ABSTRACT
Aims: The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of herbal supplement on laying performance and antioxidant status of serum and egg yolk of laying birds. Study Design: The experiment employed a completely randomised design, all data generated were subjected to analysis of variance, P =0.05. Methodology: A total of ninety-six (26-week old laying birds) of Isa-brown laying birds were used in a 120-day feeding trial. The birds were assigned to 4 dietary treatments replicated eight times with 3 hens per replicate and were fed the control diet and diets supplemented with 5 g/kg garlic powder, 5 g/kg moringa leafmeal and 5 g/kg ginger powder as diets 2,3,4, respectively. The birds were fed with experimental diets for the 120-day period during which data were obtained on laying performance, internal and external egg qualities and antioxidant status of serum and egg yolk. Results: There was no significant difference in hen day production, feed intake in birds fed control diet and diets supplemented with herbs. Final live-weight and weight change decreased (p<0.05) with dietary herbal supplementation. Supplementation of diets with herbs resulted in a significant increase in egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell surface area compared to the control diet. The yolk weight and albumen weight were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the dietary herbal supplement. Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in the dietary herbal supplement and was maximised (288 µml-1) at diet 3 likewise, the egg yolk superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased (p<0.05) in the dietary herbal supplement and was maximised (9.21 µml-1) at diet 3. Conclusion: Diet supplemented with 5 g/kg moringa leafmeal gave optimum performance, 5g/kg moringa leafmeal may be used as feed additive to improve performance, egg qualities characteristics and antioxidant status of serum and egg yolk of laying birds.