Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

2 Department of Animal Science, Lorestan University

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of peppermint essential oils (PEO) on productive performance and immune response in laying hens imposed to dexamethasone-induced stress. The experiment was performed in a 2×3 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with 90 Hy- Line (W36) laying hens in 6 treatments and 5 replicates of 3 birds in each. Peppermint essential oil was included into a basal (control) diet at 200 and 400 mg/kg. Dexamethasone was injected subcutaneously in two levels of 0 and 4 mg per bird/ week. Dexamethasone injection decreased egg production, egg mass and body weight gain while increased feed conversion ratio, eosinophil count and serum total protein concentration compared with control birds (P < 0.05). Egg yolk weight was greater in birds fed with diets containing 200 mg/ kg PEO compared with control birds (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone, peppermint essential oil as well their interaction exhibited no significant effect on antibody titer against Newcastle, Influenza and Gambro viruses (P > 0.05). In conclusion, dexamethasone-induced stress exhibited an adverse impact on feed conversion ratio and egg production in laying hens and inclusion of PEO at 200 mg/ kg modulated, in part, certain negative effects including egg weight of hens.

Keywords

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