Dietary biological silage from tambaqui by products affect performance, physiology, and egg quality of young and old laying hens

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of increasing inclusion levels of biological silage produced from tambaqui ( Colossoma macropomum ) by-products (BST) in diets of commercial hens at different ages. A completely randomized design in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement was adopted, comprising two hen ages (23 and 83 weeks) and five BST inclusion levels (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%), with four replicates of six birds per treatment. Moderate BST inclusion (1–2%) improved egg production, egg mass, and feed efficiency, particularly in younger hens, while maintaining physiological homeostasis. In contrast, higher inclusion levels (≥ 3%) reduced feed intake and performance and negatively affected erythropoietic indicators, with more pronounced effects in older hens, highlighting age-dependent metabolic responses. Egg physical quality, including albumen height, Haugh unit, and eggshell thickness, was optimized at 2% BST, whereas excessive inclusion compromised shell quality and egg weight. Egg composition was modestly affected, mainly in lipid and moisture contents, with interactions between diet and hen age. Sensory evaluation revealed that eggs from hens fed up to 1% BST maintained high acceptability, while higher inclusion levels negatively affected taste. The observed benefits at moderate inclusion levels are likely associated with the presence of highly digestible proteins, bioactive peptides, and fermentation-derived compounds that enhance nutrient utilization and productive efficiency. Conclusively, BST represents a viable and sustainable ingredient for laying hen diets when included at moderate levels (≤ 2%), providing a novel strategy for valorizing aquaculture by-products while optimizing productive performance, physiological responses, and egg quality, considering age-related adaptability.

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