Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X

Abstract In order to investigate the effect of Savory and Ajwain essential oils on performance and the quality of produced eggs in the challenged hens with Salmonella Enteritidis, 100 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens with 44 week-olds, in a randomized complete block design were studied for 13 weeks. Treatments included negative control, positive control, antibiotic: 0.15g oxyvet per kilogram of basal diet, Savory essential oil, and Ajwain essential oil ((1g per kilogram of the basal diet). All experimental groups except negative control were challenged with 1 mL of suspension solution containing 1×107 CFU/mL Salmonella Enteritidis bacteria by oral gavage in the ninth week. Quantitative and qualitative parameters were evaluated at the end of each week, and before and after the challenge, respectively. Challenge with Salmonella Enteritidis had no significant effect on laying hen performance and egg quality. Before the challenge, antibiotic and essential oils of two medicinal plants reduced feed intake and egg weight compared to the control group; and reduced feed intake and feed conversion ratio after the challenge (P<0.05). In the pre-challenge period, all three treatments, especially the essential oil of Ajwain, reduced the albumen Haugh unit (P<0.05). After the challenge, Savory essential oil reduced yolk cholesterol content; and essential oils of two medicinal plants decreased yolk lipid oxidation in both pre- and post challenge periods (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that the essential oils of two medicinal plants increase the quality of produced eggs by reducing egg yolk MDA and cholesterol levels.

Abstract Effect of prebiotic and extract of three medicinal plants: Chamomile, Oregano, and Marjoram on the performance, intestinal histomorphology, and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production, by using 60 TETRA-SL brown-egg laying with 80-week-olds, in a completely randomizes design containing five treatments and four replicates with three birds in each experimental unit for eight weeks were investigated. Prebiotic was added at 0.5 g/kg of diet, and medicinal plant extracts in a ratio of 1:1000 were added to the drinking water of birds. Quantitative indicators at the end of each week and quality indexes at the last week of the experiment were measured. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken from one bird in each experimental unit, and the birds were slaughtered to study the intestinal bacterial population and histomorphology. The effect of experimental treatments on the quantity and quality of produced eggs was not significant (p < 0.05). Blood cholesterol and yolk cholesterol were lower in the chamomile extract-receiving birds than in the other experimental groups (p < 0.05). The population of E. coli and coliforms in the intestine of marjoram extract-receiving birds was lower than other treatments (p < 0.05). Prebiotic treatment increased the villus height in the duodenum and ileum, and the marjoram extract increased the villus height in the ileum (p < 0.05). According to the result, the use of chamomile extract can reduce the yolk cholesterol level, and the use of prebiotic and marjoram extract improves the microbial flora and intestinal histomorphology in laying hens.

Abstract This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of various levels of cichorium intybus and
copper on performance and egg yolk cholesterol. Total of 324 layer hens (Hy-Line W-36) were used in a
randomized complete blocks with nine treatments, three replications of 12 birds in each from 38 to 50
weeks of age. Experimental diets include control, four levels of copper (150, 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg)
and four levels of cichorium intybus (15, 20, 25 and 30 percent of diet). Different levels of cichorium
intybus and copper significantly decreased serum and yolk cholesterol than control. The level of 300
mg/kg copper significantly reduced serum and yolk cholesterol but significantly decreased egg weight,
egg production and increased feed conversion ratio compared to control. Levels of 25 and 30 percent of
cichorium intybus significantly decreased egg production than control treatment. Yolk color improved by
different levels of cichorium intybus than control and copper levels. In conclusion, the best result for
lower yolk cholesterol were achieved by those laying hens fed a diet with 150 mg/kg copper of diet or 15
percent of cichorium intybus.

Abstract This study was conducted to compare the effect of various commercial in-feed disinfectants on layer performance, intestinal microflora, and egg cholesterol. One hundred and eight layer hens (LSL, 24 Wks of age) were divided into six groups consisting: Control, Formaycin-200 ppm, Formalin-200 ppm, and Nanosilver in feed-15 ppm or drinking water-7.5 ppm. There were no differences between experimental groups for egg production and egg weight. Formycin fed birds produce the highest egg mass (P< 0.05). In comparison of the two methods of Nanosilver administration, no significant differences were observed for egg production, egg weight and egg mass. Lactic acid bacteria counts in caecal contents were significantly increased in comparison to control and Formycin fed groups (P< 0.01). Gram negative counts in ileum contents were reduced by all additives, in comparison to control (P< 0.01). Cholesterol content of egg was increased in response to Formycin and Nanosilver (in drinking water) (P< 0.01). In conclusion, in-feed supplementation of Formalin and Nanosilver in laying hens’ feed resulted in efficient control of intestinal microbial counts and simultaneously improved the egg yield.