Effect Of Gypenia Powder Added To Feed On Performance,Egg Quality,Serum Biochemical Indexes And Caecum Microflora Of Laying Hens

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different proportions of Gynostemma pentaphyllum powder on production performance,egg quality,serum biochemical parameters and cecal microflora of laying hens.Though these studies to provide theoretical and practical basis for the popularization and application of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in animal husbandry.300 chickens at 1-day-old with the same batch and healthy and similar body size of Jingfen-Ⅱ were randomly divided into 3 groups containing 5 replicates of 20 birds each.From 1st week,chickens in the control group were fed a basal diet,and those in experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% and 1.0% of Gynostemma pentaphyllum powder.All the chickens with food and water ad libitum.The pre-test period is 1 week and the test period is 34 weeks.The egg weight,egg production and feed consumption were counted every 2 weeks.When the layers were 29 weeks old(laying peak period),20 fresh eggs were randomly selected from each group,and the Haugh unit,egg yolk cholesterol concentration,egg yolk color,egg shape index,egg weight,egg yolk ratio,eggshell thickness were measured.And then,In 29 weeks old,18 layers were randomly selected from each group for blood sampling under the pterygopalatine,serum was collected,and serum biochemical indicators were determined.Three healthy hens were randomly selected from each group of 8 weeks old and 29 weeks old.The cecal microflora was subjected with 16 s rRNA gene sequencing.The results are as follows:(1)Production performance for 2-34 weeks: The effect of adding Gynostemma pentaphyllum on the growth performance of laying hens was not significant(P > 0.05),but at the age of 14-18 weeks,the body weight and food consumption in 0.5% Gynostemma powder added group were lower than control group and 1.0% Gynostemma pentaphyllum added group.The trend of the egg production curve indicates that the 0.5% Gynostemma powder addition has an effect on increasing egg production for laying hens before the peak of laying.(2)Egg quality at 29 weeks of age(laying peak period).When the amount of Gynostemma pentaphyllum powder was 1.0%,the Haugh unit was significantly increased(P <0.05),the egg yolk cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased(P < 0.05),and the egg yolk color(a)was significantly increased(P < 0.01).In the group added with 0.5% Gynostemma powder,the egg weight increased significantly(P < 0.05);but there was no significant difference in the egg yolk color(b,L),egg shape index,egg yolk ratio and eggshell thickness(P>0.05).(3)Serum biochemical levels at 29 weeks of age(laying peak period).When the amount of Gynostemma pentaphyllum added was 0.5%,the total cholesterol(T-chol)content decreased significantly by 25.93%(P < 0.05),the triglyceride(TG)content decreased significantly by 40.91%(P < 0.05);the amount of Gynostemma powder was 1.0%,T-chol content and TG content decreased by 23.05% and 37.76%,respectively(P < 0.05).Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total protein(TP),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),serum calcium(Ca)and serum phosphorus(P)content in the experimental group There was no significant difference(P > 0.05).(4)Cecal microflora at 8 weeks and 29 weeks of age.Adding Gynostemma pentaphyllum powder to the diet of laying hens can significantly increase the diversity of cecal microorganisms,improve the structure of cecal microflora,reduce the pathogenic bacteria such as Prevotella and Sartre,and improve the colonization of beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria.The cecal microorganisms at 8-week-old of hens were increased with the change of the dosage,but there was no significant effect in 29-week-old laying hens.In conclusion,this study found that Gynostemma pentaphyllum could reduce feed-egg ratio,improve egg quality,improve cecum flora structure,and had no significant effect on liver function and serum Ca and P deposition in laying hens,and the effect of 0.5% Gynostemma pentaphyllum was more significant.Therefore,Gynostemma pentaphyllum powder can be used as a herbal medicine additive directly in the production of laying hens,thus laying a theoretical foundation and scientific basis for the research and promotion of Gynostemma pentaphyllum as a herbal medicine preparation in animal husbandry.