Dietary supplementation of Echinacea purpurea powder improved performance, serum lipid profile, and yolk oxidative stability in laying hens
2017
Jahanian, Elaheh | Jahanian, Rahman | Rahmani, Hamid-Reza | Alikhani, Masoud
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of supplemental Echinacea purpurea (EP) powder on performance, serum metabolites, and yolk stability in laying hens. A total of 150 Hy-Line W-36 Leghorn laying hens, 43-wk of age, were randomly assigned into the five replicate cages for each of the five experimental diets based on a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments included different levels (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g/kg of diet) of EP powder, which were fed to the birds during a 70-d feeding trial. Results showed that dietary addition of EP powder caused significant (P < .05) increases in egg production during both 35-d periods and increased egg mass during the second 35-d period. A significant (P < .05) increase in secondary antibody response against sheep red blood cells was observed in groups receiving EP powder. Dietary supplementation of EP powder decreased (P < .05) yolk cholesterol and malondialdehyde concentrations. Moreover, supplemental EP decreased (P < .01) serum concentrations of triglyceride and cholesterol during the first 35-d, and resulted in increases (P < .05) in serum high-density lipoproteins during both 35-d periods. From the present findings, it can be concluded that dietary supplementation with at least 7.5 g/kg EP powder could improve egg production and decrease yolk cholesterol content. In addition, yolk oxidative stability could be improved as the result of EP supplementation of laying diets.
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