Effect of adding tributyrin in diet on egg production, egg quality, and gastrointestinal tract in laying hens after peak period

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing diet with tributyrin on productive performance, egg quality and gastrointestinal tract of laying hens during the post-peak period of egg production. In total, 384 Lohmann Brown-Classic hens aged 56 weeks were used for the 16-week experiment. The hens were divided into two groups, each group consisting of 8 replications of 24 hens each. Experimental diets were supplemented with tributyrin at the level of 0.00% (control diet) and 0.05%. Tributyrin supplementation significantly increased eggshell thickness (P < 0.01) and tended to increase eggshell weight (P=0.07). However, it had no significant effect on production performance, pH in each part of the gastrointestinal tract, small intestinal morphology, populations of E. coli and Lactobacillus spp. and short chain fatty acids concentrated in the caecum of laying hens. It was concluded that tributyrin supplementation in the diet improved the eggshell thickness after the peak rate of lay, although significant effects on egg production and the gastrointestinal tract were not observed.