The impact of phytoestrogen source supplementation on reproductive performance, plasma profile, yolk fatty acids and antioxidative status in aged laying hens

• Published in: Reproduction in domestic animals 2019-06, Vol.54 (6), p.846-854
• Main Authors: Saleh, Ahmed A., Ahmed, Enas A. M., Ebeid, Tarek A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albumen; antioxidative status; Cages; Calcium; Cholesterol; Conversion ratio; Diet; Dietary supplements; Egg production; Fatty acids; Feed conversion; Fenugreek; fenugreek seeds; flaxseeds; Glutathione; Glutathione peroxidase; hormones; laying hens; Luteinizing hormone; Malondialdehyde; Peroxidase; Physical growth; Phytoestrogens; Plasma; Reproduction; Schedules; Seeds; Steroidogenesis; Superoxide dismutase; Triglycerides; Yolk
• ISSN: 0936-6768; 1439-0531
• DOI: 10.1111/rda.13432

Contents The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds as a source of phytoestrogens in laying feed on productive performance, egg quality, yolk fatty acids, plasma profile and antioxidative status in aged laying hens. A total of 120 Bovans Brown hens at 65 weeks of age were housed individually in laying cages in an open‐sided building under a 16‐hr light: 8‐hr dark lighting schedule. Hens were randomly divided into four experimental treatments (n = 30 each): (a) control (basal diet without any supplementation); (b) 1 g/kg of flaxseeds; (c) 1 g/kg of fenugreek seeds; and (d) combination of 1 g/kg flaxseeds and 1 g/kg fenugreek seeds from 65 to 71 weeks of age. Hen‐day egg production and egg mass were significantly increased by dietary supplementation of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds, while feed intake was not affected; thus, feed conversion ratio was improved (p