Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• N. Jaderi ¹
• A. Nobakht ²
• Y. Mehman-navaz ²

¹ Msc student, Islamic Azad University, Maragheh Branch, Maragheh, Iran

² Islamic Azad University, Maragheh Branch, Maragheh, Iran

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Satureja hortensis L., Ziziphora tenuir L., Urtica dioica L. and their different mixtures on yield, egg quality, blood and immunity parameters of laying hens. A 2³ factorial experimental design was applied with 8 treatments in 1- control treatment or no medical plants, 2- 2% of S. hortensis, 3- 2% of Z. tenuir, 4- 2% of U. dioica, 5- 2% of (S. hortensis and Z. tenuir),  6- 2% of (S. hortensis and U. dioica), 7- 2% of (Z. tenuir and U. dioica) and 8- 2% of (S. hortensis, Z. tenuir and U. dioica) including 3 replicates in each treatment and 12 hens in each replicate for 12 weeks )25-37 weeks of laying period). The results showed that the use of different medicinal plant mixtures had significant effects on yield, and egg quality of laying hens (P<0.05). Maximum egg yield (86.622%) and egg mass (47.497 g) were recorded for 2% of U. dioica treatment whereas the maximum eggshell weight (5.804g) and unit (94.635%) were obtained by using 2% of S. hortensis. Using 2% of U. dioica also had positive effects on blood biochemical parameters and percentage of immunity cells. According to the results, using 2% of U. dioica in laying hens' diet could have positive effects on their yield, blood biochemical parameters and percentage of immunity cells.

Keywords

• Blood parameters
• Laying hens
• Medical plants
• immunity level
• performance