Effect of Allium Extract Supplementation on Egg Quality, Productivity, and Intestinal Microbiota of Laying Hens
by
, and
Paloma Abad
1
,
Natalia Arroyo-Manzanares
2,*,
Juan J. Ariza
1,
Alberto Baños
1 and
Ana M. García-Campaña
3,* 1
DMC Research Center S.L.U., Camino de Jayena n°82, Alhendín, E-18620 Granada, Spain
2
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
3
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva s/n, E-18071 Granada, Spain
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2021, 11(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010041
Submission received: 30 October 2020
/
Revised: 10 December 2020
/
Accepted: 18 December 2020
/
Published: 28 December 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Alternatives to Antimicrobial in Animal Feed)
Simple Summary
The growing interest in phytogenic products for use in feed, especially in the poultry sector, is mainly due to the improvement in the productivity parameters and gut microbiota modulation properties. For this reason, phytogenic products are becoming excellent candidates as alternatives to the use of antibiotics in animal production to mitigate the negative effects derived from their use. The aim of this study is to explore the ability of allium extract (containing garlic and onion), used as an ingredient in laying hen feed, to improve performance. The promising results obtained in the present study suggest that Allium spp. extracts had the potential to be used in feeding laying hens to improve productivity, without affecting egg quality, and to modulate the gut microbiota.
Abstract
The use of allium extract containing propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) as hen feed supplement was evaluated to demonstrate its positive effect on egg production and intestinal microbiota modulation. The study was carried out on 90 laying hens whose feed was supplemented with allium extract for 28 days. Nutritional properties of eggs were not affected, whereas an improvement in productivity was observed based on the increase weight of eggs. In addition, a modulator effect on intestinal microbiota was confirmed by the increase in Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., as well as by the reduction in Enterobacteriaceae populations. Finally, the preservation of egg composition was checked by monitoring the content of PTSO, using a new analytical method consisting of the use of solid phase extraction and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Consequently, based on current results, Allium spp. extract rich in organosulfur compounds such as PTSO added to the diet had a beneficial effect on the microbiota and would seem to be a possible alternative to increase productivity, while not affecting the biochemical composition of egg. However, further studies on the effects of allium extract as feed supplement are necessary.
