Ahiflower® for Poultry
Benefits:
•High bioavailable calcium content for eggshell strength – alternative to limestone & oyster shells
•Good amino acid & omega-3 content
•Gut, digestive, & gizzard health
•Increases egg yolk omega-3 LC-PUFA content more effectively than flaxseed
•Improves egg production compared to flaxseed
•Improved weight gain/maintenance compared to flaxseed
•No toxicological or antinutritional factors
•No risk of heavy metals, microplastics, PCBs
•Versatile formulation options – pellets, grit, flock blocks
Tried and Tested
In a very recently conducted layer hen poultry feeding trial (publication forthcoming) that compared Ahiflower micronized seed to conventional omega-3 boosted poultry feed containing flaxseeds, researchers led by Prof Deborah Adewole at Dalhousie University investigated egg yolk PUFA content and eggshell strength effects. Because Ahiflower seed by-products contain exceptionally high calcium (10-14%) and silica (6-8%) levels naturally, they hypothesized that there could be complementary effects offsetting the need for as much typical calcium sources (oystershell, limestone grit) commonly used in commercial egg production while improving overall VLCn-3 content in the egg yolks.
Over a 12-week controlled feeding trial, the researchers found that feeding Ahiflower micronized seed at one-quarter to half the oil content of typical flaxseed improves VLCn-3 PUFA in egg yolks, while significantly boosting hen bodyweight and hen day-egg productivity. Further, they found that all Ahiflower-fed cohorts maintained eggshell breaking strength vs control while the flax-fed cohort had reduced eggshell strength vs control. The higher calcium content of the Ahiflower micronized seed enabled replacing as much as 50% of the total oystershell, shell mix and limestone grit content of the background feed.
Commenting on the potential commercial impact of these findings, Prof Adewole observed, “There are more than 1200 egg farms across Canada, housing an estimated 25 million laying hens who produce more than nine billion eggs each year… Inclusion of Ahiflower seeds can save over 2000 mt of limestone and 481 mt of oystershell in Canadian egg production each year, in addition to savings in corn, soybean meal, soy oil, and shell mix inclusions.” Oystershell supply chains have been impacted by climate change and coastal seawater temperature rises, so Ahiflower seed may provide poultry producers and backyard chicken owners alike a more cost-effective and sustainable way to boost omega-3 egg quality and eggshell strength. Poultry and small wildlife ‘flock block’ supplement producers are taking notice.