Effects of using dried Egyptian clover and orange peels as natural feed additives on egg production egg quality and immune response of laying hens

الملخص EN

The experimental work of the present study was carried out at the Poultry Research Station, Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University.

This experiment was conducted for 11 weeks to study the effect of Egyptian clover dry leaves and orange peels as natural feed additives (NFA) on laying hens.

A total number of 108 Hy- Line W- 36 laying hens 49 weeks old were used.

The hens were randomly distributed into 9 groups of 12 birds each.

Each group was subdivided into 12 replicates (one hen / replicate) and assigned randomly for one of the experimental diets.

The experimental treatments were as follows:- 1.

Hens were fed the basal or control diet (D1).

2.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% Egyptian clover dry leaves (ECL).

3.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.4% ECL.

4.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% dry orange peel (OP).

5.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.4 % OP.

6.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% ECL+ 0.2% OP.

7.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.2% ECL+ 0.4 % OP.

8.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.4% ECL + 0.2% OP.

9.

Hens were fed D1+ 0.4% ECL+ 0.4 % OP.

Results obtained could be summarized in the following: 1- There were insignificant differences among treatments in productive performance except, egg weight (EW).

It is clear that laying hens fed diet 8 (containing 0.4 ECL+0.2 OP) had higher EW, whereas, those fed control diet had lower EW during the experimental period (49 to 60 weeks of age).

2- No significant differences in egg quality among all dietary treatments except, yolk color, shape index% and Haugh unit.

It is clear that laying hens fed diet 9 (containing 0.4 ECL +0.4 OP) had higher yolk color, hens fed diet 7 (0.2 ECL+0.4 OP) had higher shape index%, hens fed control diet had higher Haugh unit 3- The results of serum constituents indicated that NFA supplementation significantly affected triglycerides, AST and ALT values.

4- There is insignificant effects on immune response as a result to NFA supplementation was found in laying hen diets throughout the whole experimental period.

5- Hens fed diet 2 (containing 0.20 ECL) gave the best economical and relative efficiency values being 1.429 and 110.6 %, respectively followed by hens fed diet 7 (0.2 ECL+ 0.4 OP) (1.345 and 104.1%, respectively), diet 6 (0.2 ECL+ 0.2 OP) and than by diet 5 (0.4 OP), all of which are superior compared to the control diet.

In conclusion, the best performance was seen when 0.20 ECL or 0.2 ECL+ 0.4 OP or 0.2 ECL+ 0.2 OP were incorporated as feed additives in laying diets as it gave the best economical and relative efficiency values.