Pumpkin and garden cress seed oils as feed additives to improve the physiological and productive traits of laying hens

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding pumpkin (PK) and garden cress (GC) seed oils to laying diets, as nutraceuticals, on the physiological and productive performance of layers. A total of 360 hens, at 24 weeks of age, were randomly and equally assigned into four groups of nine replicates each (10 birds/replicate). The 1st group was fed the basal diet and was served as a control. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups were fed diets supplemented with 0.5% PK oil, 0.5% GC oil, and 0.25% PK oil + 0.25% GC oil, respectively. The experiment lasted eight weeks. According to the results, PK (0.5%) and GC (0.5%) seed oils, as well as their combination (PK 0.25% + CG 0.25%), had significant positive effects (p ≤ 0.05) on several biochemical parameters, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as some productive traits, such as egg production and egg mass of laying hens. They also positively affected (p ≤ 0.05) birds’ blood antioxidant parameters, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), and improved (p ≤ 0.05) some immunological response parameters, such as globulin, lymphocytes, and heterophils. Additionally, they enhanced (p ≤ 0.05) egg yolk fatty acids, such as oleic and linoleic. Therefore, we recommend adding PK and GC seed oils to laying diets as natural feed additives, either separately (0.5%) or in combination (0.25%+0.25%), to improve several physiological functions and productive traits of birds. HIGHLIGHTS PK and GC seed oils are natural feed additives for laying hens. PK and GC seed oils can improve birds’ antioxidative and immunological status. PK and GC seed oils addition has positive impacts on egg production and quality.