Effects of epidermal growth factor on production performance,egg quality,and jejunum growth and development of laying hens

SHEN Shuang; LAN Zhongqi; LÜ Xiangyu; WANG Jiaxiang; LI Peng

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.01.012

Abstract：The experiment aimed to study the effects of epidermal growth factor(EGF)on the production performance,egg quality,and jejunum growth and development of laying hens.A total of 240 White Leghorn laying hens,aged 260 days with similar body weight(about 1.25 kg)and similar egg production rate(about 80％),were randomly divided into four groups,each with five replicates,and each replicate consisting of 12 hens.The control group was fed a basal diet,while groups A,B,and C were fed basal diets supplemented with 200,400,and 800 mg/kg EGF,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days,and the formal test period was 42 days.The results showed that compared to the control group,the average egg weight,eggshell strength,and albumen height of hens in groups A,B,and C were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The feed-to-egg ratio in group C was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),while the egg production rate and Haugh unit were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared to the control group,the villus height and width of the jejunum of hens in groups B and C were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the expression level of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)protein in the jejunum epithelial cells of hens in group B was significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the expression level of cysteine aspartyl protease-3(Caspase-3)protein was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The study indicates that the addition of EGF to the diet can improve the production performance of laying hens,enhance egg quality,and have certain effects on the morphological structure of the jejunum and apoptosis-related proteins,among which 400 mg/kg EGF group has the best comprehensive effect.