Effects of Capsicum meal on laying performance,hatching performance,and nutrient apparent digestibility of laying hens

Gao Yuan; Wang Qingxi; Fang Shan; Xu Linmiao; Guo Yue; Wen Xiangyi; Li Desheng; Wang Tieliang

doi:10.20154/j.cnki.issn1672-9692.2025.09.006

Abstract：The experiment aims to explore the effects of Capsicum meal on the laying performance,hatching performance,egg quality,apparent digestibility of nutrients and economic benefits of breeding of laying breeding chickens.A total of 324 healthy Jinghong 3.0 laying hens aged 55 weeks with similar laying rates were selected for the experiment and randomly divided into three groups,with six replicates in each group and 18 hens in each replicate.The control group was fed with the basal diet,while the Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were respectively fed with 5%and 10%Capsicum meal to replace the corn in the basal diet.The pre-test period was 7 days and the formal test period was 42 days.The results showed that the laying rate of the Group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that of the control group and the Group Ⅰ(P<0.05),and the feed-to-egg ratio was significantly higher than that of the control group and Group Ⅰ(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,there were no significant differences in the fertilization rate of breeding eggs,the hatching rate of fertilized eggs and the rate of healthy chicks among the experimental groups(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,the protein height,egg yolk color and Hastelloy units in Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group and Group Ⅱ,the apparent metabolic rate of crude protein in Group Ⅰ was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the feed costs of Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ decreased by 1.58%and 3.16%respectively,and the net income increased by 0.84%and-4.68%.Studies have shown that replacing corn in the basic diet with 5%Capsicum meal can significantly improve the egg quality and the apparent metabolic rate of crude protein in the later laying stage of laying hens,enhance the economic benefits of breeding,and will not affect the hatching performance.