Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus L.) Could Alleviate Negative Effects of Stocking Density in Laying Hens

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to determine the effects of stocking density (SD, 5 or 7 layers/cage) and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) diet supplementation at four levels (0, 1.2, 6 12 g/kg feed) on performance, certain egg characteristics, serum, liver, yolk small intestine bacteria parameters in laying hens. experiment carried out over a period 8 weeks, with 192 Lohman Brown commercial hybrids 50-w-age. results showed that an increased SD reduced feed intake (FI; p 0.05) parameters. FI damaged ratio (p<0.01), improved production FCR (p<0.01). While serum total antioxidants (p<0.05), it elevated corticosterone (CORT) oxidant (TOS) (p<0.05). Tarragon found enhance immunoglobulin but decreased CORT TOS An raised malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001), liver (p<0.05) (p<0.001). MDA (p<0.001) E. coli Mesophilic Aerobic Bacteria counts were SD. mesophilic aerobic bacteria. It thus that, can be considered generally effective improving performance parameters, alleviating stress-induced negativities, reducing lipid peroxidation, regulating immune system controlling some intestinal microorganisms.