Evaluation of Ruta graveolen, coriander and basil seed extracts as natural additives on productive performance, blood profiles and egg quality of White Leghorn layers

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of mixtures of Ruta graveolen (Rg)*coriander (C)*and basil (B) seed extracts on productive performance*blood profiles*egg quality and egg chemi-cal composition of White Leghorn (WL) layers. One hundred eighty WL layers at twenty- six weeks of age were randomly distributed to four treatments*each replicated three times with fifteen layers per replications in a completely randomized design and kept on a deep litter system for eight weeks. The treatments (T) were water containing mixtures of Ruta graveolen*coriander*and basil seed extract with the proportion of 0 ml (T1)*2 ml (T2)*4ml (T3)*and 6 ml (T4) per liter of water. The hen day egg pro-duction (HDEP) was significantly (P<0.05) higher for layers in T3 (50.75%). Serum cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels decreased significantly while*HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and globulin increased significantly (P<0.01) when compared with the control. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments in egg weight*albumen weight*yolk weight*shell weight and thickness. Generally; the mixtures of Rg*C*and B seed extracts in 4ml/1lt in drinking water could increase HDEP and egg quality and reduce serum cholesterol.