Effect of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub Flower Powder Supplementation in Layer Diet on Egg Production and Egg Quality

Abstract

Butea monosperma is a family Fabaceae native to tropical and sub-tropical part, ranging across
India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Loas. The flowers are widely used to prepare
a color. The objective of this study was to determine effect of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub flower
powder supplementation in layer diet on egg production and egg quality by using completely randomized
design (CRD) experiment. One hundred and five CP Brown laying hens divided into 5 groups of 7
replications and 3 laying hens per pen were fed one of these experimental diet as following; group 1: a
broken rice-soybean meal diet, group 2-4: diets which 0.05, 1.00 and 1.50% of Butea monosperma flower
powder, respectively and group 5: a corn-soybean meal diet. The result showed that egg production, feed

intake, feed efficiency, egg mass, average egg weight, feed intake per dozen eggs, mortality rate, shape
index, albumen index, egg specific gravity, yolk percentage, albumen percentage, eggshell percentage
and a* (eggshell color) were not significantly different (P>0.05). The least feed cost per dozen egg of group
2 and 3 was significantly lower than group 5 (P<0.01). Body weight gain of group 1, 2 and 4 was
significantly lower than group 3 and 5 (P<0.05). An egg grade percentage (No. 1) of group 2, 3 and 4 was
significantly higher than group 1 (P<0.05) while an egg grade percentage (No.2) of group 3 was lowest.
Yolk index of group 4 and 5 was significantly lower than group 4 and 5 (P<0.01). Haugh unit, eggshell
thickness and eggshell strength of group 2 were highest. Egg yolk color (from egg analyzer and Roche
yolk color fan), a* (yolk color), b* (yolk color) and L* (eggshell color) of group 5 were highest. However,
layer feed supplemented with Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub flower powder at 1.00% could improved
the color of yolk better that those supplemented with 0.05% and 1.50%.