Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2006.243.247Nigella sativa L.) Supplementation on Feed Efficiency, Egg Yield Parameters and Shell Quality in Chickens]]>AydinRahim BalMehmet AliOzugurAli KemaliToprakHasan Huseyin CemaliKamalakAdem KaramanMesut 2200692This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of black seeds in diet of laying chickens on egg yield parameters, feed efficiency and egg shell quality. In this study, 24 week old laying hens were randomly distributed into four groups with four replicates of 5 birds each (20 laying hens per group) and were fed diets containing 0% (Group A, control), 1% (Group B), 2% (Group C), or 3% black seeds (Group D) for 49 days. Laying performance, egg quality and feed efficiency were evaluated. Eggs were examined for interior and exterior quality. Egg weights, yolk and albumen index, shape index, albumen weights, yolk weights, shell weights and shell thickness were measured in the daily collected eggs. Any level of black seed supplementation had no effects on live weight, egg production, feed consumption, feed efficiency, yolk index and albumen index. At the 6th and 7th weeks of the feeding study, weights of the eggs from the laying hens fed the Diet D were significantly greater than those from the laying hens fed the Diet A (p<0.05). And also the diet supplemented with 3% black seeds influenced the albumen weights of the eggs positively, compared to the control group (p<0.05). This study showed that supplementation of black seeds to the diet at the level of 3% increased egg weights from laying hens.]]>Al-Hader, A., M. Aqel and Z. Hasan,1993Nigella sativa seeds.]]>3196100Al-Homidan, A., A.A. Al-Qarawi, S.A. Al-Waily and S.E.I. Adam,200243291296Denli, M., F. Okan and A.N. Uluocak,2004Coturnix coturnix japonica).]]>34174179Denli, M., F. Okan and A.N. Uluocak,2004Nigella sativa L.) extract supplementation on laying performance and egg quality of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).]]>267376El Daly, E.S.,1998Crocus sativus and Nigella sativa extracts on cisplatin-induced toxicity in rats.]]>538793El-Kamali, H.H., A.H. Ahmed and A.A.M. Mohammed,1998Nigella sativa seeds, Cymbopogon citratus leaves and Pulicaria undulata aerial parts.]]>697778El Tahir, K.E.H., M.M.S. Ashour and M.M. Al-Harbi,1993Nigella sativa) in guinea-pigs: Elucidation of the mechanism(s) of action.]]>2411151122Halle, I., R. Thomann, G. Flachowsky, R. Schubert, G. Flachowsky, R. Bitsch and G. Jahreis,19991999Hertrampf, J.W.,2001405052Humphrey, B.D., N. Huang and K.C. Klasing,200213212141218Mahmoud, M.R., H.S. El-Abhar and S. Saleh,2002Nigella sativa oil against the liver damage induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice.]]>79111Mouhajir, F., J.A. Pedersen, M. Rejdali and G.H.N. Towers,1999Nigella sativa seeds detected by electron spin resonance.]]>37391395Nair, M.K.M., P. Vasudevan and K. Venkitanarayanan,2005Listeria monocytogenes.]]>16395398Shea, K.M.,2003112253258Wegener, H. C., F.M. Aarestrup, L.B. Jensen, A.M. Hammerum and F. Bager,19987714Zaoui, A., Y. Cherrah, M.A. Lacaille-Dubois, A. Settaf, H. Amarouch and M. Hassar,2000Nigella sativa in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.]]>55379382, (In French)