Marigold extract supplementation enhances laying performance in hens at peak production

Abstract

The present study his study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with Tagetes erecta (marigold) petal extract on the laying performance of White Leghorn hens during peak production. Twenty-four hens aged 25-35 weeks were randomly assigned to two dietary groups: a control receiving a basal diet and a treatment receiving 550 mg kg?¹ marigold extract for 56 days. Productive performance was assessed through hen-day egg production (HDEP %), egg mass (g hen?¹ day?¹), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Marigold supplementation improved HDEP (90.48±0.96 % vs 86.90±1.06 %), increased egg mass (46.70±0.78 vs 45.20±0.77 g hen?¹ day?¹), and significantly reduced FCR (p<0.001), without affecting feed intake. The results demonstrate that marigold petal extract enhances production performance and feed efficiency in layers, suggesting its potential as a sustainable phytogenic additive for poultry nutrition.