| Abstrakt: |
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of the different levels of carrot juice on the performance of the Indonesian native breeder hens. A total of 60 native breeder chickens (48 hens and 12 roosters) aged 60 weeks old, were raised in a 1 x 2 m concrete floor pen with wood shaving as bedding materials (male: female ratio; 1:4) for 7 weeks. All chickens were randomly assigned into four groups of carrot juice levels in drinking water treatments according to a completely randomized design, three replicates each. The carrot juice was dissolved in 80 mL of plain water and served as drinking water for chickens with different levels i.e., 0, 30, 50, 70 mL. The hens' performance parameters were expressed in feed and water intake, egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio during the experimental period. Although there were no differences in all parameters values observed among the experimental groups during the study, the breeder hens in the 70 mL supplementation group showed a tendency of a better value of egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio compared to the other groups. Taking into consideration the fact that the native breeder hens used in the current study were in the late period of laying production, maintaining egg production up to 47% in the supplementation group hens showed a positive measure for the breeding or selection scheme. The antioxidant properties of carrot juice might be responsible for this improvement. Therefore, the inclusion of carrot juice as a natural antioxidant could help the older breeder hens of native chicken to maintain their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
