EFFECT OF ADDING DIFFERENT SOURCES OF PROBIOTICS TO DIETS CONTAINING OXIDIZED PALM OIL ON SOME PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN GIMMIZAH LAYING HENS

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different sources a probiotics (dry yeast, Aspergillus awamori or Lactic acid bacteria) as natural antioxidant agents to diets containing oxidized palm oil on some productive and reproductive traits, some blood components, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol and fatty acids profile, economic efficiency and relative economic efficiency of Gimmizah laying hens. A total number of 168 (126 females and 42 males) Gimmizah laying hens at 25 weeks of age were weighed and randomly distributed into six experimental groups; each group contained   28 birds (21 females and 7 males). The first group was fed a basal diet contains 16.29% crude protein, 2730 ME kcal/ kg diet. The second group was fed basal diet contained 2% oxidized dietary palm oil supplementation. While, the birds of the third, fourth and fifth groups were fed a diet of the second group, adding 1% of different sources of probiotics (dry yeast, Aspergillus awamori or Lactic acid bacteria), respectively. As for the sixth group, they were fed a diet of the second group with the addition of 0.5% of each of: dry yeast, Aspergillus awamori and lactic acid bacteria. The results showed a significant improvement (at the 0.05 level) in the production rate, number, egg mass and feed conversion rate by adding 0.5% dry yeast + 0.5% Aspergillus awamori + 0.5% lactic acid bacteria to the basal diet supplemented with 2% oxidized palm oil (group sixth). The sixth treatment birds also recorded the highest significant improvement in the quality of the eggshell (shell thickness and strength) and the highest value of the egg shape index at the age of 37 weeks. Significant improvement was also observed for some characteristics of egg yolk and Haugh units as a result of the additives used. It was found that the birds fed the diets supplemented with probiotics produced eggs with low cholesterol concentration, and the concentration of: total cholesterol, total triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein  in the blood serum was significantly decreased, while the concentration of high-density lipoprotein  was significantly increased in the blood serum of these birds. Saturated fatty acids decreased in egg yolk, while unsaturated fatty acids increased in all treatments added to probiotics, either alone or in combination, compared to the basal diets without or with oxidized palm oil. The addition of the probiotic mixture (the sixth treatment) led to a significant improvement in fertility and hatchability and a significant decrease in the percentage of embryonic mortality (early and later). Conclusion: The addition mixture of probiotics as (dry yeast, Aspergillus awamori or Lactic acid bacteria) as antioxidant agents had a positive effect on performance and reproductive traits of Gimmizah laying hens under experimental conditions