Influence of dietary chromium on egg production and quality parameters in layers

Forty-eight commcrcial White Leghorn layers of 60 weeks old were selected for this study. These layers were grouped in four treatments of 0, 250. 500 and 750 mg of chromium piconalate per kilogram of feed with basal diet for 12 weeks. The results revealed that addition of chromium in the diet did not affect egg production. However, addition of chromium @ 500 mg and above pcr kg of fecd significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the feed consumption and improved the feed efficiency. Egg quality parameters like egg weight, shape index, albumen index, yolk index, yolk colour and shell thickness were not affected by the inclusion of dietaty added chromium. However, it improved the Haugh unit significantly (P<0.05).