Effect of dietary supplementation with phytoestrogens sources before sexual maturity on productive performance of Mandarah hens
Abstract: This study was conducted to research the effect of dietary herb supplementation fenugreek or licorice on performance of Manadrah hens before the sexual maturity, during the period (16-28 weeks of age). A total number of 240 hens of local Mandarah strain at 16 week randomly divided into 5 groups, control diet (16.2% CP, 2725 ME/kg), control diet plus 0.1% or 0.5%, fenugreek and control diet plus 0.1% or 0.5% licorice. Each group contained three replicates (n= 16 birds/replicates). Supplementing the control diet with 0.5% fenugreek significantly increased body weight gain after 12 weeks of treatment. The average feed consumption was significantly lower in all herb treatment than the control except for 0.1% fenugreek. As for feed conversion ratio, the level of 0.5% licorice had the best feed conversion ratio in all the stages of the experiment. Sexual maturity was delayed in 0.5%fenugreek compared with other treatments. All herbal supplemented groups were superior to the control in production in all the stages of the experiment significantly. Moreover, fenugreek treatment tended to be more efficient than licorice in this aspect. A positive trend of herbal supplementation over control was observed in the data of egg mass. The relative weight of ovary was significantly increased comparing to the control especially with 0.5% fenugreek. The indicator of albumin quality of (Haugh unit) was significantly increased with 0.5% fenugreek treatment. Herbal supplemented treatments significantly reduced total cholesterol level in egg yolk and plasma. In conclusion, supplementing diets with either fenugreek or licorice up to 0.5% before the sexual maturity enhanced the performance of the laying hen and have provable effect in reducing cholesterol level in egg and plasma. Furthermore, fenugreek tended to be more effective than licorice in this aspect.
Publication year 2010
Pages 829-846
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الاسكندرية
serial title Egyptian Poultry Science
ISSN 1110-5623
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    يحيى زكريا عيد جامعة كفر الشيخ
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Flavourings. Layer chickens. Performance testing. Phytooestrogens. Production. Sexual maturity. Trigonella.
Publication Type Journal
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