Effects of vitamin E and milk thistle powder (Silybum marianum) on liver healthy, serum parameters and production indices in laying hens

Document Type : Full Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

2 Department of Animal Science, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different levels of milk thistle powder and vitamin E on liver healthy, serum parameters and production indices in laying hens. The 2×3 factorial experiment was managed in a randomized complete design with 72 Hy- Line (W36) laying hens in six treatments and four replicates of three birds each. The experimental period lasted for a total of six weeks. Treatments included different levels of milk thistle powder (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and vitamin E (recommended by NRC; 5 mg/kg and more than recommended by NRC; 80 mg/kg). The effect of different levels of milk thistle powder and vitamin E on production indices were not significant in the throughout the experimental period. The best feed conversion ratio was observed in hens fed with rations included 80 mg/kg of vitamin E in the sixth week of experiment (p < 0.05). Laying hens were fed with milk thistle powder (200 mg/kg) had the best feed conversion ratio compared with the control group in the fifth week of experiment (p < 0.05). The effect of different levels of milk thistle powder and vitamin E on egg quality and serum parameters were not significant. Dietary milk thistle powder (200 mg/kg), as compared with the control, decreased serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.05). In conclusion, diet supplementation with milk thistle powder (100 and 200 mg/kg) and vitamin E (more than recommended by NRC) had no positive effects on production indices and egg quality in laying hens.

Keywords


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