Effect of grape seed extract on production performance, egg quality and serum biochemical indexes of laying hens in the late peak egg laying period.

The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the effect of GSE on the production performance, egg quality and serum biochemical indexes of laying hens in the late peak egg laying period. A total of five hundred and forty 53-week-old Jingfen No. 2 laying hens with similar weight, egg production rate and good health were randomly divided into three groups, with six replicates in each group and 30 laying hens in each replicate. The laying hens in group A were fed a basal diet, and GSE was added 200 and 300 mg/kg to the basal diet of group B and group C, respectively. The pre-test period was seven days and the positive trial period was 42 days. The results showed that compared with group A, the average egg weight of the group C was significantly increased (P<0.05), the egg qualification rate of the group B was significantly increased (P<0.05), the eggshell strength of the group B and group C was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein height of the group C was significantly increased (P<0.05), the serum total protein content of the laying hens in the group B increased significantly (P<0.05), the serum high density lipoprotein content of the laying hens in the group C (P<0.05), and the serum IgA content of laying hens in the group C was significantly increased (P<0.05). The study indicates that adding GSE to the diet of laying hens in the late peak egg laying period can improve eggshell strength and egg qualification rate, reduce the feed to egg ratio, improve immune function, and increase the economic benefits of breeding, and the effect of adding 300 mg/kg GSE is obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]