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Received: 19 December 2021
|
Accepted: 18 April 2022
DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13729
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
POULTRY
Dietary supplementation of spirulina and canthaxanthin
boosts laying performance, lipid profile in blood and egg
yolk, hatchability, and semen quality of chickens
Fawzy Ismail
1
|Khalil Sherif
1
|Yasser Rizk
2
|Montaha Hassan
2
|
Aml Mekawy
3
|Khalid Mahrose
4
1
Department of Poultry Production,
Agriculture College, Mansoura University,
Mansoura, Egypt
2
Animal Production Research Institute,
Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of
Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
3
Department of Poultry Production,
Agriculture College, Damietta University,
Damietta, Egypt
4
Department of Animal and Poultry
Production, Faculty of Technology and
Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig,
Egypt
Correspondence
Khalid Mahrose, Department of Animal and
Poultry Production, Faculty of Technology and
Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig
44511, Egypt.
Email: ostrichkhalid@zu.edu.eg
Abstract
This study examined the impacts of dietary spirulina (SP) and canthaxanthin (CX)
supplementation to laying hens on reproductive performance and cock's semen
quality evaluation. Three hundred and sixty of indigenous Sinai chickens (300
hens + 60 cocks), 48‐weeks‐old, were randomly divided into five treatments; a
control and four supplemented (0.6 g SP mg/kg, 0.8 g SP mg/kg, 6 mg CX/kg diet,
and 8 mg CX/kg diet) with six replications of 10 females and 1 male per treatment
for laying trial and 1 male for semen evaluation. The animals were fed with
experimental diets for 12 weeks. Supplementing 6 mg CX/kg diet led to an increase
in the final body weight and egg production traits, while 8 mg CX/kg diet resulted in
an improving feed conversion ratio. Supplementation of 0.6 g SP mg/kg or 6.0 mg
CX/kg diet resulted in the highest egg production. The heaviest egg weight and egg
mass were induced by 0.8 g SP mg/kg. Eggs laid from hens fed 0.6 g SP/kg diet had a
higher concentration of cholesterol than those fed 0.8 g SP/kg and those fed 6.0 and
8.0 mg CX/kg. Cocks fed 6 mg CX/kg and those fed 0.8 g SP/kg diet had the greatest
sperm concentration. The supplementation of 0.8 g SP mg/kg diet or both 6 and
8 mg CX/kg diet enhanced hatchability. So, dietary spirulina (0.8 mg/kg) and
canthaxanthin (6 mg/kg) supplementation to Sinai laying hens and cocks could be
used to improve productive and reproductive and performance.
KEYWORDS
canthaxanthin, egg production, hatchability, semen quality, Spirulina
1|INTRODUCTION
The challenge in the feed industry is presently focused on the practice
of biological elements as health,productive and reproductive enhancers
(Hafez & Attia, 2020; Mahrose et al., 2019; Rizk et al., 2019). High
hatchability of marketable chicks is the main purpose of the hatcheries
industry, which interprets their high viability, growth rate, and breast
meat yield, and better feed conversion ratio (Abd El‐Hack et al., 2019;
Abu Hafsa et al., 2019; Farghly et al., 2015; Mahrose et al., 2016).
Spirulina is a natural feed additive that can be used in poultry
nutrition (Aljumaily & Taha, 2019; Islam et al., 2021; Islam et al.,
2020). Spirulina platensis is blue‐green algae and have been used for
years as a food source due to its excellent nutritional profile and high
carotenoid content. Spirulina contains high protein (55%–65%) and
includes all essential amino acids (El‐Bahr et al., 2020; Hajati &
Zaghari, 2019; Hassan et al., 2021; Michalak & Mahrose, 2020). It has
health benefits (Ahammed et al., 2017; Farag et al., 2015), immuno‐
stimulatory impacts, and antiviral occupation (Khan et al., 2021;
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr. 2022;1–9. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jpn © 2022 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
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1
Michalak & Mahrose, 2020) and could reduce heat stress (Hajati
et al., 2020; Hassan et al., 2021). Spirulina enhances immune
function, reproduction, and increase growth because it's rich in
nutrients such as vitamins, amino acids, gamma‐linoleic acid,
phycocyanins, tocopherols, chlorophyll, and B‐carotenes (Aljumaily
& Taha, 2019). S. platensis has some talented biological activities such
as antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti‐inflammatory (Farag
et al., 2015). Using Spirulina in hen's diets achieved superior
productive and reproductive performance (Mobarez et al., 2018),
boosted egg yolk colour (Sakaida, 2003) as well as improved egg
fertility (Abouelezz, 2017; Michalak & Mahrose, 2020).
Carotenoids, as CX, are mainly essential to poultry species,
where pigmentation quality is indicative of a bird's general fitness
level (Rosa et al., 2012). Carotenoids have antioxidant capabilities,
which are effective in protecting tissues from oxidative stress
(Weber et al., 2013). Canthaxanthin is a naturally red‐orange
carotenoid (β‐Carotene‐4,4''‐dione) that belongs to the xanthophyll
group and existing in bacteria, algae, and some fungi (Surai, 2012).
Canthaxanthin owns high antioxidant activity, which has been well
documented in vitro model systems (EFSA, 2013;and2014)aswell
as in animal experiments in vivo (Weber et al., 2013; Zhang et al.,
2011), due to its ability to scavenge single molecular oxygen
and quench other free radicals. Canthaxanthin is necessary
carotenoid that might efficiently deposit in egg yolk when
supplemented with the diet (Singh et al., 2012). It's one of the
most powerful lipid‐soluble antioxidants (Damaziak et al., 2018;
Weber et al., 2013). The presence of CX can undoubtedly and
efficiently help in lessening oxidation reactions in different tissues
and in chick embryos (Surai et al., 2001). In an egg, CX is removed
from the vitellus to the developing embryo and disseminated in
numerous organs and tissues (Rosa et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2011)
within which it would help protect the developing chick from
oxidative damage, especially during the sensitive periods of
hatching and early post‐hatch life (Robert et al., 2007). Canthaxan-
thin enhances serum total antioxidant capacity and performs as
anti‐carcinogenic mediator (Singh et al., 2012).
Comparing the effects of the two supplementations (SP
and CX) on layer hens is scarce. Therefore, the contemporary
investigation aimed to examine the consequences of dietary SP
and CX supplementations (as natural and synthetic sources of
antioxidant capacity) to Sinai laying hens on their productive and
reproductive performance and cocks’testis semen quality and
testes weight.
2|MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research work was carried out at El‐Serw Poultry Research
Station, Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), Ministry of
Agriculture, Egypt. All processes were executed concurring to the
Local Experimental Animal Care Board and permitted by the ethics of
the institutional committee of the faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura
University, Mansoura, Egypt.
2.1 |Birds, management, and investigational
scheme
A group of 180 of indigenous Sinai (Native Egyptian strain) chicken
(300 hens + 60 cocks) at 48‐weeks‐old were taken, weighed, and
randomly divided into five experimental treatments (60 hens + 12
cocks each). In the laying trial, each treatment contains six
replicates (10 hens + 1 cock), while in semen evaluation trial, each
treatment contains six cocks. All birds were reared in littered floor
under the same managerial, hygienic, and environmental condi-
tions. All birds were housed in pens (150 cm width × 200 cm length)
supplied with manual feeders and automatic nipples under normal
climatic conditions (20–24°C and 60%–65% RH). Feed (mash form)
and water were accessible ad libitum through the tentative period.
Lighting schedule was 16L:8D. The tentative phase continued for
12 weeks. The investigational groups were in this manner: Birds of
the first treatment were fed a diet without any supplement
(control). The second and thirdtreatmentswerefedthediet
supplemented with Spirulina by 0.6 and 0.8 g/kg diet respectively
(Hajati et al., 2020). The fourth and fifth treatments were fed the
diet supplemented with canthaxanthin by 6 and 8 mg/kg diet
respectively (Damaziak et al., 2018). The diet was prepared
consistent with NRC (1994) recommendations, while computed
evaluation as stated by feed composition Tables for animal
and poultry feedstuffs used in Egypt (2001) as indicated in
Table 1.S. platensis powder was prepared in The National Institute
of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt as indicated by Soni et al.
(2019). Canthaxanthin 10% was provided by Guangzhou, Juyuan
Bio‐Chem (Canthaplus
®
10S; Lot no.: RS1809A0231).
2.2 |Productive performance traits
Live body weight and feed consumption (g) were recorded for each
replicate per treatment all over the investigational interval, egg
number and egg weight were daily recorded, egg production (%= rate
of lay × number of birds), egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) as
feed consumed (g)/egg mass (g) were estimated.
2.3 |Egg Lipid profile
During 58–60 weeks of age, 45 eggs (9/treatment), in each week,
were haphazardly selected to verify egg lipid profile as yolk lipids
content incorporating, egg cholesterol (Richmond, 1973), triglycer-
ides (AOAC, 2000) and total antioxidant capacity (Koracevic
et al., 2001).
2.4 |Semen evaluation
Thirty cocks (6/treatment) were retained in pens (50× 50 cm)
and chosen on the foundation of an optimistic response to
2
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ISMAIL ET AL.
dorso‐abdominal massage (Kammer et al., 1972) for unnatural
gathering of semen. Semen was gathered two schedules a week
throughout the investigational interval. After gathering, semen
ejaculates were immediately exposed to appraise ejaculate volume,
mass motility, and spermatozoa concentration and viability. Semen
volume was determined in millilitres utilizing categorised assortment
plastic tubes. Mass motility was valued by putting a small droplet of
diluted or undiluted semen on a slide and directly assessed underneath
the light objective microscope (10X) (Attia et al., 1995;Etches,1996).
Sperm concentration was assessed by operating haemocytometer with
1:200 dilution rate and computed with the next principle: Sperm
concentration (mm
3
)=N× 50 × 200; where, N= total of sperms per
five large squares of haemocytometer (Hackett & Macpherson, 1965).
At 60 weeks of age, the other six cocks/treatment (2/replicate) were
taken, and slaughtered. After slaughter and complete bleeding, testes
were separated and weighed and their relative weights were
calculated as a percentage of live body weight.
2.5 |Blood biochemicals
At the end of the trial, three blood samples per replicate in each
treatment were pulled out in examination tubes, placed horizontally for
10 min to coagulate and centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 15min to obtain
the serum, and conserved in a deep freezer at −18°C pending the time
of assessment. Serum total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides,
high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL), low‐density lipoprotein‐
cholesterol (LDL) as well as antioxidant status (total antioxidant
capacity; TAC) and egg yolk cholesterol, triglycerides, and TAC were
verified by expending profitable kits (obtained from Bio‐diagnostic) as
stated by the makers' instructions. Globulin concentration was obtained
by the difference and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio was acquired.
2.6 |Incubation performance
During the investigational interval, fertility and hatchability percentages
for eggs were calculated. The hatching eggs (60 eggs/treatment in each
week during 58–60 weeks of age) were accumulated for 3 days, and
were stored at 15–18°C and 70%–80% relative humidity (RH) and then
were incubated (Econom Machine) and candled at the seventh day of
incubation. Eggs were incubated at 37.5°C and with 60% RH up to 18
days of incubation. During the last 3 days of the incubation, eggs were
subjected to 37.0°C and 70% RH. A number of fertile and infertile eggs
and eggs with dead embryos were detected. Fertility (%) was estimated
as a proportion of a number of fertile eggs to the number of total set
eggs. Hatchability (%) was computed as a proportion of the number of
healthy hatched chicks as a ratio of fertile eggs. Embryonic mortality (%)
was assessed as; (number of dead chicks × 100)/number of total eggs.
2.7 |Statistical evaluation
The achieved data were statistically evaluated by operating one‐
way analysis of variance consistent with the General linear Model of
SPSS (2008). Significant alterations were checked by the Tukey test.
The subsequent model was expended: Y
ij
=μ+T
i
+e
ij
,where:Y
ij
=an
observation, μ= overall mean, T
i
= impact of treatment (i=1, 2,
3…..5) and e
ij
= investigational accidental error. The experimental
unit used for incubation performance was the replicate.
3|RESULTS
The outcomes presented in Table 2exhibited that FCR, egg production
(%), egg weight, and egg mass were significantly (p< 0.01) fluctuated
among the investigational groups. Birds consumed a diet supplemented
TABLE 1 Composition and calculated analysis of the control diet
Ingredients % Layer diet Male diet
Yellow corn 61.57 71.50
Soybean meal (44%) 17.00 18.50
Wheat brain 6.70 6.00
Corn gluten meal (60%) 4.50 –
Di‐calcium phosphate 1.39 1.35
Limestone 8.16 2.00
Vit.& Min. premix 0.30 0.30
Sodium chloride 0.37 0.30
DL‐methionine 99% 0.01 0.05
Total 100.00 100.00
Calculated analysis
a
Crude protein (%) 16.50 14.57
ME (Kcal/Kg) 2700 2888
Ether extract (%) 3.00 3.00
Crude fibre (%) 3.50 3.65
Calcium (%) 3.40 1.14
Available phosphorus (%) 0.40 0.39
Lysine (%) 0.70
Methionine (%) 0.34 0.33
Methionine + cysteine (%) 0.62 0.58
Sodium 0.16
Note: Each 1 kg of the Vit and Min. premix contains (manufactured by
Agri‐Vit Company, Egypt): Vitamin A 3.3 MIU, Vit. D 0.7 MIU, Vit E 3.3 g,
Vit. K 2 0.7, Thiamin 0.33 g, Riboflavin 1.7 g, Pyridoxine 0.5 g, Niacin 10 g,
Vit. B12 3.3 mg, Pantothenic acid 3.3 g, Folic acid 0.5 g, Biotin 17 mg,
Choline chloride 83 g, Manganese 20 g, Zinc 17 g, Iron 10 g, Copper 3.3 g,
Iodine 0.33 g, Selenium 0.033 g, Cobalt 0.033 g, and carrier CaCO3 to
1000 g.
a
According to Feed Composition Tables for animal and poultry feedstuffs
used in Egypt (2001).
ISMAIL ET AL.
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3
with 0.8 SP showed the lowest FCR; while those fed diet supplemented
with 0.6 mg SP mg/kg exhibited the highest ratio. Egg weight was
recorded as the highest value for hens fed diet supplemented with 0.8 g
SP mg/kg diet compared with other treatments during the experimental
period. Also, egg mass was differed (p< 0.05) among treatment groups
during the experimental period. The highest value of egg mass was
recorded for hens fed diet supplemented with 0.8 g SP/kg as compared
with other treatments during the entire experimental period. However,
final body weight and feed intake were not significantly changed.
The obtained findings (Table 3) indicated that the dietary inclusion
of SP and CX had significant (p< 0.01) influences on egg yolk
cholesterol, triglycerides, and total antioxidant capacity. Eggs laid from
hens fed 0.6g SP/kg diet had a higher concentration of cholesterol
than those fed 0.8 g SP/kg and those fed 6.0 and 8.0 mg CX/kg. There
was significant alteration between eggs laid from hens fed the control
diet and those fed 0.6 g SP/kg. The lowest level of egg yolk
triglycerides (0.07 mg/dl) was observed in the group of hens got
0.8 g SP mg/kg diet when compared with their counterparts. Hens fed
the control diet had the greatest level of total antioxidant capacity,
while those consumed 0.8 mg CX/kg diet had the lowest level.
The current outcomes clarified that sperm concentration was
promoted (p< 0.05) by dietary inclusion of SP and CX compared
with the control (Table 4). The highest sperm concentration was
recorded for cocks fed diet supplemented with 6.0 mg CX/kg diet
and those consumed diet supplemented with 0.8 g SP/kg. Regard-
ing viability and mass motility, the highest percentages were
noticed in cocks fed 6.0 mg CX/kg, while the lowest one was seen
inthecocksfedthecontroldiet.Ejaculatevolumeandrelative
weights of testes were not significantly varied due to dietary
treatments (Table 4).
The achieved results revealed that dietary inclusion of SP and CX
caused significant (p< 0.01 and 0.001) variations in blood serum
biochemicals at 60 weeks of age among the investigational groups
(Table 5). Supplementing different levels of SP to laying hens diet
significantly (p< 0.001) increased blood serum total protein and
albumen, while the reverse occurred when supplementing CX as
compared with the control group. A significant (p< 0.001) increase in
serum globulin was observed by birds fed a diet of a high level of SP
and CX with insignificant differences from the control. However, hens
fed a diet supplemented with 8 mg CX/kg had the lowest A/G ratio.
There were non‐significant alterations among those fed 6.0 mg CX/kg
and birds consumed the control diet and those fed 0.6 g SP/kg. Serum
total cholesterol was significantly reduced in hens fed diet supplemen-
ted with 8mg CX/kg as compared with the control group. Hens
TABLE 2 Effect of spirulina and canthaxanthin on the reproductive performance of Sinai laying hens during the experimental period
(48–60 weeks of age)
Measurements
Experimental treatments
SEM pValueControl
Spirulina, g/kg diet Canthaxanthin, mg/kg diet
0.6 0.8 6.0 8.0
Live body weight, g
Initial body weight 1567 1538 1533 1564 1542 5.92 0.339
Final body weight 1583 1553 1548 1580 1557 5.98 0.107
Feed intake (g/day/bird) 123 123 123 123 123 0.57 0.98
Feed conversion ratio 3.58
ab
4.11
a
3.29
b
3.46
ab
3.50
ab
0.067 0.029
Egg production % 66.4
a
57.9
b
67.8
a
67.0
a
66.4
a
0.81 0.001
Egg weight (g) 51.9
b
51.6
b
55.0
a
53.1
b
52.9
b
0.33 0.001
Egg mass (g/hen) 2892
b
2511
c
3141
a
2986
b
2954
b
49.65 0.001
Note:
a–c
Means in the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different. A number of the experimental units/treatments: Six replicates.
Abbreviation: SEM, standard error of means.
TABLE 3 Effect of dietary spirulina and canthaxanthin on fat profile of egg yolk of Sinai laying hens at 60 weeks of age
Measurements
Experimental treatments
SEM pValueControl
Spirulina, g/kg diet Canthaxanthin, mg/kg diet
0.6 0.8 6.0 8.0
Cholesterol (mg/g) 0.159
ab
0.168
a
0.149
b
0.146
b
0.153
b
0.001 0.003
Triglycerides (mg/g) 0.102
b
0.116
ab
0.070
c
0.108
ab
0.122
a
0.003 0.001
Total antioxidant
capacity (Mm/g)
0.392
a
0.254
d
0.354
b
0.274
c
0.202
e
0.014 0.001
Note:
a–c
Means in the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different.
Abbreviations: rep., replicate; SEM, standard error of means.
4
|
ISMAIL ET AL.
consumed diet supplemented with 8mg CX/kg had the greatest
triglycerides, while the reverse occurred in birds of the control and
those fed 0.6 g SP/kg. Dietary inclusion of SP and CX slightly increased
HDL concentration and lowered LDL concentrations than the control
diet. Hens consumed diets enriched with 6 and 8 mg CX/kg showed the
lowest concentrations of TAC in comparison with their counterparts
(Table 5).
Dietary inclusion of different SP or CX levels resulted in
improvements (p< 0.001) in hatchability of set or fertile eggs and a
reduction (p< 0.01) in embryonic mortality as compared with the
control (Table 6). However, fertility (%) was not varied.
4|DISCUSSION
The current work focused on the implications of dietary inclusion of SP
and CX on the performance of laying hens, lipid profile in blood serum
and egg yolk, hatchability, and semen quality of cocks. Inclusion of SP
and CX showed favourable changes in productive and reproductive
performance of laying hens and cocks.
The improved results of laying performance may be attributed to
the presence of specific functioning ingredients in SP like phyco-
cyanin, the covalently related chromophore with phycocyanobilin,
which is involved in the antioxidant and radical hunting achievement
of phycocyanin (Al‐Batshan et al., 2001; Michalak & Mahrose, 2020).
The collected conclusions are in good synchronisation with those
illustrated by Mariey et al. (2012) who realised that the inclusion of
0.20% SP in hen diets proceeded egg production, egg weight, and egg
mass. Moreover, Mobarez et al. (2018) reported that supplementing
hen diets with SP showed the greatest egg production, egg weight,
and egg mass. Damaziak et al. (2018) observed that hens consumed a
diet supplemented with up to 6 ppm of CX enhanced laying rate, egg
weight, and FCR. Cho et al. (2013) indicated that supplementing CX
with 2.1 mg/kg diet enhanced egg production of brown egg layers.
However, Garcia et al. (2002) and Zhang et al. (2011) stated that
using CX up to 6 mg/kg diet for laying hens did not affect egg
TABLE 4 Effect of dietary spirulina and canthaxanthin on semen quality of Sinai cocks at 60 weeks of age
Measurements
Experimental treatments
SEM pValueControl
Spirulina,g/kg diet Canthaxanthin mg/kg diet
0.6 0.8 6.0 8.0
Sperm
concentration ×10
6
8.56
c
10.3
b
11.0
a
11.56
a
9.86
b
0.29 0.001
Ejaculate volume (ml) 0.380 0.360 0.500 0.440 0.360 0.033 0.396
Viability, % 66.6
e
75.6
d
79.2
c
95.4
a
86.4
b
3.4 0.001
Mass motility 2.86
c
3.5
b
3.5
b
4.3
a
3.86
b
0.17 0.036
Testes weight, % 2.01 1.65 1.78 1.32 1.10 0.24 0.82
Note:
a–c
Means in the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different.
Abbreviation: SEM, standard error of means.
TABLE 5 Effect of dietary spirulina and canthaxanthin on some blood serum constituents of Sinai laying hens at 60 weeks of age
Measurements
Experimental treatments
SEM pValueControl
Spirulina, g/kg diet Canthaxanthin, mg/kg diet
0.60 0.80 6.0 8.0
Total protein (g/dL) 5.45
ab
5.5
abc
5.75
a
5.28
bc
5.04
c
0.063 0.001
Albumin (g/dL) 2.33
a
2.42
a
2.39
a
2.40
a
1.82
b
0.061 0.001
Globulin (g/dL) 3.11
ab
3.07
ab
3.36
a
2.87
b
3.22
ab
0.042 0.011
A/G ratio 0.74
ab
0.78
ab
0.71
b
0.83
a
0.56
c
0.024 0.001
Cholesterol (mg/dL) 138.5
a
138.5
a
136
a
135.9
a
130.3
b
0.85 0.001
Triglycerides (mg/dL) 65.0
c
67.5
c
70.0
b
68.0
b
74.7
a
0.87 0.001
Total antioxidant
capacity (mmol/L)
0.96
a
0.94
a
0.83
a
0.49
b
0.64
b
0.048 0.018
HDL‐C (mg/L) 50.8
c
55.2
b
54
b
57.2
a
52.0
c
0.84 0.01
LDL‐C (mg/dL) 74.7
a
69.8
b
68.0
bc
65.1
cd
63.1
d
1.1 0.001
Note:
a–e
Means in the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different.
Abbreviations: A/G ratio, albumin/globulin ratio; HDL‐C, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL‐C, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; sam, samples
(18 samples: Six replicates and each replicate has three samples); SEM, standard error of means.
ISMAIL ET AL.
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5
production traits. On the other hand, Abouelezz (2017) and Hajati
et al. (2020) concluded that the different dietary SP levels (0.1%,
0.3%, and 0.5%) had no significant effects on the laying performance
of Japanese quail. As well as, Zhang et al. (2011), Rosa et al. (2012),
and Ren et al. (2016) observed non‐significant differences in egg
weight and FCR due to dietary inclusion of CX or SP, sequentially.
These miscellaneous results manifest the source and the dietary
inclusion level (Abu Hafsa et al., 2019;El‐Bahr et al., 2020).
Eggs laid from hens fed 0.8 g SP mg/kg and those fed 6.0 and
8.0 mg CX/kg diet recorded the lowest values of cholesterol and
triglycerides in egg yolk when compared with their counterparts
and this outcome may be outstanding to the sterols of marine algae
(Al‐Harthi & El‐Deek, 2012a). SP has high antioxidant attributes
due to its content of beta‐carotene zeaxanthin, phycocyanin, and
allophycocyanin (El‐Bahr et al., 2020), and that was reflected on TAC
content in egg yolk. The lesser levels of egg yolk cholesterol and total
lipids were linked to their lessened levels in the blood of hens fed
SP‐comprising diets (Mariey et al., 2012; Zahroojian et al., 2013). The
existing findings agree with those of Sakaida (2003) who showed that
the dietary supplementation of SP to laying hens decreased
cholesterol content in egg yolk. Mariey et al. (2012) reported that
there were substantial decreases in yolk cholesterol and total lipids as
the level of dietary SP supplementation was increased. AL‐Harthi and
EL‐Deek (2012b) stated that supplementation of brown marine algae
in laying hen diets significantly decreased egg yolk cholesterol. Egg
antioxidant fortifications are established chiefly on vitamin E and
carotenoids; whereas their levels in the egg yolk rely on their
concentration level in hen diets (Surai, 2012). CX accumulation in the
egg yolk is 2.25 ppm per ppm of dietary CX (Umar Faruk et al., 2018).
On the reverse with our findings, Zhang et al. (2011) concluded that
dietary inclusion of CX resulted in an enhancement of the antioxidant
status of the egg yolk of broiler breeders. There are several factors
influencing the findings obtained in the diverse reports including,
algae source, season, geographical location, preparation method and
levels, species, physical and physiological conditions (Al‐Harthi &
El‐Deek, 2012a, 2012b).
In the present work, dietary inclusion of SP (0.8 g/kg) and CX
(6.0 mg/kg) enhanced sperm concentration, viability and mass
motility. In rabbits, dietary seaweed supplementation at 2% reduced
sperm concentration, percentage of live sperm, and ejaculate volume
(Okab et al., 2013). Due to that CX is belonging to carotenoids, which
have great oxygen restoration capability, it represent a tool to reduce
oxidative stress (Damaziak et al., 2018; Triques et al., 2019), and
enhances the number of spermatozoa (Mahmoodpour et al., 2017).
The existing results correspond with those obtained by Ferreira
(2010) who stated that dietary CX supplementation to the White
Plymouth Rock roosters resulted in an increase in sperm motility and
concentration and a decrease in sperm morphological anomalies.
Owing to their membrane structure (Phospholipids), sperm cells of
male broiler breeders are susceptible to lipid peroxidation, which
impacts their fertilising ability (Triques et al., 2016). The same authors
showed that antioxidant diet supplementation resulted in high testes
weights and a high percentage of normal sperm cells in male broiler
breeders older than 50 weeks, but the other characteristics of semen
did not significantly differ.
The proliferation of total protein and albumin may be out-
standing to that SP is valuable in protein and involves all of the vital
amino acids (Zahroojian et al., 2013). The significant results in serum
lipid profile could be an indication of the hypolipidemic influence of
SP on plasma cholesterol lessening (Farag et al., 2015). Pankaj and
Varma (2013) demonstrated the beneficial influences of consuming
SP as dietary supplementation in avoiding or controlling hyperglycer-
idemia, hypercholesterolaemia, and hyperlipidemia activities by
reducing the level of blood total lipids and triglycerides. Spirulina
has the competence to inhibit cell impairment by covering both
enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidant protection scheme that
neutralise the impacts of Reactive Oxygen Species and keep the cells
from their harmful conflicts under different circumstances (Farag
et al., 2015). Spirulina and canthaxanthin were documented to apply
antioxidant occupation (Hassan et al., 2021; Ren et al., 2016; Rosa
et al., 2012). Our findings indicated that dietary inclusion of CX
improved antioxidant ability and depressed TAC in laying hens. Total
antioxidant capacity is the measure of the total of free radicals
hunted by an assessment liquid, being expended to appraise the
antioxidant capacity of biological tests (Rubio et al., 2016). Similar
findings were also reported by Mobarez et al. (2018) who found that
dietary SP reduced serum cholesterol and increased TAC in laying
hens. Our findings are in contrary to those found by Abouelezz
(2017) who indicated that SP levels lessened serum cholesterol levels
compared with the control in laying Japanese quail. The latter author
TABLE 6 Effect of dietary spirulina and canthaxanthin on hatching traits of eggs from Sinai laying hens at 60 weeks of age
Measurements
Experimental treatments
SEM pValueControl
Spirulina, g/kg diet Canthaxanthin, mg/kg diet
0.60 0.80 6.0 8.0
Fertility % 95.26 95.56 97.73 97.03 96.63 0.4 0.196
Hatchability of set eggs % 84.49
d
88.88
c
91.22
b
93.36
bc
91.16
b
0.89 0.001
Hatchability of fertile eggs % 88.72
d
93.04
c
93.37
bc
96.24
a
94.37
b
0.8 0.013
Embryonic mortality % 11.28
a
6.96
b
6.63
b
3.76
d
5.63
c
0.8 0.003
Note:
a–c
Means in the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different.
Abbreviations: rep., replicate; SEM, standard error of means.
6
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ISMAIL ET AL.
added that SP had insignificant effects on serum TAC. As well as,
Zhang et al. (2011) indicated that dietary inclusion of CX increased
serum TAC of laying hens.
In the current work, hatchability (%) was improved by about
5.24% and 8.47% of fertile eggs by supplementing 0.8 g SP mg/kg
and 6.0 mg CX/kg diet for laying hens in comparison with the
control group respectively. Spirulina can be used to inhibit
peroxidation because of its high content of protein, essential fatty
acids, vitamins, carotenoids, and antioxidants and that caused an
increase in fertility and hatchability (Abouelezz, 2017; Aljumaily &
Taha, 2019;El‐Bahr et al., 2020). Birds fed diets supplemented
with SP and/or CX showed high percentages of fertility and
hatchability due to the role of these supplementations as
antioxidants (Abu Hafsa et al., 2019;Michalak&Mahrose,2020;
Triques et al., 2016, 2019). The current results are in line with
those obtained by Farag et al. (2015) who reported that SP
increases fertility and hatchability rates in poultry species.
Mobarez et al. (2018) found that feeding layer hens on diets
supplemented with high SP level (3 g/kg diet) resulted in an
increase in fertility (94.4%) and hatchability percentages (84.2%)
when compared with those fed the control diet. Also, Mariey et al.
(2012) and Abouelezz (2017) stated that fertility and hatchability
percentages of eggs produced from birds fed SP diets were
significantly higher than that of the control group. Aljumaily and
Taha (2019) injected Japanese quail eggs with SP extract and
found a significant increase in hatchability. Canthaxanthin can be
professionally accumulated and allocated in the egg yolk and
embryos in poultry species (Zhang et al., 2011), and that may the
reason to increase hatchability and lower embryonic mortality in
the present study, where CX prevents poultry embryos from being
exposed to stress by antioxidant enzyme synthesis during
embryonic development (Surai, 2012). The egg yolk and embryo
are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which cause them to be
susceptible to lipid peroxidation (Surai et al., 2001). Rosa et al.
(2012) found a decrease in the number of infertile eggs and an
increase in hatchability percentage when supplementing 6 mg CX/
kg to broiler breeder diets. Similarly, Rosa et al. (2012) showed that
CX reduced embryo mortality. However, Weber et al. (2013)
observed insignificant differences in fertility among the treat-
ments, but the hatchability of fertile eggs was deprived by
overdosing of CX (higher than 25 mg/kg). On the other hand,
Zhang et al. (2011) stated nonsignificant variations in fertility and
hatchability of broiler breeder eggs due to CX dietary inclusion.
5|CONCLUSION
Conclusively, dietary SP (0.6–0.8 mg/kg) and CX (6–8 mg/kg)
supplementation to laying hens and cocks could be useful strategies
to improve their productive, reproductive performance. Finally,
dietary SP and CX supplementation to laying hens and cocks is
highly recommended as a strategy to enhance their performance.
ANIMAL WELFARE STATEMENT
We confirm that the ethical policies of the journal, as observed on the
journal's author directions page, have been monitored. All exercises
were concerned coherent with the Resident Investigational Animal
Care Board and acceptable by the ethics of the institutional board of
Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt, and join the
European Union (EU) standards on the safety of animals used for
scientific practices.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available on
request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly
available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
ORCID
Khalid Mahrose http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9917-5921
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How to cite this article: Ismail, F., Sherif, K., Rizk, Y., Hassan,
M., Mekawy, A., & Mahrose, K. (2022). Dietary
supplementation of spirulina and canthaxanthin boosts laying
performance, lipid profile in blood and egg yolk, hatchability,
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and Animal Nutrition,1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13729
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