Effects of boric acid and humate supplementation on performance and egg quality parameters of laying hens

In this study, the effects of boric acid and humate supplementation into hen diets on egg production and quality parameters and blood cholesterol levels were examined. For this aim, totally 160, 40 weeks of age, Hyline-White 98 layers were randomly divided into control and 3 treatment groups each containing 40 birds and 10 replicates (each with 4 birds). There was no boric acid or humate supplementation to control group diets (basal diet) where as treatment groups were supplemented with (basal diet plus) 90 ppm boric acid or 1 g/kg humate, or combination of these two feed additives, respectively. The experimental period lasted in 14 weeks. End of the trial there were no significant effects of dietary boric acid and humate inclusion on feed intake, egg weights and yields, egg quality parameters (shell thickness, breaking strength, and shape index) compared with control. But feed conversion ratio for hens which were supplemented with humate showed negative results while combination humate and boric acid were showed positive result compare with control (p < 0.05). It was also determined that there were no effects of treatments on blood cholesterol levels. As a result, since hens which were fed with basal diet plus boric acid and humate combination showed better feed conversion ratio, these feed additives combination can added diets without any adverse effect for laying hens.