Effect of diet contains different levels of Trachyspermum copticum seed and Vitamin E on egg quality characteristics, performance and blood antioxidant status in laying hens

    In this study the effects of feeding Trachyspermum copticum seed and vitamin E on egg quality, hen performance and blood antioxidant status  were investigated. A total number of 216 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens at 70-week of age were randomly allocated to 6 treatments with 3 replicates in a complete randomized design. Laying hens were fed on the experimental diets, using four levels (0, 1, 2 and 3%) from Trachyspermum  copticum powder as natural antioxidant, in comparison to two levels of vitamin E (100 and 200 mg/kg diet) for 10 weeks. Results showed that increasing Trachyspermum copticum powder level from 0 to 30 g/kg of diet increased plasma antioxidant capacity (P<0.05) but reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content of serum (P>0.05). Results that Vitamin E supplementation had no significant effect on the MDA levels of serum but reduced their MDA levels, moreover significantly increased plasma antioxidant capacity, in comparison to the control group (P<0.05). All laying hens had similar laying rate, average egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion. Feed consumption of hens fed diets containing 1% Trachyspermum copticum powder  were significantly lower  than  the other group.  Experimental diet increased the yolk color in comparison to the control group (P<0.05). It would be concluded from this study that Trachyspermum  copticum could be used as natural antioxidant during laying period.