Enteromorpha prolifera Supplemental Level: Effects on Laying Performance, Egg Quality,Immune Function and Microflora in Feces of Laying Hens

Effects of different supplemental levels of Enteromorpha prolifera on laying performance,egg quality,immune function,and microflora in feces of laying hens w ere studied in the present experiment.A total of ninety-six 42-w eek-old Highland brow n laying hens w ith similar laying rate w ere randomly divided into 4 groups w ith 8 replicates per group and 6 birds per replicate.Hens w ere fed diets supplemented w ith 0(control group),1%(group 1),2%(group 2) and 3% Enteromorpha prolifera meal(group 3).The experiment lasted for 28 days.The results show ed as follow s: dietary supplementation of Enteromorpha prolifera did not have significant effects on laying rate and average daily feed intake(P 0.05),but Enteromorpha prolifera significantly increased average egg w eight(P 0.05),and significantly decreased feed: egg(P 0.05). Shell thickness of group 3 w as significantly higher than that of control group.Shell calcium content and yolk color of the groups supplemented w ith Enteromorpha prolifera w ere significantly improved compared w ith control group(P 0.05),but yolk cholesterol content w as significantly reduced(P 0.05).Hens fed Enteromorpha prolifera-supplemented diets had higher serum antibody titers of New castle Disease and lymphocyte transformation rate of blood,and there w ere significant difference betw een groups 2 and 3 and control group(P 0.05).In groups 2 and 3,the number of Escherichia coli in feces was significantly reduced(P 0.01 and P 0.05),w hile the number of Bifida bacterium in feces w as significantly increased compared w ith control group(P 0.05 and P 0.01);in groups 1 and 2,the number of Lactobacillus bacterium w as significantly increased compared w ith control group(P 0.01 and P 0.05).In conclusion,the supplementation of Enteromorpha prolifera up to 1%-3% can improve laying performance,egg quality,immune function and microflora in feces of laying hens in different degrees.