The Effects of Different Levels of Costmary (<i>Tanacetum balsamita</i>) Medicinal Plant onPerformance, Egg Traits and Blood Biochemical Parametersof Laying Hens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of costmary(<em>Tanacetum balsamita</em>)medicinal plant on performance, egg traits, and blood biochemical parameters of laying hens. Hundred-eighty of Hi-line laying hens (W 36) from 46 until 58 weeks of age were used in a completely randomized design in five treatments and three replicates (12 birds per replicate). The treatment groups consisted of a control group (1) with no costmarysupplementation, and 2, 3, 4 and 5 experimental groups with 0.5%, %1, 1.5% and 2% of costmary,respectively. Using different levels of costmarysignificantly affected the performance, egg traits and blood biochemical parameters of laying hens (P<0.05). The highest and lowest change amounts of daily feed intake (113.47 g) and (99.10 g) were obtained in groups 3 and 1, respectively. The best yolk color index (5.5) was observed in group 3 by using 1% of costmaryand the highest Haugh unit (98.75), yolk weight (19.35 g) and albumin weight (36.91 g) were observed in group 5 by using 2% of costmary,whereas the highest percent of egg yolk index (44.66%) was observed in control group. The lowest amounts of blood triglyceride (82.05 mg/dL) and cholesterol (617.2 mg/dL) were observed in groups 5 by using 2% of costmary. The overall results showed that the use of 1.5% and 2% of costmary medicinal plant in the diets of laying hens had positive effects on their performance, egg traits, and bloodbiochemical parameters.