Date of Award
5-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Ahmed Ali
Committee Member
Dr. Mireille Arguelles-Ramos
Committee Member
Dr. Jeryl Jones
Committee Member
Dr. William Bridges
Abstract
Natural feed additives like oregano essential oil and synbiotic (prebiotic and probiotic) are options with great potential for increasing the health and welfare of laying hens. The first two studies explored the effects of dietary oregano essential oil (EOO) on performance, gastrointestinal traits (GIT), blood lipids, antioxidant capacity, and egg quality in laying hens from 0 to 40 weeks of age. The third study was conducted to examine dietary EOO on layers on the shelf life and fatty acid profile of eggs. The final study aimed to examine the effects of a dietary synbiotic on agonistic behavior, plasma and brain monoamines, stress parameters, and cecal microbiota counts via modulation of the MGB axis.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Alexa, "The Influence of Feed Additives on Laying Hen Health, Welfare, and Egg Quality" (2024). All Dissertations. 3596.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3596
Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0004-0372-7392