Effects Of Components Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula On Performance,egg Quality,Meat Quality And Gut Microbiota In Late-phase Laying Hens

Objective:This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of oregano essential oil and cinnamaldehyde on the production performance,egg quality,meat quality,fatty acid content and intestinal microbial composition of laying hens in the late laying period,exploring the feasibility of oregano essential oil combined with cinnamaldehyde to replace antibiotics in laying hens,which provided theoretical basis for antibiotic-free breeding of laying hens.Methods:A total of 350 58-week-old Jing Tint 6 laying hens were randomly divided into 5 groups,with 5 replicates per group and 14 chicken per replicate.The experiment contained 8 weeks and the treatments were designed as follows:1)a basal diet(control);2)a basal diet+5 mg/kg flavomycin(AGP);3)a basal diet+100 mg/kg oregano essential oil+20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde(EO1);4)a basal diet+200 mg/kg oregano essential oil+20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde(E02);5)a basal diet+300 mg/kg oregano essential oil+20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde(E03).The production performance,egg quality,meat quality and intestinal flora of laying hens were measured.Results:Oregano essential oil(OEO)with cinnamaldehyde could significantly increase egg production at 5-8,1-8 weeks(P<0.05),but had no significant effect on feed intake and FCR(P>0.05).OEO and cinnamaldehyde had no significant effect on egg shell thickness,shell strength,albumen height and Haugh unit(P>0.05),increased MUFA content in egg yolk without significant effect on SFA,UFA,PUFA,EFA,n-3 PUFA and n-6 PUFA(P>0.05).High doses of OEO and cinnamaldehyde promoted weight gain in laying hens.OEO and cinnamaldehyde had no significant effect on the shear force and protein content of pectoral muscles.Compared with AGP,low doses of oregano essential oil and cinnamaldehyde reduced drip loss in the pectoral muscles.OEO and cinnamaldehyde significantly increased the contents of palmitoleic acid(C16:1),UFA,MUFA,and n-3 PUFA,but had no significant effect on the content of other fatty acids.OEO and cinnamaldehyde could increase the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota and decreased the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio.Conclusion:200 mg/kg Oregano essential oil and 20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde could improve the production performance of laying hens in the late stage of laying,increased the content of MUFA in egg yolk,improve the nutritional value of eggs.300 mg/kg Oregano essential oil and 20 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde increased the content of unsaturated fatty acids in breast muscles,which the nutritional value and flavor was improved.