Effect of Licorice Extract and Prebiotic on Laying Hen Performance and Egg Quality in the Pre and Early Laying Periods

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of licorice (Glycyrrhizaglabra) extract, Active-mos®prebiotic, and flavomycin antibiotic on performance, egg quality, and body mass status in the pre and early laying periods. A total of ۱۸۰ Leghorn pullets (Hy-line W-۳۶), were assigned into ۶ treatments (۵ cages/treatment, ۶ pullets/cage) in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments included control (feed additive-free- diet), and control supplemented by licorice extract (۵ and ۱۰ g/kg of diet; as LIEX۵ and LIEX۱۰, respectively), flavomycin antibiotic (۴۰۰ and ۶۵۰ mg/kg of diet; as FL۴۰۰ and FL۶۵۰, respectively), and Active-mos®prebiotic (۱ kg/ton of diet; as ACPR). Birds were raised in a cage-layer facility. Body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were determined weekly. Body mass index was recorded before and after using the treatments. Also, the growth, egg quality, egg cholesterol, serum cholesterol, and triglyceride were tested. During weeks ۱۸ to ۱۹ of age, birds received control, FL۶۵۰, and ACPR treatments showed greater feed intake compared to LIEX۱۰. The body weight of birds that received FL۴۰۰ diet was greater than LIEX۵ and ACPR treatments at weeks ۱۷ to ۱۹ of age. All treatments, except for ACPR, decreased serum cholesterol compared with the control treatment (P < ۰.۰۵). No significant effect on feed conversion ratio, egg production, and body mass index was observed by treatments throughout the study (۱۷-۲۵ wk). Furthermore, there was no significant effect of treatments on the eggs' internal and external quality status, egg cholesterol, and serum triglyceride by treatments. However, more research is needed on the use of licorice extract and prebiotics as antibiotic alternatives and their effects on the body mass index in laying hens during pre- and early-laying periods.

کلیدواژه ها:

Licorice extract ، Prebiotic ، Flavomaycin ، Performance ، Body mass index