The effects of lignocellulose supplementation on laying performance, egg quality parameters, aerobic bacterial load of eggshell, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunal histomorphological traits of laying hens

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the effects of lignocellulose supplementation ( LS ) on performance parameters, egg quality, aerobic bacterial load of eggshell, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunal histomorphological traits of laying hens between 18 and 38 wk of age. A total of 640 pullets at 16 wk of age were allotted to 4 treatment groups as 0 kg (control, CONT ), 0.5 kg, 1 kg, and 2 kg LS per ton of feed. Body weight ( BW ), daily feed intake, egg production ( EP ), egg weight ( EW ), and efficiency of feed utilization ( EF ) were determined as the mean of each 3-wk period between 18 and 38 wk of age. Laying hens in the 1 kg LS group had a higher BW mean (1632.1 g, P < 0.001). The highest mean value of EP and EW were observed in 1 kg LS group (81.8% and 57.3 g, respectively), whereas the lowest values were found in the 2 kg LS group (78.6% and 54.4 g, respectively, P < 0.001). The mean of EF was the lowest in the 1 kg LS group (2.72, P < 0.001). There was a decline in eggshell breaking strength and eggshell thickness in the 2 kg LS, when compared with the 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups ( P < 0.001). The total aerobic bacterial load of the eggshell was the lowest in the 1 kg LS group (4.7 log 10 cfu/mL). The level of aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase showed an increment in both the CONT and 2 kg LS groups ( P < 0.001). The high level of LS (2 kg per ton of feed) caused a decline in the levels of IgY, IgA and IgM, when compared to the 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups ( P < 0.001). Laying hens in 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups had longer villus height (1335.9 μm) in the jejunum than the others ( P < 0.001). These findings showed that the 1 kg LS per ton of feed improved EP and EW, eggshell quality, immunoglobulin levels and intestinal morphology, and decreased the total aerobic bacterial load.

Lignocellulose as an insoluble fiber source in poultry nutrition: a review

“…With respect to feeding experiments with commercial hybrid pullets and laying hens (Table 3 ), most studies showed that growth and laying performance were not affected by dietary LC inclusion levels of 0.8% to 2% [ 33 – 35 ]. However, Sozcu and Ipek [ 36 ] demonstrated that the supplementation of 0.05% and 0.1% dietary LC increased BW, ADFI, EP, and EW of laying hens between 18 to 38 weeks of age compared to hens fed the control diet. A further increase in the dietary LC concentration to 0.2%, however, led to a decrease in EP and EW [ 36 ].…”

“…However, Sozcu and Ipek [ 36 ] demonstrated that the supplementation of 0.05% and 0.1% dietary LC increased BW, ADFI, EP, and EW of laying hens between 18 to 38 weeks of age compared to hens fed the control diet. A further increase in the dietary LC concentration to 0.2%, however, led to a decrease in EP and EW [ 36 ]. In two other studies, the effect of dietary LC was investigated in broiler breeder hens [ 37 ] during the laying phase (43 to 55 weeks of age) and in dual purpose hens [ 38 ] during the growing (1–22 weeks of age) and laying period (23–52 weeks of age).…”

“…Abdollahi et al [ 29 ] showed that the supplementation of 1% dietary LC had no impact on histomorphological parameters in the duodenum and jejunum of broilers. In laying hens, the feeding of 0.05% and 0.1% dietary LC increased jejunal villus height and width, villus apparent surface area and villus height to crypt depth ratio, while a further increase in dietary LC concentration of 0.2% decreased observed histomorphological parameters [ 36 ]. Dual purpose hens fed diets supplemented with 10% LC showed an enhanced mucosal development of the colorectum indicated by a greater villus area and a higher villus and crypt mucosal enlargement factor [ 70 ].…”

Replacing Maize Grain with Ancient Wheat Lines By-Products in Organic Laying Hens’ Diet Affects Intestinal Morphology and Enzymatic Activity

“…In addition, the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), which is a measure of the epithelial cell turnover [41], was lower in the control group for the three small intestine tracts. Sozcu and Ipek [43] studied the effects of lignocellulose supplementation on jejunal histomorphology of laying hens, including increasing levels (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/100 g feed) of a commercial product containing 92.6 g of ADL per 100 g. The authors observed that lignocellulose at 0.05 and 0.1% improved jejunum mucosal development by increasing villus height and VH/CD ratio, and such a result is in agreement with our findings, since the ADL in the AG group was 0.14% higher than the control. The villus size (height and width) is fundamental for the absorptive activity of the intestine [44].…”

Prebiotics and alternative poultry production

“…Certainly, layer hen cecal microbiota is capable of fermenting forages such as alfalfa ( Ricke et al., 2013 ). Sozcu and Ipek (2020) examined a lignocellulose product supplemented in feed for layer hens housed in enriched layer cages with perches, nesting areas, and scratch pads. When added at one gram per ton of feed, several egg production parameters were enhanced, including egg production, weight, quality, immunoglobulin levels, and intestinal architecture.…”