EFFECTS OF USING BLACK SEEDS ON EGG PRODUCTION, EGG QUALITY AND IMMUNE RESPONSE IN LAYING DIETS VARYING IN THEIR PROTEIN CONTENT

The experimental work of the present study was carried out at the Poultry Research Station, Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University. This experiment was conducted for 12 weeks to evaluate black seeds (Nigella sativa) (BS) as natural feed additives for laying hens. A total number of 180 HyLine W36 laying hens 49 weeks old were used. The hens were randomly distributed into 15 groups of 12 birds each. Each group was subdivided into 12 replicates (one hen/replicate) and assigned randomly for one of the experimental diets. The experimental treatments were as follows:1. Hens were fed 14.75 % crude protein (CP) as a control diet (D1). 2. Hens were fed 13.25 % CP (adjusted methionine & lysine) (D2). 3. Hens were fed 13.25 % CP (non adjusted methionine & lysine) (D3). 4. Hens were fed 11.75 % CP (adjusted methionine & lysine) (D4). 5. Hens were fed 11.75 % CP (non adjusted methionine & lysine) (D5). 6. Hens were fed D1 + 1% black seeds. 7. Hens were fed D2 + 1% black seeds. 8. Hens were fed D3 + 1% black seeds. 9.Hens were fed D4 + 1% black seeds. 10. Hens were fed D5 + 1% black seeds. 11.Hens were fed D1 + 2% black seeds. 12. Hens were fed D2 + 2% black seeds. 13. Hens were fed D3 + 2% black seeds. 14. Hens were fed D4 + 2% black seeds. 15. Hens were fed D5 + 2% black seeds. Results obtained could be summarized in the following: 1-There were significant differences among treatments in productive performance except, egg weight (EW), crude protein conversion (CPC) and live body weight gain (LBWG). Higher, dietary protein levels had a positive effect on average egg production (EP) and egg mass (EM) of layers. Average feed conversion (FC) and caloric conversion ratio (CCR) improved significantly as dietary protein levels increased. BS level had insignificant effects on productive performance. 2-There were significant differences in egg quality among all dietary treatments, except, yolk color and shell %. Yolk index% and Haugh unit values significantly increased as dietary protein levels decreased. Hens fed diet containing 2% BS had higher shell thickness. Laying hens fed diet containing 1% BS had higher yolk index. Hens fed diet containing 0.0% BS had higher shape index. 3-Black seeds supplementation had significant effects on serum calcium, triglycerides, AST, total protein and phosphorus values. Calcium and phosphorus values of serum significantly reduced as dietary protein levels decreased. Hens fed diet containing 1% BS had higher ALT level. 4No significant effects on immune response as a result to different treatments supplementation was found in laying hen diets throughout the whole experimental period except hemoglobin. Hanan A. Hassan and Mona S. Ragab Fayoum J. Agric. Res. & Dev. , Vol. 21, No. 2, July, 2007 602 Level of CP% insignificantly affected all immune response except, secondary immunity response, hematocrit% and white blood cells values. Regarding to secondary immunity response, values significantly increased as dietary protein levels decreased. There were insignificant effects on immunity response during all experimental period except, hemoglobin%. It is clear that hemoglobin value was significantly decreased as black seed levels increased. 5Hens fed diet 3 gave the best economical and relative efficiency values being 1.324 and 101.5%, respectively. The rate of change in the relative efficiency varied between –50.87 to +1.50%.