight, yolk weight, shell weight, yolk index, egg-shape index, yolk colour score and shell thickness were not affected (p < 0.05) by L-carnitine. It is concluded that L-carnitine supplementation in laying hens could have potential to improve albumen quality under high environmental temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. ladine@cu.edu.tr
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tekeli
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oztürkcan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004326:Drinking; D004531:Eggs / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000032:analysis; D010058:Oviposition; D011897:Random Allocation; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D010047:Ovalbumin; D002331:Carnitine