Effect of mentha piperita (peppermint) extract and its juice on performance, EGG quality traits, hematological and biochemical parameters in laying hens

Antibiotics are used to improve growth rate, to minimize or control the incidence of diseases and/ or increase the immune response. In the recent past a great concern regarding drug resistance has become an issuecame in light which has a major impact on human health. Resistance to antibiotics has launched a search and exploration for alternative products which can be used in poultry to improve performance and immune status. The present study has been designed to evaluate the effect of Menta extract having essential oils and Menta juice in feed and drinking water respectively, on the performance and immune parameters of laying hens. A total of 252 Hyline laying hens have been divided into 7 groups and each group has been divided into 4 subgroups having 9 hens in each. Group A served as a control while the other 6 groups were treatments groups. Group A was fed a Basic Diet without any supplementation. Group B, C and D were offered diets supplemented with Menta extract at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of feed while groups E, F and G had the same dose of Menta juice in drinking water. Lighting schedule of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness was followed. Water and feed was offered ad libitum. The poultry were vaccinated against New Castle virus at the start of the trial for antibody determination in blood. The body weights were recorded at the start and end of the experiment. Feed intake was measured weekly. Eggs produced were recorded daily and weekly average egg production was calculated. Eggs were weighed one day per week. Three eggs from each replicate were collected randomly at the start, mid and end of trial and analyzed for egg quality parameters like egg weight, egg shell thickness, color index of the yolk, Haugh Unit and egg cholesterol level. At the end of the trial 3 eggs were collected from each replicate and analysed for internal egg quality traits while in storage at 0, 15 and 30 days at 4C. At the end of the trial three birds from each replicate were selected and blood samples were collected from their hearts. Complete blood cell count, Lymphocyte, monocyte, blood Glucose, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, total protein, liver enzymes like AST, ALT and blood Ca-P level were analyzed. Serum anti-ND antibody titer was determined. The results of the study showed non-significant difference in all the groups for all body weight, mean weekly egg weight, mean weekly egg mass, egg production, feed intake while FCR was observed significantly better in group C and D and lower in group G and F as compared with the control group during 8th week. Regarding egg quality traits egg shell breaking strength remained unaffected, yolk color index and haugh unit also showed no difference between all the groups and similarly no effect was seen on internal egg quality traits during storage at 40C for 0, 15 and 30 days. Hematological parameters and biochemical parameters were not affected by mentha oil and mentha juice supplementation. It is concluded that Menta oil and juice supplementation had shown a better effect on FCR during 8th week while other parameters remained unaffected. It has been observed that generally Menta oil and juice exhibited similar results which explain the similar potential of juice with oil. Further detailed studies are suggested to be conducted with multiple dose levels and for longer duration to investigate and explore the potential of Menta juice and oil.