Supplemental Linseed on Egg Production

Abstract Linseed is a rich source of energy, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and some antioxidants. It is also one of the richest vegetable sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and has successfully been used in poultry diets to fortify chicken eggs with omega-3 PUFA. Both linseed and its oil can be used in hen’s diets to produce omega-3 eggs which are available in super markets under various brand names. The use of linseed in commercial layer diets is limited mainly due to the presence of potential antinutritional factors which can compromise production performance and egg quality in laying hens if fed at too high of a level. However, linseed oil can be used to produce omega 3–enriched eggs without any detrimental effect on hen performance. Therefore, linseed oil is the preferred feed ingredient to use in laying hen diets to produce omega 3–enriched eggs which can bring a premium price at retail.