Impact of banana shell powder on productive and physiological traits of laying hens

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to find out the influence of various amounts of banana peel powder on physiological and biochemical parameters of the hens. For the research one hundred and twenty ISA Brown layering hens were selected and allocated in four test groups containing thirty chickens each. These hens were then divided into three replicates of 10 hens each. Three levels of banana peel powder (3, 2, 1%) were added. The results showed that the treatment with the addition of (3%) banana peel powder (T4) was superior in terms of Hen Day egg (H.D) production (67.10%), Egg weight (E.W) (64.83 g), and Relative egg shell weight (R.E.S.W) (6.46%). As for the quality of the laying hens' eggs, the treatment (T4) was also superior in both Relative albumin weight (R.A.W) and Relative yolk weight (R.Y.W). As for the biochemical characteristics, both Cholesterol and Triglyceride (T.G) decreased significantly in all banana peel powder treatments. In contrast, they had no significant effect on liver enzymes, while Glutathione (G.S.H) levels increased significantly in the treatment (T4). Therefore, we recommend adding (3%) banana peel powder to the diets of laying hens due to its positive effects on production levels, lipids, and antioxidants.