Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41615261›Full record

ArticleVeterinary medicine and science2026

Alfalfa-Based Dehydrated Silage Pellet as a Source of Nutrients in Laying Hens: I. Effects on Animal Performance and Egg Quality.

Abbas Hamim, Sylvestre Habimana, Eric Hatungimana, Georges Daube, Bernard Taminiau, Caroline Douny, Jean-Luc Hornick, Isabelle Dufrasne

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Veterinary medicine and science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Abbas HamimSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Nyagatare, Rwanda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9211-6754
Sylvestre HabimanaSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Rwanda, Musanze, Rwanda.
Eric HatungimanaSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Nyagatare, Rwanda.
Georges DaubeDepartment of Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food Microbiology, FARAH research unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Bernard TaminiauDepartment of Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food Microbiology, FARAH research unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Caroline DounyDepartment of Food Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food Analysis, FARAH research unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4162-1589
Jean-Luc HornickDepartment of Veterinary Management for Animal Resources, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH research unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Isabelle DufrasneDepartment of Veterinary Management for Animal Resources, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH research unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Funding

The Center for Agronomic Technologies (CTA)University of Liège
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of incorporating 10% (w/w) Alfalfa-based deshydrated Silage Pellets (ABSP) into a commercial control diet on the production performance of Novogen Brown light layers. Twenty-one-week-old hens were divided into two groups (control-C and treatment-T) using a randomized block design, and the experiment lasted for 4 weeks. Feed intake, live weight and egg parameters were measured weekly. Weight gain was slightly lower in the T group, whereas the feed conversion ratio was improved (p < 0.05). Laying rate was similar in both groups. Yolk colour intensity was significantly increased (p < 0.001), along with an improvement in the yolk's fatty acid profile, showing lower SFA, higher ω-3 PUFA and an increased ω-6 to ω-3 ratio (p < 0.001). Gut microbial communities were analysed through 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that bacterial diversity was significantly lower at the genus level (p < 0.01) in the T group. Positive effects were observed on beneficial bacteria abundance, especially Lactobacillus spp., and with a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria. These findings suggest that ABSP can replace at least 10% of feed in organic layer diet without compromising production parameters and with positive effects on yolk quality and gut microbial communities.

Indexed as

ChickensEggsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMedicago sativaNutrientsSilageAnimal FeedAnimal Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaAnimalsDietFemaleRandom Allocationalfalfaanimal performancegut microbiotaorganic layersilage

Identifiers

PMID41615261
PMCPMC12857482

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.