Why is the use of linoleic acid in layer hen rations important to the production of eggs?
It has been proven that the dietary linoleic acid does indeed increase egg size. Increasing the dietary linoleic acid content to somewhere between 2-4% (depending on the birds’ age) increases egg weight. Linoleic acid has also been found to be important in helping pullets achieve heavier case weights at an earlier age. It allows the yolk to contain a higher level of this unsaturated fatty acid, the presence of which has been deemed more healthy than saturated fatty and transfatty acids.
