Effects of supplementing hen diet with Lavandula angustifolia and/or Mentha spicata essential oils on production performance, egg quality and blood variables of laying hens

Abstract

Background

Organic products of animals are getting more accepted by consumers. Using herbal additives may lead to more health animal products. In this research it is hypothesized that Lavandula angustifolia and/or Mentha spicata essential oils would be helpful to enhance production performance in laying hens.

Objectives

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Lavandula angustifolia and Mentha spicata essential oils on performance, egg traits and blood variables in laying hens.

Methods

144 Lohmann LSL‐Lite laying hens from 42 until 56 weeks of age were used in a completely randomized design in four treatments and six replicates (six birds per replicate). The treatments consisted of: (a) control group (basal diet), (b) basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg diet lavender essential oil (LEO), (c) basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg diet mint essential oil (MEO), and (d) basal diet supplemented with both LEO and MEO.

Results

Using LEO and/or MEO did not affect body weight changes, feed intake, egg weight, egg index, yolk index, Haugh unit, egg shell weight and egg shell thickness. Feeding LEO, individually or in combination with MEO, did not affect FCR compared with the control group ( p < .05), however, feeding MEO individually increased feed conversation ratio (FCR) compared to LEO and the control group during 42–56 weeks ( p < .05), as well as decreasing egg mass compared to LEO ( p < .05). Feeding LEO increased egg production compared to MEO and combination of MEO and LEO ( p < .05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, dietary supplemental MEO (250 mg/kg) may increase FCR, and LEO (250 mg/kg) is more effective than MEO (250 mg/kg) for egg production and egg mass purposes; besides MEO (250 mg/kg) negatively affected FCR compared with the control group. In addition, no specific beneficial effect of dietary supplemental MEO and/or LEO on the other measured variables was detected.

Abstract

Consumer pressure related to the potential development of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria has resulted in the development of non‐antibiotic feed additives that may also improve poultry performance. It is known that most of their properties are due to the essential oils and other secondary plant metabolites. Essential oils enhance production of digestive secretions, stimulate blood circulation, exert antioxidant properties, reduce levels of pathogenic bacteria and may enhance immune status. This paper shows that dietary supplemental Lavandula angustifolia essential oil have a favourable effect on egg production of laying hens compared to Mentha spicata essential oil or combined form.