This journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi
2020 , Vol 26 , Issue 1
Effect of Myrtus communis L. Plant Extract as a Drinking Water Supplement on Performance, Some Blood Parameters, Egg Quality and Immune Response of Older Laying Hens
1Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Afyon Kocatepe University, TR- 03200 Afyonkarahisar - TURKEY
DOI :
10.9775/kvfd.2019.22058
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of myrtle plant extract (MPE) on performance, some blood parameters, egg
quality and immune response of older laying hens. A total of 192 laying hens (67 weeks old; initial body weight 1.63±0.17 kg) were used
in this study. The MPE was added to the water of the experimental groups (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, or 10%) for 8 weeks. Liquid chromatography
analyses showed that myricetin was the predominant active ingredient (15.34 mg/L) in MPE. In treatment groups, feed consumption, egg
mass (P<0.05), egg production (P<0.01) increased (10% MPE) and water consumption ascended (5% MPE) compared to the control birds.
Feed conversion ratio did not change. In 2.5% MPE group, greater egg weight (P<0.001) and darker egg yolk (P<0.01) were observed than
the control birds. Regarding immunity, the 5% Myrtus group produced higher neutrophil and large amounts of IgG (P<0.05) indicating
that significant results were also observed in the immunological response of laying hens vaccinated against the Newcastle virus. Serum
alanine aminotransferase level increased (P<0.05) in treatment groups whereas serum glucose levels decreased significantly (P<0.01).
Other than that, none of the blood parameters changed. It is concluded that Myrtus communis L. plant extract showed positive effects on
the egg yolk, some performance parameters and immune system of older laying hens without any adverse effects on egg traits.
Keywords :
Common myrtle, Antibody response, Immunonutrition, Serum profile, Aged hens