Whole hempseed as a feeding enrichment for laying hens: effects on egg quality, nutritional profile and sensory attributes

Abstract To evaluate the effect on egg quality of the dietary supplementation with whole hempseeds, as an environmental and nutritional enrichment, a 4-week trial was implemented in an aviary housing a total of 1800 Hy-Line Brown hens in 8 pens (225 hens/pen). From 37 to 40 weeks of age, four pens received only a commercial diet (Control group) and the remaining four pens received whole hemp seed (HS group) (10 % of the average daily feed intake of the whole