Table 2.
Recommended vitamin levels for laying hens by genetic companies and different sources
| Item | Unit | ISA brown (2010) | Hy-line (2010) | Lohman (2009) | DSM (OVN) (2011) | FEDNA (2008) | Maximum level in literature | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | IU/kg | 10,000 | 8,800 | 10,000 | 8,000–12,000 | 8,000–10,000 | 12,000 | Better immune response in heat stress [100] |
| Vitamin D3 | IU/kg | 2,500 | 3,300 | 2,500 | 3,000–4,000 | 2,000–3,000 | 6,000/15,000 | Improved bone strength in laying hens [101] |
| 25-OH-D3 (HyD) | mg/kg | - | 0.055 | - | 0.069 | - | 0.069 | Improved egg production [102] |
| Vitamin E | IU/kg | 20 | 16.5 | 10.0–30.0 | 20–30 | 8.0–20 | 500 | Reduced chronic stress [103] |
| Vitamin K | mg/kg | 3.0 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 2.5–3.0 | 1.4–2.1 | 10 | Improved bone strength in layers and pullets [104] |
| Vitamin B2 | mg/kg | 5.0 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 4.0–6.0 | 8.8 | Enhanced production [105] |
| Vitamin B6 | mg/kg | 5.0 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.5–5 | 1.5–3.0 | 6.0 | Prevent bone deformities[106] |
| Vitamin B12 | mg/kg | 0.015 | 0.022 | 0.015 | 0.015–0.025 | 0.009–0.015 | 0.036 | |
| Niacin | mg/kg | 40 | 28 | 30 | 30–50 | 18–35 | 250–1,550 | Enhanced feed efficiency, improved shell quality and reduced yolk cholesterol [107] |
| Panthothe-nic acid | mg/kg | 12 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 8.0–12.0 | 7.0–10.0 | - | |
| Folic acid | mg/kg | 0.75 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0–1.5 | 0.2–0.6 | 1.5 | Performance improvement in old hens [108] |
| Biotin | mg/kg | 0.05 | 0.055 | 0.025 | 0.1–0.15 | 0.035–0.08 | - | |
| Vitamin C | mg/kg | 100 | - | - | 100–200* | - | 2,000 | Improved bone shell and mineralization [109] |
| Choline | mg/kg | 1,400 | 110 | 400 | 300–500 | 150–250 | 1,500–2,000 | Reduced fat deposition in liver [110] |
OVN, optimum vitamin nutrition; FEDNA, Fundación Española para el Desarrollo de la Nutrición Animal (Spanish Foundation for the Development of Animal Nutrition).
*
Recommended under heat stress condition.
Adapted from DSM Nutritional Product Limited [99].