Effects of Bioherbal and Bioherbal Plus Feed Supplements on the Production, Egg Traits, Blood Biochemistry, and Immunity Parameters of Laying Hens

The use of medicinal plants represents a new approach for utilizing phytogenic feed additives to improve production, health, and growth performance in the poultry industry. In this study, the effects of different phytogenic diets on egg production, egg quality and blood parameters in laying hens were investigated. The experimental treatments included the following: (1) a control basal diet (CON); (2) the basal diet+0.15% bioherbal (BHM) mineral supplement; (3) the basal diet+ 1.5% bioherbal (BH); (4) the basal diet+0.15% mineral supplement (M); (5) the basal diet +0.15% bioherbal plus 1.5% mineral supplement (BHPM); and (6) the basal diet + 0.5% bioherbal plus 1.5% BHP. The results showed that egg quality indicators did not significantly differ in response to the addition of the various phytogenic feed additives, whereas the yolk index significantly differed among the treatments only in the first period of study(P<0.05). The findings of this study revealed that the experimental treatments had no significant effect on the hematological parameters of the blood of the birds, whereas they caused significant changes in the means of the biochemical attributes, including triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), albumin, total protein (TP) and uric acid. The BHP and M treatments caused the highest and lowest triglyceride contents in the blood, respectively (P < 0.05). Adding BH to the diet of birds reduced blood cholesterol levels(P<0.05). The treatment contained BHM trend to increase egg production percent in the whole period of the experiment relative to the control (P < 0.1). The results revealed that the content of immunoglobulin Y reached the highest value in the BHM treatment group at the second immunization, whereas the lowest value was obtained in the BHP diet group(P < 0.05). These findings show that the use of Bioherbal supplemented by minerals may have some effect on the performance of laying hens that may be significant in stressful conditions. Therefore, the evaluation of these additives in stress conditions is suggested.