title: Effects of adding aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris to diet on productive performance, egg quality characteristics, and blood biochemical parameters of laying hens reared under low ambient temperature (6.8 ± 3 °C).
abstract: A study was conducted using 144 laying hens to evaluate the effects of adding aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris to diets on productive performance, egg quality traits, and some blood parameters of laying hens reared under cold stress condition (6.8 ± 3 °C). The birds were randomly assigned to each of four dietary treatments (C, T1, T2, and T3) with six replicate cages of six birds. Diet inclusion of aqueous extract of T. terrestris at the rate of 10, 20, and 30 ml/Lit offered to groups T1, T2, and T3, respectively, while group C served as the control diet with no addition. Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg weight (EW), egg production (EP), and egg mass (EM) were evaluated during the 42-day trial period. The EP and EM increased, whereas FCR decreased (P < 0.001) in the hens fed the extract-included diet as compared to those fed the basal diet. The serum content of cholesterol decreased and the thickness of egg shell increased in the hens fed the T2 and T3 diet compared to those fed the basal diet. Overall from the results of the present experiment, it can be concluded that diet supplementation with aqueous extract of T. terrestris has beneficial effects on productive performance of laying hens reared under cold stress condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Imam Avenue, Kermanshah, Kermanshah, 6715685418, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Imam Avenue, Kermanshah, Kermanshah, 6715685418, Iran. torki@razi.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torki
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D032444:Tribulus
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Aqueous extract; Cholesterol content; Cold stress; Laying hens; Productive performance; Tribulus terrestris