Abstract
In this study, nano-silymarin (NSM) was produced and compared with powdered (PSM) and lecithinized silymarin (LSM) on performance and egg quality in late-phase laying hens. Egg quality was assessed using fresh eggs or those stored under different temperatures (25 or 5 °C) for a period of 28 days. Seventy 80-weeks Lohmann LSL-Lite hens were allocated to 7 treatments with 10 replicates for 12 weeks. Treatments included: (1) control diet without silymarin, (2) daily intake of 100 mg PSM/kg body weight (BW), (3) daily intake of 200 mg PSM/kg BW, (4) daily intake of 100 mg NSM/kg BW, (5) daily intake of 200 mg NSM/kg BW, (6) daily intake of 100 mg LSM/kg BW, and (7) daily intake of 200 mg LSM/kg BW. Scanning electron microscopy showed that NSM was produced with size ranges between 5.84-52.86 nm. Bird study showed that egg production, egg weight, and egg mass increased and feed conversion ratio decreased than the control by silymarin supplementation in any form (p < .05). Egg storage increased yolk weight, yolk and albumen pH, and malondialdehyde content and decreased albumen weight and Haugh unit than the fresh egg (p < .05). Silymarin treatment improved Haugh unit, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and pH of digesta (p < .05). Moreover, the effects of silymarin were more pronounced when converted to NSM or LSM and offered at the highest level (p < .05). Overall, diet supplementation with 200 mg/kg BW of NSM or LSM to improve hen performance and egg quality is asserted by our results. Highlights Egg storage increased the percentage of yolk, yolk and albumen pH, and malondialdehyde concentration. Egg storage decreased the percentage of albumen and Haugh unit. Silymarin improved Haugh unit and apparent ileal nutrient digestibility. Silymarin improved intestinal morphology and pH of digesta. Silymarin as LSM and NSM had better effects on performance, diet digestibility, and intestinal health.
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