Dietary Phytogenic Extracts Favorably Influence Productivity, Egg Quality, Blood Constituents, Antioxidant and Immunological Parameters of Laying Hens: A Meta-Analysis

The present study aimed to assess the impact of dietary phytogenic extracts on laying hen productivity, egg quality, blood constituents, antioxidant, and immunological parameters through a meta-analytical approach. A total of 28 articles (119 data points) reporting the influence of dietary phytogenic extracts on the productive performance, egg quality, blood constituents, immunological, and antioxidant parameters of laying hens were embedded into a database. Statistical analysis was performed using a mixed model, with different studies treated as random effects and phytogenic extract levels treated as fixed effects. This meta-analysis revealed that dietary phytogenic extracts quadratically (p < 0.05) improved egg production and egg mass as well as decreased (p < 0.05) the feed conversion ratio (FCR) with no adverse effect on egg weight and egg quality. Feed intake and egg yolk percentage tended to increase linearly (p < 0.1). Total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) declined quadratically (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased linearly (p < 0.001), and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased linearly (p < 0.01), with increasing levels of dietary phytogenic extract. In addition, immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total superoxide dismutase (TSOD) increased linearly (p < 0.05) in line with the increase in dietary phytogenic extract level. It was concluded that the inclusion of phytogenic extracts in the diet of laying hens had a positive effect on productive performance, feed efficiency, egg mass, immunity, and antioxidant activity without interfering with egg quality. The optimum level of feed photogenic extract for egg production and feed efficiency was determined to be around 300 mg/kg feed.

Allium-Based Phytobiotic for Laying Hens' Supplementation: Effects on Productivity, Egg Quality, and Fecal Microbiota

The poultry industry is constantly demanding novel strategies to improve the productivity and health status of hens, prioritizing those based on the holistic use of natural resources. This study aimed to assess the effects of an Allium-based phytobiotic on productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and ninety-two 14-week-old Lohmann Lite LSL hens were allocated into an experimental farm, fed with a commercial concentrate with and without the Allium-based phytobiotic, and challenged against Salmonella. Productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota were monitored for 20 weeks. Results showed that the phytobiotic caused an increase on the number of eggs laid (p < 0.05) and in the feed conversion rate (p < 0.05); meanwhile, egg quality, expressed as egg weight, albumin height, haugh units, egg shell strength, and egg shell thickness remained unchanged (p > 0.05), although yolk color was decreased. Fecal microbiota structure was also modified, indicating a modulation of the gut microbiota by increasing the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes but reducing Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. Predicted changes in the functional profiles of fecal microbiota suggest alterations in metabolic activities that could be responsible for the improvement and maintenance of productivity and egg quality when the phytobiotic was supplemented; thus, Allium-based phytobiotic has a major impact on the performance of laying hens associated with a possible gut microbiota modulation.

Impacts of onion and cinnamon supplementation as natural additives on the performance, egg quality, and immunity in laying Japanese quail

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary dried onion and dried cinnamon supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, serum lipid profile, and immune responses of Japanese quails. A total of 120 laying quails aged 12 weeks were randomly allocated into five groups (24 birds each). Each treatment was replicated 4 times with 6 quails in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were as follows: control (basal diet only, without any supplementation); tylosin (basal diet + 100 mg tylosin/kg diet); onion (basal diet + 800 mg dried onion/kg diet); cinnamon (basal diet + 800 mg dried cinnamon/kg diet); and onion + cinnamon (basal diet + mixture of 400 mg each of dried onion and dried cinnamon/kg diet). Cinnamon supplementation improved laying rate, egg numbers, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio of quails compared to the control treatment, followed by tylosin supplementation. Egg shell percentage was higher (P < 0.05) in quails that consumed the onion + cinnamon mixture than those fed only the cinnamon supplemented diet. Serum total lipid content, egg yolk lipids and egg yolk cholesterol were lower (P < 0.05) in birds fed with the supplemented diets than that of the control group. On the other hand, dietary supplements did not affect levels of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels. The dietary supplementation with onion and/or cinnamon reduced serum malondialdehyde levels compared to control treatment. The foot web index was higher (P < 0.05) in the onion treatment than in the other experimental groups. The dried cinnamon and the mixture of dried onion + dried cinnamon treatments showed higher (P < 0.05) immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels than the control treatment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with natural plant materials such as dried onion and cinnamon can be used to improve the laying Japanese quail performance, egg quality, and immunity.

Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds, Health Functions, and Safety Concerns of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a common vegetable, widely consumed all over the world. Onion contains diverse phytochemicals, including organosulfur compounds, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and saponins. The phenolic and sulfur-containing compounds, including onionin A, cysteine sulfoxides, quercetin, and quercetin glucosides, are the major bioactive constituents of onion. Accumulated studies have revealed that onion and its bioactive compounds possess various health functions, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anticancer, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, hepatorenal protective, respiratory protective, digestive system protective, reproductive protective, and immunomodulatory properties. Herein, the main bioactive compounds in onion are summarized, followed by intensively discussing its major health functions as well as relevant molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the potential safety concerns about onion contamination and the ways to mitigate these issues are also discussed. We hope that this paper can attract broader attention to onion and its bioactive compounds, which are promising ingredients in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals for preventing and managing certain chronic diseases.

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

This study examined the effects of Mentha arvensis (MA) and Geranium thunbergii (GT) extracts in drinking water on the production performance, egg quality, cholesterol content of egg yolk, proximate composition, and sensory qualities of egg and immunity parameters in laying hens. Ninety-six 28-week-old Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly divided into four dietary treatments for 16 weeks. The dietary treatments were (1) control, (2) T1 (0.01% 1 MA:1 GT), (3) T2 (0.05% 1 MA:1 GT), and (4) T3 (0.1% 1 MA:1 GT). Egg production increased significantly with increasing levels of MA and GT. The egg weight was increased in T2, and the feed intake was highest in T2 and T3 (p < 0.05). The Haugh unit and egg shape index were significantly better in T3 and the control than with other treatments (p < 0.05). The content of yolk cholesterol was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in T2 and T3. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the egg proximate composition. A significant increase in the serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) concentration was observed in the birds fed plant extracts when compared to the control. On average, T2 and T3 showed significantly lower (p < 0.05) concentrations of NH3 gas from the feces as compared to the control. This study suggests that MA and GT supplementation could improve the laying performance, egg quality, and immunity, and decrease the egg yolk cholesterol content in a dose-dependent manner.

Effects of Phenolic-Rich Onion (Allium cepa L.) Extract on the Growth Performance, Behavior, Intestinal Histology, Amino Acid Digestibility, Antioxidant Activity, and the Immune Status of Broiler Chickens

The effect of phenolic-rich onion extract (PROE), as a feed additive, was evaluated on the growth, carcass traits, behavior, welfare, intestinal histology, amino acid ileal digestibility "AID%," and the immune status of broiler chicks for 35 days. A total number of 400, 1-day-old broiler chicks (45.38 g ± 1.35) were allocated to four different treatments with 10 replicates each (100 chicks/treatment) consisting of: T1, basal diet without additives (control treatment) (PROE0); T2, basal diet + phenolic-rich onion extract (1 g/kg diet) (PROE1); T3, basal diet + phenolic-rich onion extract (2 g/kg diet) (PROE2); and T4, basal diet + phenolic-rich onion extract (3 g/kg diet) (PROE3). An increase in the final body weight "FBW," bodyweight gain "BWG," and feed consumption was observed (P < 0.05) at different PROE levels. Also, the thymus and bursa percentages were increased in the PROE2 and PROE3 treatments (P < 0.05). The chicks fed on PROE supplemented diets had increased frequency of feeding and drinking and showed comfortable behavior (P < 0.05) with lesser aggression (P < 0.05). Additionally, an increase was observed in the antioxidant enzyme activity, phagocytic %, phagocytic index, and serum lysozyme activity in PROE supplemented treatments, with the best outcome reported in the PROE3 treatment (P < 0.01). IgM was increased in the birds fed with PROE2 and PROE3 diets (P < 0.01). PROE supplementation increased the AID% of lysine and methionine (P <0.01), PROE3 treatment increased the AID% of threonine (P < 0.05), and PROE2 and PROE3 treatments increased the AID% of leucine and isoleucine (P < 0.05). Besides, PROE2, and PROE3 treatments increased the villus height and width, mucosal thickness, and goblet cell count from the duodena, jejuna, and ilea (P < 0.05) compared to control treatment. Based on these results, we concluded that the dietary addition of phenolic-rich onion extracts can improve the growth rate of broiler chicken by improving the AID% of amino acids and intestinal histology. Also, it can improve the welfare, antioxidant enzymes activity, and immune status of the birds. Phenolic-rich onion extracts can be used as a natural growth promoter in the poultry feed for good health and improved performance.

Assessment of poultry egg liking scores using sighted and blind people

BACKGROUND

Of the 18 043 bird species, the eggs of only hen and quail are generally available to consumers. Thus people are deprived of the opportunity to benefit from the huge diversity of eggs offered by nature. Poultry eggs can vary in their color of albumen and yolk, smell, taste and texture. In this study, sighted and blind people were employed for sensory evaluation with the aim of determining the preferences of consumers toward hard-boiled and scrambled eggs of different species of birds, and whether the appearance of these eggs has an effect on the perception of other sensory impressions.

RESULTS

Sighted people differently evaluated the texture of both boiled and scrambled eggs as compared with blind people. This was mainly because blind people largely used their sense of touch for evaluation. All other attributes of boiled eggs were evaluated similarly by both groups of panelists, whereas those of scrambled eggs were evaluated differently.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results unequivocally demonstrated that differences in taste of scrambled eggs when served hot are easier to evaluate than those of boiled eggs. On the basis of ranking by the sensory panel, it was established that eggs of birds belonging to the order Galliformes are more preferred by consumers than those of duck and goose. By contrast, eggs of ostrich and emu are characterized by unfavorable sensory profiles; moreover, the albumen of boiled ostrich eggs has an unsightly appearance. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Genus Allium as Poultry Feed Additive: A Review

The genus Allium, belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae has been known since ancient times for their therapeutic potentials. As the number of multi-drug resistant infections has increased due to in-feed antibiotic usage in poultry, the relevance of alliums as feed additives has been critically assessed. Garlic and the other Allium species, such as onions, leek, shallot, scallion, and chives, have been characterized to contain a plethora of bioactive compounds such as organosulfur compounds, polyphenols, saponins, fructans, and fructo-oligosaccharides. Consequently, alliums have been validated to confer antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, immunostimulatory, gut homeostasis, and lipid- as well as cholesterol-lowering properties in poultry. This review intends to summarize recent progress on the use of edible alliums as poultry feed additives, their beneficial effects, and the underlying mechanisms of their involvement in poultry nutrition. Perspectives for future research and limitations are also briefly discussed.