Performance, egg quality, blood profile, immune function, and antioxidant enzyme activities in laying hens fed diets with thyme powder

Journal Title: Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences - Year 2015, Vol 24, Issue 2

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) on productive performance, egg quality, blood profile, immune function and antioxidant enzyme activity in laying hens. A total of 96 thirty-six-week-old laying hens were assigned to a basal control diet or a diet supplemented with 3, 6, or 9 g · kg–1 of thyme fed from 36 to 52 weeks of age. Hens were divided into four equal groups replicated six times with four hens per replicate. No significant differences were observed among the dietary treatments in body weight change, feed consumption, or feed conversion ratio. Supplementation of thyme up to 6 g · kg–1 in the diet led to an increase in egg weight compared with the basal diet. Egg number was not (P > 0.05) influenced by thyme supplementation, except from 36 to 40 weeks of age. Birds fed diets with 3 or 6 g · kg–1 of thyme had greater (P < 0.05) egg mass than those fed the unsupplemented diet or that with 9 g · kg–1 of thyme. Dietary supplementation with thyme exhibited a significantly positive effect on parameters related to immunity and lipid profile. Serum superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione concentration were significantly increased in groups fed diets with thyme (P = 0.010 and P < 0.001, respectively). The malondialdehyde concentration was decreased (P = 0.048) in experimental groups in comparison with the control. In conclusion, thyme supplemented up to 9 g · kg–1 diet can be used as an effective feed additive to improve productive performance, blood profile and antioxidant enzyme activities in laying hens.

Authors and Affiliations

M. E. Abd El-Hack, M. Alagawany

Keywords

Related Articles

Comparison of high-performance ion chromatography technique with microbiological assay of myo-inositol in plant components of poultry feeds

An ion chromatography technique (HPAEC-PAD) was employed for determination of inositol in plant components of feeds as an alternative to a microbiological assay. The study included analysis of total, free and dialysable...

Improved performance due to dietary supplementation with selected herbal extracts of broiler chickens infected with Eimeria spp.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary herbal extracts derived from garlic (Allium sativum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), oregano (Origanum vulgare), nettle (Urtica...

Effect of feeding ensiled maize grain on rumen development and calf rearing performance

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of replacing barley grain or dry maize (50% by weight) in feed mixtures for calves with ensiled high-moisture maize grain on ruminal and postruminal digestibility of starc...

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid isomers and selenite or selenized yeast affect fatty acid concentration in the kidneys of rats

The influence of diets enriched in a mixture of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers (CLAmix) and/or selenium as Na2 SeO3 (SeIV) or selenized yeast (SeY) on feed intake, kidneys’ weight and the concentrations of fatty...

Effects of active immunization against the recombinant second extracellular loop of sheep β2 -adrenoceptor on growth and blood biochemical parameters of female rats

The objective of this study was to determine effects of active immunization against the recombinant second extracellular loop of sheep β2 -adrenoceptor (rBAR) on growth performance, carcass parameters, internal organ wei...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP75407
  • DOI -
  • Views 99
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

M. E. Abd El-Hack, M. Alagawany (2015). Performance, egg quality, blood profile, immune function, and antioxidant enzyme activities in laying hens fed diets with thyme powder. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 24(2), 127-133. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-75407