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Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the egg quality, immune response, zinc retention, and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production
Author(s) -
Abedini M.,
Shariatmadari F.,
Karimi Torshizi M. A.,
Ahmadi H.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.12871
Subject(s) - malondialdehyde , zinc , methionine , superoxide dismutase , zoology , chemistry , meal , albumin , biology , medicine , endocrinology , food science , biochemistry , antioxidant , organic chemistry , amino acid
Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐ NP s) on the performance, egg quality, Zn retention, immunity responses, superoxide dismutase activity ( SOD ), egg malondialdehyde ( MDA ) content, and serum parameters in laying hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, and 12 birds within each group. Experimental diets included a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet (without Zn supplementation) and a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg of Zn‐oxide, ZnO‐ NP s, and Zn‐methionine. The results indicated that egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the Zn‐methionine and ZnO‐ NP s groups ( p < .05). Also, eggshell thickness and shell strength increased in the ZnO‐ NP s group as compared with the other groups ( p < .05). Moreover, Zn supplementation decreased egg loss ( p < .05). There were significant differences among treatments in Zn deposition in tibiotarsus, liver, pancreas, eggs, and excreta ( p < .01). Antibody titre, heterophil (%(, and phytohemagglutinin ( PHA ) were significantly higher in birds fed with Zn‐supplemented diets ( p < .05). In treatments supplemented with ZnO‐ NP s and Zn‐methionine, the SOD activity in the liver, pancreas, and plasma was greater as compared with the other treatments ( p < .05). The MDA content in eggs was significantly reduced in groups supplemented with Zn ( p < .01). Moreover, dietary Zn supplementation significantly affected serum total protein, albumin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity, and Zn level ( p < .05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ZnO‐ NP s can improve the performance of laying hens. Therefore, ZnO‐ NP s can enhance zinc absorption in the intestine of aged layers and can be a more suitable source of zinc than regular Zn‐oxide in diets.