STUDIES OF L-CARNITINE EFFECTS IN LAYING HENS

The effect of supplementation of 0, 50 and 100 mg L-carnitine/kg feed was investigated in 378 laying hens (Zeh's Brown Warren) from the 44th up to the 72nd week of life. The diet contained 5% animal meal. Food intake and feed conversion differed only insignificantly between the L -carnitine treatments. Supplementation of the diet with 50 and 100 mg L-carnitine/kg diet increased egg production by 2.1 and 2.7%, respecti vely (p > 0.05). There Nas also no significant difference between the groups in abdominal fat content and fat content of liver and yolk. Fun ctional parameters of blood remained normal. Ho Never, a positive corr elation was observed between the L-carnitine content of the feed and t he concentration of the total carnitine and free carnitine in both, wh ite of egg and yolk. The yolk contained 6 to 7 times more carnitine th an the white of egg. Further investigations are required for elucidati on of the effects of L-carnitine on laying hens.