Kenon: REDUCING FEED-TO-EGG RATIO WITH LYSOPHOSPHOLIPIDS

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with lysophospholipid compound additive on production performance, egg quality and yolk lecithin content of Dongxiang black-feathered green-shell laying hens.

Methods A total of 900 healthy 170-day-old Dongxiang black-feathered green-shell laying hens with an initial body weight of 1.28 kg ± 0.25 kg were selected. The birds were randomly assigned into 2 treatment groups, with 6 replicates per treatment and 75 hens per replicate. The pre-experimental period lasted for 7 days, and the formal experimental period was 30 days. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the treatment group received the basal diet supplemented with 300 g/t lysophospholipid compound additive.

Results

1. Production performance: Compared with the control group, the feed-to-egg ratio in the treatment group was significantly reduced (P＜0.05), with a reduction rate of 5.5%. The average egg weight was also significantly decreased (P＜0.05), dropping by 5.0%. The laying rate of the treatment group increased by 5.97 percentage points relative to the control group, showing an upward trend.

LPC, the core component of the lysophospholipid compound additive, can enhance intestinal fat emulsification, facilitate the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and improve the energy utilization efficiency of feed. Meanwhile, Van Hoeck et al. reported that LPC can actively boost intestinal nutrient transport capacity by regulating the expression of genes related to amino acid transport and lipid metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells. In the present trial, the significantly lower average egg weight observed in the treatment group may be associated with the young age of Dongxiang black-feathered green-shell hens. The hens were 170 days old and at the rising phase of egg production. Large individual variation exists at this stage, which may lead to sampling error.

2. Yolk lecithin content: After supplementation with lysophospholipid compound additive, the yolk lecithin concentration of the treatment group reached 9807.06 μg/g, which was 5.8% higher than that of the control group.

From the perspective of metabolic pathways, LPC (core component of lysophospholipid compound additive) is the hydrolysate precursor of lecithin. After intestinal absorption, LPC participates in hepatic lecithin synthesis via the CDP-choline pathway. Subsequently, lecithin is transported to the yolk for deposition through very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Theoretically, exogenous LPC supplementation can provide substrate support for lecithin deposition in egg yolk. Sun Changchun et al. confirmed that dietary soybean phospholipid supplementation significantly elevates phospholipid concentration in eggs, which is consistent with the rising trend of yolk lecithin content observed in our study. The lack of statistical significance in this trial may be attributed to the short experimental period of only 30 days. Sustained deposition of lecithin in egg yolk requires a longer feeding duration. Moreover, the inclusion level of 300 g/t may not be the optimal dosage for this specific breed. As a local miniature laying hen breed, Dongxiang black-feathered green-shell hens may differ from conventional laying hens in substrate requirement for lecithin synthesis.

Reference Ma G Y, He Y D, Hu S H, et al. Effects of lysophospholipid compound additive on production performance and egg quality of Dongxiang black-feathered green-shell laying hens[J]. Jiangxi Journal of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine, 2026, (3):19-22.

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