Effects of dietary supplementation with detoxified Rhus verniciflua sap on egg production, yolk lipid and intestinal microflora in laying hens

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary detoxified Rhus verniciflua sap (RVS) on production performance, egg quality, lipid fractions of egg yolk, liver and serum, and the profile of cecal microflora in laying hens.MethodsTwo hundred 52-week-old Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 5 replicates per group (2 hens per cage, 5 cages per replicate) and were provided with one of 4 experimental diets containing 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.2% RVS, for 6 weeks. Due to unequal intervals of RVS doses, the interactive matrix language procedure of the SAS program was used to correct the contrast coefficients of orthogonal polynomials.ResultsThere were no differences in feed intake and egg weight among the groups. Egg production increased (linearly and quadratically, p<0.05) with increasing levels of RVS. Eggshell thickness increased (linear, p<0.05) as the level of RVS in diets increased. The levels of blood cholesterol and activities of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were not altered by dietary treatments. Increasing level of RVS increased (linear, p<0.05) the populations of cecal lactic acid bacteria. The content of yolk cholesterol decreased (linear, p< 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary RVS, although there were no significant differences in each lipid fraction of the liver.ConclusionThis study indicates that dietary RVS could improve laying performance and eggshell quality, and affect cecal lactic acid bacteria in a dose-dependent manner.

Egg Quality Parameters, Production Performance and Immunity of Laying Hens Supplemented with Plant Extracts

“…In contrast, the low level of plant extracts in T1 have negative effect on the cholesterol level, which needs to be further evaluated. Sometimes, the decrease in egg cholesterol content had a negative effect on egg production [ 31 ], which was not observed in the present study. The cholesterol-lowering effects of MA and GT in farm and experimental animals were reported.…”

“…Cholesterol in egg yolk is synthesized in the liver, secreted as very-low-density lipoprotein (LPL) in blood, and deposited via receptor-mediated endocytosis in yolk [ 32 ]. Thus, the decrease in cholesterol by MA and GT supplementation might be due to the consequences of altered endogenous lipoproteins (production or secretion) or/and cholesterol metabolism (i.e., synthesis, degradation, and distribution) [ 31 ]. Furthermore, Akbarian et al [ 33 ] reported that the phenolic compounds in plant extracts have an inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl coenzyme A, which is essential for cholesterol synthesis.…”

Antioxidant influence on poultry liver morphology and hepatocyte ultrastructure

“…The key element in maintaining the productive birds' health is to provide the organ with natural bioregulators -biologically active substances. The in-depth study of the biochemical processes in birds' organisms and their morphological manifestations contribute to the creation of new types of feed and feed supplements, which best suit each individual species and breed [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”