# Alfalfa‐Based Dehydrated Silage Pellet as a Source of Nutrients in Laying Hens: I. Effects on Animal Performance and Egg Quality

## TL;DR

Adding alfalfa-based silage pellets to laying hens' diets improved egg yolk quality and gut bacteria without harming production performance.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that 10% alfalfa-based silage pellets can replace feed in organic layer diets with positive effects on yolk and gut health.

## Key findings

- ABSP improved yolk color intensity and fatty acid profile with higher ω-3 PUFA and a better ω-6 to ω-3 ratio.
- ABSP increased beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus and reduced potentially pathogenic bacteria.
- Feed conversion ratio improved in hens fed ABSP, though weight gain was slightly lower.

## Abstract

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of incorporating 10% (w/w) Alfalfa‐based deshydrated Silage Pellets (ABSP) into a commercial control diet on the production performance of Novogen Brown light layers. Twenty‐one‐week‐old hens were divided into two groups (control—C and treatment—T) using a randomized block design, and the experiment lasted for 4 weeks. Feed intake, live weight and egg parameters were measured weekly. Weight gain was slightly lower in the T group, whereas the feed conversion ratio was improved (p < 0.05). Laying rate was similar in both groups. Yolk colour intensity was significantly increased (p < 0.001), along with an improvement in the yolk's fatty acid profile, showing lower SFA, higher ω‐3 PUFA and an increased ω‐6 to ω‐3 ratio (p < 0.001). Gut microbial communities were analysed through 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that bacterial diversity was significantly lower at the genus level (p < 0.01) in the T group. Positive effects were observed on beneficial bacteria abundance, especially Lactobacillus spp., and with a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria. These findings suggest that ABSP can replace at least 10% of feed in organic layer diet without compromising production parameters and with positive effects on yolk quality and gut microbial communities.

Alfalfa‐based silage pellets (ABSP) showed significant results regarding production performance, yolk colour and ω‐3 (PUFAs), as well as the ratio ω‐6/ω‐3 (p < 0.05). The ABSP group also exhibited a higher abundance of beneficial bacteria and a lower abundance of pathogenic bacteria compared to the control group (p < 0.05).