Effects of compound organic acidifiers on production performance, egg quality, serum biochemical indexes, and economic benefits of laying hens in late laying period.

The experiment aimed to explore the effects of compound organic acidifiers on the production performance, egg quality, serum biochemical indexes, and economic benefits of laying hens in the late laying period. Five hundred and forty 72-week-old Jingfen No.2 laying hens with similar body condition were selected and randomly divided into three groups (CON group, L-COA group, and H-COA group), with six replicates in each group and 30 hens in each replicate. Each group was fed the same diet. The CON group drank tap water throughout the whole process. The L-COA group and H-COA group added 0.10% and 0.15% compound organic acidifiers to the drinking water, respectively. The test period was 42 days. The results showed that compared to the CON group, the egg production rate and egg qualified rate of the L-COA group were significantly increased (P<0.05), the egg production rate, average egg weight, and egg qualified rate of the H-COA group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The eggshell strength and egg yolk score of the L-COA group were significantly improved (P<0.05). The serum low-density lipoprotein content and alanine aminotransferase activity in the L-COA group and H-COA group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The breeding profits of the L-COA group and H-COA group increased by 1.08% and 13.64%, respectively. The study indicates that adding compound organic acidifiers to the drinking water of laying hens during the late laying period has a positive effect on egg production efficiency, egg quality, serum biochemical indexes, and economic benefits, and the better effect is achieved when the added amount of compound organic acidifiers is 0.15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]