The Effect of Different Levels of Zataria multiflora and Salvia officinalis Medicinal Plants’ Powder, Their Mixture and Probiotic on Egg Quality Traits, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Liver Histomorphological Changes in Laying Hens

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of Zataria multiflora, Salvia officinalis, the mixture of Zataria multiflora and Salvia officinalis as well as probiotic (Protexin®) on egg quality traits, blood biochemical parameters and liver histomorphological changes in laying hens. A test was performed using 225 Leghorn laying hens, after peak of egg production (42 weeks old), for 10 weeks. The birds were randomly assigned into 9 experimental treatments with 5 replicates and 5 birds in each. Experimental treatments consisted of a control group, 0.2 and 0.4% Zataria multiflora leaf powder, 0.2 and 0.4% Salvia officinalis leaf powder, 0.2 and 0.4 the equal mixture of Zattaria multiflora and Salvia officinalis and 0.005 and 0.01% probiotic (Protexin®). Our results indicated that using 0.4% of Zataria multiflora and Salvia officinalis leaf powder mixture marginally reduced the relative weight of liver (P=0.07), decreased serum activities of SGOT (P=0.08) and SGPT (P<0.05), and also increased hepatocytes color density (P<0.05) and HDL concentration (P<0.05). Feeding 0.4% of the medicinal plants mixture increased eggshell weight, slightly (P=0.06), and enhanced eggshell hardness (P<0.05), yolk color (P<0.05), and Haugh unit, significantly (P<0.05) during the second 35-day experimental period (48-52 weeks of age). Therefore, the present findings suggest that dietary inclusion of 0.4% mixture of powdered herbs of Zattaria multiflora and Salvia officinalis can improve the liver health indices, blood lipid profile and egg quality traits, such as eggshell hardness, yolk color index, and haugh unit compared to other medicinal plants levels or probiotic, markedly.