Effect of Artemisia argyi powder on laying performance, egg quality and reproductive hormones of laying hens.

The study was to investigate the effect of different levels of Artemisia argyi powder on the laying performance, egg quality and reproductive hormones of Jinghong No.1 laying hens. A total of 1 000 healthy Jinghong No.1 laying hens aged 54 weeks were randomly divided into five groups, with 10 replicates in each group and 20 laying hens in each replicate. Laying hens in the control group were fed with a basal diet, and the Artemisia argyi powder groups were supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% Artemisia argyi powder, respectively. The pre-test period was 1 w, and the formal test period was 8 w. The results showed that the laying rate, average egg weight and average daily egg weight of laying hens in the 1.5% group and 2.0% group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the feed to egg ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The shell strength and Haugh unit of eggs in the 1.5% group and 2.0% group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The yolk color of eggs in the 1.0% group, 1.5% group, and 2.0% group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of estradiol and progesterone in the 1.5% group and 2.0% group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and T4 in the 1.0% group, 1.5% group and 2.0% group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The serum activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the 1.0% group, 1.5% group and 2.0% group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the serum content of malondialdehyde in the 1.5% group and 2.0% group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The experiment indicates that feeding appropriate amount of Artemisia argyi powder can significantly improve the laying performance and egg quality of Jinghong No. 1 laying hens and regulate the levels of reproductive hormones, and the appropriate addition level of Artemisia argyi powder is 1.5%~2.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]