EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DIETARY ENERGY SOURCES OF LAYING HENS RAISED UNDER COLD CONDITIONS ON BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Abstract

This study evaluated how different dietary energy sources impact blood biochemistry in laying hens exposed to cold. The experiment took place at the College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, from January 6, 2025, to March 31, 2025. Researchers used 108 Lohmann Brown hens, 25 weeks old, divided into four treatments with three replicates each, and nine hens per replicate. The treatments were as follows: T1: Control group (basal diet without any addition; T2: Sunflower oil at 2 kg per 100 kg of diet; T3: Soybean oil at 2 kg per 100 kg of diet; T4: animal fat at 2 kg per 100 kg of diet.

No significant differences were found in the concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), total protein, albumin, or globulin in blood samples. The control group showed a significant increase in the activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxide value (PV), and free fatty acids (FFA). Significant differences (P≤0.05) were also observed in the concentrations of very low-density lipoproteins (vLDL), triglycerides, glucose, and cholesterol, with treatment T4 yielding more favorable outcomes than the other treatments. In conclusion, birds fed animal fat exhibited increased resistance to oxidative stress, higher protein concentrations, and improved immune function.