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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (14): 127-133.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2023-0873

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Effects of Chinese Herbal Extract on Performance, Immune Function and Antioxidant Capacity of Highland Brown Laying Hens

ZHANG Hongyan1(), ZHANG Qiang1, HAN Shanshan1, YIN Hong1, WANG Jianbo2, Qin Tao1()   

  1. 1 Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security/Bio-Agriculture Institute of Shaanxi, Xi'an 710043
    2 Wugong County Huasheng Poultry Co., Ltd., Wugong, Shaanxi 712200
  • Received:2023-12-25 Revised:2024-02-05 Online:2024-05-15 Published:2024-05-09

Abstract:

The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of Chinese herbal extracts on performance, blood immune function and antioxidant properties of Highland brown laying hens. A total of 360 healthy 42-week-old Highland brown laying hens were randomly divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates per group and 30 laying hens per replicate. Samples in groups A, B and C were fed with 0.4% Chinese herbal extract compound Coptis Jiedu Powder HLJDS, Pulsatilla Pulsatilla Powder BTWS and Qingwen Decoction QWT on the basis of commercially available normal full price feed, and control group D was fed with the commercially available normal full price feed. The pre-test lasted for 7 days and the experiment lasted for 28 days. The results showed as follows. In terms of production performance, the laying rate of laying hens in group C was extremely significantly higher than that of control group D (P<0.01), and the laying rate of laying hens in group A was significantly higher than that of control group D (P<0.05). The feed to egg ratio of laying hens in groups A and C was significantly lower than that of control group D (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in average egg weight among all groups (P>0.05). The defective egg rate of laying hens in groups A and C was extremely significantly lower than that of control group D (P<0.01), and the defective egg rate of laying hens in group B was significantly lower than that of control group D (P<0.05). There was no dead culling chicken in group A and Group C during the whole experiment period, while the dead culling rate in control group D was 2.22%. In terms of egg quality, there were no significant differences in egg shape index, protein concentration index and yolk index in groups A, B, C and D (P>0.05), but the number of defective eggs in fecal eggs, bloodstained eggs, malformed eggs and soft preserved eggs in control group D was significantly higher than that of the other three groups, and there was a phenomenon of uneven egg color. In terms of immune function, the activity of lysozyme in blood of groups A and C was extremely significantly higher than that of control group D (P<0.01). Serum globulin of laying hens in group C was extremely significantly higher than that of control group D (P<0.01), and serum globulin of laying hens in group A was significantly higher than that of control group D (P<0.05). In terms of antioxidant performance, the T-SOD activity in blood of laying hens in groups A and C was significantly higher than that of control group D (P<0.01). The content of MDA in blood of laying hens in groups A and C was significantly lower than that of control group D (P<0.01). Dietary addition of HLJDS and QWT can improve the production performance of laying hens, reduce the defective egg rate and dead chickens to a certain extent, and improve the immune function and antioxidant properties of laying hens, which is conducive to improving the economic benefits of laying hens.

Key words: Chinese herbal extract, Highland brown laying hens, production performance, immune function, antioxidant activity