Effect of adding different levels of milk thistle and purslane seed to the diet on performance, egg quality traits and composition of serum and egg yolk lipids in laying hens

Silybum marianum and purslane seed contains many compounds that can be useful for laying hens. This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of purslane and milk thistle seed into the diet of laying hens on performance, some egg quality traits and serum and egg yolk lipids. A 3 × 3 factorial experiment with three levels of purslane seed (0, 1 and 2%) and three levels of milk thistle seed (0, 1 and 2%) in the diet in a completely randomized design with 288 laying hens Hy-Line W-36 who were reared in cages, from 32 to 42 weeks with 9 treatments, 4 replicates and 8 hens in each replicate. Supplementation of 1% purslane seed and 2% milk thistle seed on diets, significantly increased egg weight (P<0.05). Also the use of 2% purslane seed significantly increased the egg production and egg mass of laying hens (P<0.05). The best feed conversion ratio obtained in hens receiving 2% purslane and 0% milk thistle which was significant compared to the control treatment (P<0.05). Shell thickness and haugh unit significantly improved by consumption of 2% milk thistle seed (P<0.05). Different levels of purslane seed and milk thistle, reduce the cholesterol and triglyceride in blood serum and yolk, but were not significant. The levels of blood HDL of birds showed a significant increase by adding 2% purslane seed (P<0.05). The results of this study suggest that the levels of 2 percent milk thistle and purslane seeds have beneficial effects on performance factors and level of 2 percent milk thistle seed improves egg quality traits in laying hens.