Extracto artesanal de alfalfa en la dieta de gallinas ponedoras

Abstract

The poultry industry faces the challenge of producing high-quality feed sustainably, driving the search for alternatives to soy and fish meal. The concentrated solid fraction of alfalfa, known as alfalfa solid extract (ASE), represents a promising option due to its high content of protein and bioactive compounds. The objective is to evaluate the effect of including ESA (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) in laying hen diets on production parameters, egg quality, and the lipid profile of the yolk. A total of 108 14-week-old Babcock Brown hens were used, divided into five groups (ESA0, ESA0.5, ESA1, ESA2, and a control group receiving a multivitamin supplement). The ESA was obtained through an artisanal process of extracting and drying alfalfa meal. Body weight, laying rate, feed intake, egg weight, yolk pigmentation, shell thickness, Haugh units, and the lipid profile of the yolk (determined by gas chromatography) were evaluated. ESA was concentrated in protein (12.2% to 18.2%) and reduced crude fiber (41.2% to 2.3%). Its inclusion did not cause mortality or significantly affect body weight, feed intake, egg production, or egg weight (p > 0.05). There were also no differences in pigmentation, shell thickness, or Haugh units. In the lipid profile, although not statistically significant, trends toward lower saturated fatty acids and higher omega-3 were observed in groups with ESA. The inclusion of up to 2% ESA in laying hen diets is safe, does not compromise productivity or egg quality, and shows potential for improving nutritional value. Its low cost and simple method could position it as a functional and sustainable alternative for poultry production.

Keywords

fatty acids

animal feed

egg quality

poultry production

References

Ahmad, A., y Ashraf, S. S. (2023). Sustainable food and feed sources from microalgae: Food security and the circular bioeconomy. Algal Research, 74(103185). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2023.103185

Alay, T., y Karadas, F. (2016). The effects of carotenoids in quail breeder diets on egg yolk pigmentation and breeder performance. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science, 66(4), 206–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2017.1330360

Batbayar, B., Kryachko, Y., Nickerson, M. T., Korber, D. R., y Tanaka, T. (2023). Solid-state and submerged fermentation effects on functional properties of pea protein-enriched flour. Cereal Chemistry, 100(5), 1092–1105. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.10691

Cui, Y., Diao, Z., Fan, W., Wei, J., Zhou, J., Zhu, H., Li, D., Guo, L., Tian, Y., Song, H., y Su, Y. (2022). Effects of dietary inclusion of alfalfa meal on laying performance, egg quality, intestinal morphology, caecal microbiota and metabolites in Zhuanghe Dagu chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 21(1), 831-846. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051x.2022.2067009

Da Silva Galvão, J., Conceição dos Santos, G., y Lima Neto, R. C. (2018). Uso da geoprópolis da espécie Melipona melanoventer na manutenção da qualidade do ovo. Revista Agroecossistemas, 10(2), 337-352. https://periodicos.ufpa.br/index.php/agroecossistemas/article/view/5163

Englmaierová, M., Skřivan, M., y Vít, T. (2019). Alfalfa meal as a source of carotenoids in combination with ascorbic acid in the diet of laying hens. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 64(1), 17-25. https://doi.org/10.17221/116/2018-cjas

Folch, J., Lees, M., y Sloane Stanley, G. H. (1957). A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipides from animal tissues. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 226(1), 497–509. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9258(18)64849-5

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2025). Gateway to poultry production and products. https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/en/

Kop-Bozbay, C., Akdag, A., Bozkurt-Kiraz, A., Gore, M., Kurt, O., y Ocak, N. (2021). Laying performance, egg quality characteristics, and egg yolk fatty acids profile in layer hens housed with free access to chicory- and/or white clover-vegetated or non-vegetated areas. Animals, 11(6), 1708. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061708

Kulshreshtha, G., Hincke, M. T., Prithiviraj, B., y Critchley, A. (2020). A review of the varied uses of macroalgae as dietary supplements in selected poultry with special reference to laying hen and broiler chickens. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 8(7), 536. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8070536

Leinonen, I., y Kyriazakis, I. (2016). How can we improve the environmental sustainability of poultry production? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 75(3), 265-273. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665116000094

Mateos, G. G., Jiménez-Moreno, E., Serrano, M. P., y Lázaro, R. P. (2012). Poultry response to high levels of dietary fiber sources varying in physical and chemical characteristics. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 21(1), 156-174. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr.2011-00477

Mattioli, S., Cartoni Mancinelli, A., Bravi, E., Angelucci, E., Falcinelli, B., Benincasa, P., Castellini, C., Sileoni, V., Marconi, O., y Dal Bosco, A. (2022). Dietary freeze-dried flaxseed and alfalfa sprouts as additional ingredients to improve the bioactive compounds and reduce the cholesterol content of hen eggs. Antioxidants, 12(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12010103

Mottet, A., y Tempio, G. (2017). Global poultry production: Current state and future outlook and challenges. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 73(2), 245-256. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0043933917000071

Noori, A. S., Jameel, Z., Saki, A. A., Zamani, P., y Goudarzi, S. M. (2023). Egg yolk cholesterol, egg quality, and performance in response to copper–methionine chelates and alfalfa powder supplementation in Nick chick laying hen diets. Journal of the Indonesian Tropical Animal Agriculture, 48(3), 182–193. https://doi.org/10.14710/jitaa.48.3.182-193

Ominski, K., McAllister, T., Stanford, K., Mengistu, G., Kebebe, E. G., Omonijo, F., Cordeiro, M., Legesse, G., y Wittenberg, K. (2021). Utilization of by-products and food waste in livestock production systems: A Canadian perspective. Animal Frontiers, 11(2), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfab004

Pico, S. M., Gutiérrez, D., Aragón, I., Escobar, A., Ortiz, D., Sánchez, T., Imbachí, P., y Pachón, H. (2011). Evaluación de la composición nutricional, antinutricional y biodisponibilidad in vitro de diferentes extractos foliares. Revista Chilena de Nutrición, 38(1). https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-75182011000200007

Sajid, Q. U. A., Asghar, M. U., Tariq, H., Wilk, M., y Płatek, A. (2023). Insect meal as an alternative to protein concentrates in poultry nutrition with future perspectives (an updated review). Agriculture, 13(6), 1239. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061239

Sousa, D., Moset, V., López-Luján, M. C., Salgado, J. M., Dias, A., Belo, I., Pascual, J. J., y Cambra-López, M. (2024). Potential of solid-state fermentation to enhance the nutritional value of oilseed cakes for poultry. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 316(116056). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2024.116056

Sufe, A. G., Hassan, M., Hossain, M., y Erdaw, M. M. (2023). Effects of supplementing layers, with varying levels of alfalfa and moringa fresh leaves on egg production and quality. American Journal of Pure and Applied Biosciences, 5(5), 124-130. https://www.universepg.com/public/img/storage/journal-pdf/Effects%20of%20supplementing%20layers,%20with%20varying%20levels%20of%20alfalfa%20and%20moringa%20fresh%20leaves.pdf

Suganya, T., Varman, M., Masjuki, H. H., y Renganathan, S. (2016). Macroalgae and microalgae as a potential source for commercial applications along with biofuels production: A biorefinery approach. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 909-941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.11.026

Sulaiman, B., y Al-Sardary, Y. (2021). Alfalfa meal supplementation producing vitamin E and minerals enriched table eggs. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 761(1), 012108. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/761/1/012108

Vaarst, M., Steenfeldt, S., y Horsted, K. (2015). Sustainable development perspectives of poultry production. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 71(4), 609-620. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0043933915002433

Zheng, M., Mao, P., Tian, X., Guo, Q., y Meng, L. (2019). Effects of dietary supplementation of alfalfa meal on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat and egg quality, and intestinal microbiota in Beijing-you chicken. Poultry Science, 98(5), 2250–2259. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey550

Citations

Citations in Crossref

Citations in Scopus

Google Sholar Citation

Citations in Europe PMC