Eggshell Quality, Eggshell Structure and Small Intestinal Histology in Laying Hens Fed Dietary Pantoea-6^®and Plant Extracts

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the effects of dietary ® (extract of fermented wheat flour with Pantoea agglomerans) and plant extracts (red clover and garlic) on eggshell quality and structure and intestinal histology. Sixty-six Boris Brown laying hens (30 weeks old) were allotted to 3 groups, each with eleven replicates of two chickens. The control group was fed a basal diet (18% crude protein, 2850 kcal/kg ME) and the other groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% Pantoea-6 ® (including 0.06 g/kg lipopolysaccharide) and 0.1% plant extracts, respectively. There were no significant differences in laying performance and egg quality. However, these adverse effects occurred in the egg and albumen weight and eggshell breaking strength of the Pantoea-6 ® and plant extracts groups (P<0.05). Shell weight of the Pantoea-6 ® group was significantly higher than the other groups (P<0.05). Compared with the control, eggshell structure tended to have greater thickness in both dietary Pantoea-6 ® and plant extracts groups. The duodenum and jejunum of both Pantoea-6 ® and plant extracts groups showed higher values for cell area than those of the control (P<0.05). Moreover, cells on the villus tip surface were protuberated in both dietary ® and plant extracts groups, resulting in a rough surface. This study shows that Pantoea-6 ® and plant extracts at a 0.1% level might have a beneficial effect on egg and albumen weight, eggshell quality and structure parameters, as well as on small intestine histological parameters.

The effect of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruit residues on performance and egg quality of laying hens

“…Plant extracts were further discussed in many studies to investigate their effect on egg quality of the laying hens. In a more recent study on Boris Brown layers, Lokaewmanee et al (2014) cited that dietary plant extracts improved significantly the eggshell quality of strength against breaking, and this positive effect could be attributed to an observed improvement in small-intestine histological parameters. Sharma et al (2009) observed increased eggshell thickness (by 10.0%) and strength against breaking (by 15.2%), as well as decreased number of eggs with shell defects (by 2.5 percentage points) in hens fed diet supplemented with herbal products.…”

The effect of essential oils on quality and mineral composition of eggshell

“…The effect of dietary plant extracts added into feed mixture of layers on the content of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in eggshell were not significant (Lokaewmanee et al, 2014). Herkeľ et al (2016) also reported that phytogenic additive including essential oil may significantly affect mineral composition in poultry products.…”

The effect of essential plant oils on mineral composition of egg mass and blood parameters of laying hens

“…Relative to mineral composition, yolks from egg produced by hens fed the control treatment (no oil) were significantly different only from those derived from hens fed the diet supplemented with 2.5% canola oil + 2.5% soybean oil, which presented lower mineral content (Faitarone et al, 2013). The effect of dietary plant extracts added into feed mixture of layers on the content of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in eggshell were not significant (Lokaewmanee et al, 2014). Herkeľ et al (2016) also reported that phytogenic additive including essential oil may significantly affect mineral composition in poultry products.…”

“…Differences in ALP were not significant. Lokaewmanee et al (2014) researched effect of plant extract addition in diets on blood components of laying hens. Among the dietary treatments were not detected significant differences in content of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin.…”