Dietary Oregano Essential Oil Supplementation Influences Production Performance and Gut Microbiota in Late-Phase Laying Hens Fed Wheat-Based Diets

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of OEO on production performance, egg quality, fatty acid composition in yolk, and cecum microbiota of hens in the late phase of production. A total of 350 58-week-old Jing Tint Six laying hens were randomly divided into five groups: (1) fed a basal diet (control); (2) fed a basal diet + 5 mg/kg flavomycin (AGP); (3) fed a basal diet + 100 mg/kg oregano essential oil + 20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde (EO1); (4) fed a basal diet + 200 mg/kg oregano essential oil + 20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde (EO2); (5) fed a basal diet + 300 mg/kg oregano essential oil + 20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde (EO3). Compared to the control group, group EO2 exhibited higher (p < 0.05) egg production during weeks 5–8 and 1–8. EO2 had a lower feed conversion ratio than the control group during weeks 1–8. The content of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in EO2 was higher (p < 0.05) than that of the control and AGP groups. EO2 increased (p < 0.05) the abundance of Actinobacteriota and decreased the abundance of Desulfovibri in the cecum. The abundances of Anaerofilum, Fournierella, Fusobacterium, and Sutterella were positively correlated with egg production, feed conversion ratio, and average daily feed intake, while the abundances of Bacteroides, Desulfovibrio, Lactobacillus, Methanobrevibacter, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were negatively correlated with egg production, feed conversion ratio, and average daily feed intake. Dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg OEO and 20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde could improve egg-production performance, decrease feed conversion ratio, and alter the fatty acid and microbial composition of eggs from late-phase laying hens.

Effects of a mixture of glycerol monolaurate and cinnamaldehyde supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, and antioxidant status in laying hens

“…showed that the addition of GML (1000 mg kg −1 ) significantly improved the average egg weight and laying rate of Lohmann Grey layers aged 66 weeks and reduced the FCR and defective egg rate. There was evidence that dietary supplementation with 200 mg kg −1 oregano essential oil and 20 mg kg −1 cinnamaldehyde improved laying performance, decreased FCR, and altered the fatty acid and microbial composition of eggs from 58‐week‐old Jing Tint 6 laying hens 20 . However, in the current study, the effect of GCM on the production performance of layers at the early laying stage was only reflected in the reduced rate of unqualified eggs.…”

“…There was evidence that dietary supplementation with 200 mg kg −1 oregano essential oil and 20 mg kg −1 cinnamaldehyde improved laying performance, decreased FCR, and altered the fatty acid and microbial composition of eggs from 58-week-old Jing Tint 6 laying hens. 20 However, in the current study, the effect of GCM on the production performance of layers at the early laying stage was only reflected in the reduced rate of unqualified eggs. The reason for the difference in the experimental results may be the difference in the breed and weekly age of laying hens and the amount of GML and cinnamaldehyde added.…”

“…21 Many studies have shown that a single GML and plant essential oil mixture containing cinnamaldehyde or thymol shows improved effects on egg quality. 7,12,20,22,23 Wang et al 12 found that 100 mg kg −1 cinnamaldehyde with thymol (13.5% of thymol, 4.5% of cinnamaldehyde) improved the Haugh unit of 50-week-old Hy-line brown laying hens. Cui et al 7 reported that 1000 mg kg −1 GML increased the albumen height, yolk color and Haugh unit of Lohmann Grey layers aged 66 weeks.…”

“…Yolk color is formed when fat‐soluble pigments are deposited in the yolk during egg formation, which is one of the important indexes in measuring egg quality and one of the factors affecting the performance of poultry egg products 21 . Many studies have shown that a single GML and plant essential oil mixture containing cinnamaldehyde or thymol shows improved effects on egg quality 7,12,20,22,23 . Wang et al 12 .…”

Responses of intestinal morphology, immunity, antioxidant status and cecal microbiota to the mixture of glycerol monolaurate and cinnamaldehyde in laying hens

“…Cinnamaldehyde is one of the active components in Cinnamomum cassia , which has a series of pharmacological effects such as antifungal, antibacterial and anti-tumor ( Kaur et al, 2019 ). Dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil (200 mg/kg) and cinnamaldehyde (20 mg/kg) could improve production performance and reduce feed conversion efficiency of laying hens in later period by selectively regulating cecal microbial community ( Gao et al, 2022 ).…”