A total number of 150 Sinai laying hens and 15 cocks 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into three treatments, each containing 50 hens and five cocks in five replicates of 10 hens and one cock each. Ginseng was dietary supplemented with levels of 0, 150 mg and 300 mg/Kg of the diet, during the experimental period (24-48 weeks of age).
The overall results showed that there were no significant differences in body weight, weight gain, feed intake, egg shape index and yolk index values while, there were significant differences in egg production, egg mass, feed conversion, albumin%, shell% and Haugh unit values due to feeding laying hens on diets supplemented with ginseng as compared with the control diet, during the total experimental period (24-48 weeks of age). Also, there were an improvement in egg weight and shell thickness values due to feeding laying hens on diets supplemented with ginseng at early laying stage (24-32 weeks of age). While, at the periods 33-40, 41-48 and 24-48 weeks of age, data showed that there were no significant differences in the average values of either egg weight or shell thickness as compared with the control diet.
The results showed that there were no significant differences in blood profiles of total protein, albumin, globulin, LDL, glucose, AST, ALT phosphorus, T3 and testosterone values due to dietary supplementation with ginseng. Whereas there were significant differences in cholesterol and calcium values with increasing dietary ginseng supplementation level. Data showed that there were no significant differences in gizzard, liver and heart wt%. (relative to pre-slaughter weight), while, there were significant differences in carcass, giblets, dressing% (relative to pre-slaughter weight) as a result of dietary supplementation with ginseng. Semen quality was improved by supplementing ginseng to the layer diets as compared with the control diet also; fertility and hatchability percentages were significantly increased. Results showed an improvement in average values of net revenue, economical efficiency due to feeding laying hens on diets supplemented with ginseng.
In conclusion, results showed that supplementation of 300mg ginseng in Sinai laying hens diets improved laying hen performance; egg quality, some blood profiles, carcass characteristics semen characteristic, fertility, hatchability and economical efficiency.