The effect of Anethum graveolens on egg quality, some blood metabolites and hatchability in broiler breeder hens

Improvement of hatchability in aging broiler breeder has economic justification.
The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary Anethum graveolens essential oil on egg quality, some plasma metabolites and hatchability in broiler breeder hens.
A total number of eighty hens and eight cocks from Ross 308 strain of 105 weeks old were divided into four groups with two replicates within each (10hens 1cock). The diets were supplemented with out essential oil (Control) and with 10, 20 and 40 ml essential oil/100kg diets for four weeks.
There were no significant differences among the groups in Haugh unit and yolk index. While, there were significant differences in egg weight, egg shape index, shell thickness, shell ratio, yolk color and shell weight. Plasma triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and egg yolk cholesterol concentration were not influenced by dietary essential oil of Anethum graveolens. Whereas essential oil increased plasma cholesterol significantly, it also significantly decreased plasma glucose. Hatchability and fertility were positively affected by supplementation of essential oil in the diet.
Results of this study showed that supplementing diet with Anethum graveolens essential oil improved hatchability of total eggs set of broiler breeders.