EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa L.) AND CINNAMON (Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.) ESSENTIAL OILS ON PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY OF LAYING HENS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) (BCEO) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.) essential oils (CEO) on yield performance, egg quality and eggshell bacterial contamination of laying hens. A total of 315 Atak-S, 28-weeks-old of age were randomly assigned to three groups with 5 replicates of 21 hens each and fed diets supplemented with 0.5 ml/kg feed black cumin and cinnamon essential oil respectively for 11 weeks. During the experiment performance parameters, egg external and internal quality characteristics and eggshell bacterial microbial contamination were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, CEO supplementation improved feed conversion rate and increased egg shell thickness (P