Effect of Dietary Phytogenic and Probiotic Supplementation on Productive Performance and Immune Response of Inshas Laying Hens.

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Pedicoccus acidilactici as probiotic (P), chicory as phytogenic (C) and their interactions between them (P x C) on productive performance and immune response of Inshas laying hens. A total number of 720 chickens, 26 weeks old with nearly similar initial average weight were used in this study. Hens were randomly distributed into twelve experimental groups each of 60 birds. A factorial arrangement design (3x4) with three levels of probiotic (0, 0.5 and 0.1 g/kg diet) and four levels of chicory leaves powder (0, 5, 10 and 20 g/kg diet) and their interaction were tested for 24 weeks. Results obtained showed highly significant variation (p < 0.01) in averages of feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production rate (EPR) and egg mass at the most periods of the experiment and all over the experimental period due to all treatments applied, Insignificant variation were found in average body weight, feed intake and egg weight due to dietary levels of probiotic and chicory all over the experimental period, while the interaction between them showed highly significant variation (p < 0.01) in body weight and egg weight only. The best FCR (4.67. 4.64 and 4.03 g feed/g egg), EPR (53.35, 53.29 and 62.16 % hen/day) and egg mass (26.19, 26.22 and 30.10 g/hen/day) were found in birds fed diets supplemented with 1.0 g probiotic, 5 g chicory / kg diet and the interaction between (P2 x C1), respectively. Significant improvement (p < 0.05) in immune response toward antibody titers of Newcastle (ND) and Influenza (H9N2) due to dietary probiotic only. The highest values of relative economical efficiency were found 129.20, 281.39 and 270.14% were listed for diets containing 1.0 g probiotic, 5 g chicory /Kg diet and their interactions between the same levels, receptively. It could be recommended to use probiotic at a level of 1.0 g, chicory at level of 5 g /Kg diet and their interactions (1.0 g probiotic x 5 g chicory/Kg diet) to improve the productive performance, immune response and economical efficiency of Inshas laying hens.