Effects of wheat bran, enzyme and probiotic on performance, egg quality traits and blood metabolites of laying hens

This experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of wheat bran, enzyme and probiotic on performance, egg traits, biochemical parameters and blood cells of commercial laying hens. A total of 384 Hi-line (W36) laying hens was used in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (2*2*2) with two levels of wheat bran (0 and 10%), two levels of combo multi-enzyme (0 and 0.05%) and two levels of probiotic protexin (0 and 0.005%).There were eight treatments, four replicates and 12 birds per replicate for a period of 12 weeks (65-76 weeks). Using 10% wheat bran in diets improved the egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass, feed conversion ratio and egg yolk color index (P<0.05).This treatment had no any significant effects on the amounts of feed intake, blood biochemical parameters and blood cells. Using enzyme decreased the amount of egg weight but with no significant effects on egg traits and blood metabolites. Using probiotic in the diet improved the performance and egg color index, but it had no significant effects on blood metabolites. Two way interactions between wheat bran and enzyme, between wheat bran and probiotic, between enzyme and probiotic, and three way interaction between wheat bran and enzyme and probiotic had significant effects on performance and egg traits but blood metabolites was not significantly changed. It could be generally concluded that, using 10% wheat bran with 0.05% of Combo multi-enzyme and 0.005% of probiotic (protexin) could improve the performance and egg traits without having effects on blood metabolites.