Effects of different levels of Zizyphora (Zizyphora tenuior L.) powder on performance, egg traits and blood metabolites of laying hens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of using different levels (0, 0.05, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent) of Zizyphora (Zizyphora tenuior L.) powder on the performance, egg traits and blood metabolites of laying hens. In a completely randomized design, 180 laying hens (Hy- line W36 strain) in 5 treatments and 3 replicates (with 12 hens in each replicate) from 65 until 77 weeks of age were used. The results showed Zizyphora powder (ZP) has significant effects on the performance, egg traits, and blood triglyceride level in the laying hens (P<0.05). The highest amounts of egg production, egg mass, daily feed intake, egg specific gravity, yolk were obtained from 2 percent ZP diet. color index, and egg albumin percentages, the optimum feed conversion ratio and the lowest amount of feed cost per kilogram of egg yield resulted when the hens received 2 percent ZP diet. This supplement also reduced the blood triglyceride, but did not affect the blood cells levels. the lowest amount of blood triglyceride was resulted by using 1.5% of Zizyphora powder. Different levels of Zizyphora powder did not have any significant effects on blood cells levels. It was concluded that using of Zizyphora powder in the diets, could improve the laying hens performance.