Effects of arginine and phytogenic additive supplementation on performance and health of brown-egg layers

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of the association of different digestible arginine and phytogenic additive dietary levels on performance and health status of brown-egg layers. In this study, a total of 504 33-week-old Hisex Brown layers were distributed into a completely randomized experimental design to a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement (dietary digestible arginine levels: 880, 968, 1056, or 1144 mg/kg of feed × phytogenic additive levels: 0, 100, and 200 mg/kg of feed) with six replicate cages of seven birds per cage. The phytogenic additive was composed of extracts of Baccharis dracunculifolia (40%), Astragalus membranaceus lipopolysaccharides (20%), cinnamon, and grape seed (20%). Feed intake was reduced when diets containing 1056 mg of arginine were supplemented with 100 or 200 mg phytogenic additive per kg. Feed conversion ratio was improved when diets were supplemented with 100 mg of phytogenic additive or with 1056 mg of arginine per kg of feed. Egg mass was increased when diets were supplemented with 1056 mg arginine per kg of feed. Arginine supplementation quadratically increased albumen percentage and reduced yolk percentage. Higher arginine and phytogenic additive levels reduced heterophyl:lymphocyte ratio and blood uric acid, total cholesterol, very-low density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels. Dietary supplementation of 100 mg of phytogenic additive associated with high arginine levels increased nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages and 1056 mg of arginine increased antibodies titers against Newcastle disease virus. Blood and intestinal malonaldehyde levels were reduced when 200 mg of the phytogenic additive was added. Dietary supplementation of 968 mg of arginine or 100 mg of a phytogenic additive (40% Baccharis dracunculifolia, 20% Astragalus membranaceus, 20% cinnamon, and 20% grape seed extracts) per kilogram of diet improves the feed conversion ratio and associated inclusion of 1144 mg of arginine and 100 mg of phytogenic additive per kilogram of diet improves immune responses and health status of brown-egg layers.

Effects of an antibiotic and two phytogenic substances (cinnamaldehyde and 1,8-cineole) on yolk fatty acid profile and storage period-associated egg lipid peroxidation level

“…Thus, phytogenic antioxidants provide protection against reactive oxygen species in animals that consume feed supplemented with these substances, as well as in the food products obtained from these animals, and humans, who consume these food products, only when incorporated in feed at an optimum level. Indeed, Fascina et al (2017) reported significantly decreased blood and intestinal MDA levels in laying hens fed a ration supplemented with a phytogenic antioxidant (20% cinnamon).…”

“…Phenyl terpenes, such as cinnamaldehyde, thymol, menthol, and vanillin, show a strong antioxidant effect against lipid oxidation (Bizzo et al, 2009;Gouda et al, 2017). It has been reported that, in chickens fed rations supplemented with antioxidant herbal compounds, blood and intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decrease, and both immunity and performance status improve (Fascina et al, 2017). Haripriya and Vijayalakshmi (2014) reported that dietary cinnamaldehyde supplementation activates the anti-lipidemic defence mechanism and produces an antihypercholesterolaemic effect, which prevents the development of cardiovascular disease.…”

Natural Products of Plants and Animal Origin Improve Albumen Quality of Chicken Eggs

“…Some phytogenics supplemented in laying hen diets include some plant extracts: Chinese herbal extracts -Lonicera confuse and Astragali Radix extracts (114), ginger extract (115), and the combination of probiotics and plant extracts (116), have been reported to improved albumen quality. Other studies have also reported that phytogenics in powdery form by combination of various phytogenic feed additives (73,117,118), alfalfa meal (70), fruit -Ligustrum lucidum (119) enhanced albumen quality. However, a higher level of mulberry leaf inclusion reduced egg weight and increased HU but had no effect on albumen height (120).…”

“…Recent reports showed that diet supplementation such as phytogenic feed additive (67) and natural astaxanthin (68) improved intestine morphology, small organic peptide (18) and organic selenium (69) enhanced intestinal health while alfalfa meal (70) enhanced beneficial gut microbial population. Diets such as tea polyphenols at 600 mg/kg (71) and 400 mg/kg (72), and phytogenic extracts (73) have been found to enhance immune function capacity, while magnolol enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the ovary (74). In addition, prebiotics (75,76) improved serum antioxidant capacity, and probiotics exerted positive effect on beneficial gut microbes (77) and nutrient utilization (78).…”

“…The efficiency of protein utilization in diets depends on amino acid content, composition, and digestibility, hence, the deposition of albumen and yolk relies on nutrient supply (amino acids and fatty acids). Adequate essential amino acids (AA) has been traced to enhance internal and external egg quality (73), thus it is critical to supplement layers diets with AA, which cannot be synthesized in the body of laying hens. Such supplementation is critical in maintaining the structural integrity and function of the gut, decrease intestinal dysfunction and mitigate oxidative stress (178), which could lead to improved nutrient absorption and albumen synthesis.…”