Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the egg quality, immune response, zinc retention, and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition 2018-06, Vol.102 (3), p.736-745
• Main Authors: Abedini, M., Shariatmadari, F., Karimi Torshizi, M. A., Ahmadi, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline phosphatase; Birds; blood parameters; Carbonic anhydrase; Carbonic anhydrases; Corn; Diet; Dietary supplements; Egg production; egg quality; Egg shells; Eggs; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity; Intestine; laying hen; Liver; Malondialdehyde; Methionine; Nanoparticles; Pancreas; Parameters; Performance enhancement; Retention; Soybeans; Superoxide dismutase; Tibiotarsus; Zinc; Zinc oxide; zinc oxide nanoparticles; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12871

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) on the performance, egg quality, Zn retention, immunity responses, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum parameters in laying hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, and 12 birds within each group. Experimental diets included a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet (without Zn supplementation) and a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg of Zn‐oxide, ZnO‐NPs, and Zn‐methionine. The results indicated that egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the Zn‐methionine and ZnO‐NPs groups (p