A feed additive for laying hens, a feed for laying hens and a preparation method thereof

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of feed additives, and particularly discloses a feed additive for laying hens, a feed for laying hens and a preparation method thereof. The feed additive for laying hens specifically comprises the following components in parts by weight: 120-140 parts of ligustrum lucidum, 120-140 parts of angelica sinensis, 100-120 parts of chuanxiong rhizome, 100-120 parts of astragalus root, 80-100 parts of curcuma longa, 80-100 parts of tagetes erecta, 60-80 parts of hippophae rhamnoides, 60-80 parts of hippophae rhamnoides leaf, 60-80 parts of cuscuta chinensis, 60-80 parts of rhodiola rosea, 20-40 parts of cordyceps militaris and 30-50 parts of a stabilizer; the stabilizer is composed of zeaxanthin, glucosinolate and flaxseed gum in a weight ratio of 20-40:10-20:5-10. The feed additive for laying hens and the feed for laying hens provided by the technical scheme can obviously improve the egg production rate of the laying hens and obviously improve the quality of the eggs.

Description

A feed additive for laying hens, laying hens feed and its preparation method Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of feed additives, specifically to a feed additive for laying hens, laying hens feed, and a method for preparing the same. Background Technology

[0002] With the upgrading of consumption, the market demand for eggs, as an important source of protein, continues to increase. The poultry farming industry is developing towards large-scale and intensive operations, which places higher demands on feed efficiency and poultry health.

[0003] The nutritional composition of conventional feeds (such as corn and soybean meal) may not fully meet the needs of egg production, especially in terms of high egg production rate, egg quality, and immunity enhancement.

[0004] Therefore, research on feed additives for laying hens is a core aspect of the transformation and upgrading of the poultry industry. However, many feed additives struggle to simultaneously meet the dual demands of high egg production rates and high-quality eggs. Thus, a novel feed additive is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a feed additive for laying hens, laying hens feed, and a method for preparing the same.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a feed additive for laying hens, specifically comprising the following components in parts by weight: 120-140 parts of Ligustrum lucidum, 120-140 parts of Angelica sinensis, 100-120 parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 100-120 parts of Astragalus membranaceus, 80-100 parts of Curcuma longa, 80-100 parts of Marigold, 60-80 parts of Hippophae rhamnoides, 60-80 parts of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 60-80 parts of Cuscuta chinensis, 60-80 parts of Rhodiola rosea, 20-40 parts of Cordyceps militaris, and 30-50 parts of stabilizer; wherein the stabilizer is composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in a weight ratio of 20-40:10-20:5-10.

[0007] This application's technical solution, from the perspective of traditional medicine, considers Qi and blood as the key material basis for the body's growth, development, metabolism, and enhanced immunity. Abundant and harmonious Qi and blood are crucial for growth, development, and metabolism; therefore, the main focus is on Qi and blood. The liver and kidneys are key organs for reproduction; nourishing the liver and kidneys can promote ovarian development and repair the ovaries and reproductive tract. The addition of natural, biofunctional pigments ensures natural and harmless coloring of animal products.

[0008] Privet fruit: Nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens the lower back and knees, darkens hair, and improves eyesight. Modern pharmacological research shows that privet fruit has anti-liver damage effects. Studies have shown that privet fruit contains both estrogen-like and androgen-like substances, indicating that the same herb has a bidirectional regulatory effect.

[0009] Angelica sinensis: It has the function of regulating and nourishing blood. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Angelica sinensis can improve blood circulation, protect the cardiovascular system, improve coronary circulation, and protect the kidneys. Angelica sinensis also has the effect of nourishing blood. Angelica sinensis polysaccharides can activate macrophages, lymphocytes, etc. in the hematopoietic microenvironment through direct or indirect pathways. It can also stimulate muscle tissue, promote the production of hematopoietic regulatory factors, and thus promote the proliferation and differentiation of functional hematopoietic stem cells, granulocytes and macrophages, and stimulate bone marrow granulocyte-monocyte hematopoiesis.

[0010] Astragalus: Promotes blood circulation and tissue regeneration, replenishes qi and invigorates yang. It can increase red blood cell count, enhance anti-fatigue effects, and slow down natural aging. It can significantly promote the renewal of serum and liver proteins, increase spleen protein synthesis, and promote spleen cell proliferation. The spleen has a blood-filtration function, clearing aging blood cells (such as red blood cells), antigens, and foreign substances. The spleen can also store blood. These effects contribute to enhancing the physical activity of laying hens, prolonging their lifespan, promoting metabolism, and extending the egg-laying period. Astragalus can also enhance specific and non-specific immunity, preventing external pathogens from invading through the skin and resisting disease.

[0011] When angelica and astragalus work together, they can replenish both qi and blood, achieving a dual effect of tonifying both qi and blood.

[0012] Chuanxiong (Ligusticum striatum): It invigorates blood circulation, promotes qi circulation, dispels wind, and relieves pain; it is known as a qi-regulating herb in the blood. Chuanxiong also has anti-vitamin E deficiency effects, protecting chicks from nutritional encephalopathy caused by vitamin E deficiency.

[0013] Turmeric: Turmeric can resist liver damage, lower blood pressure and lipids, and relieve menstrual pain. Natural substances extracted from turmeric, such as turmeric extract, curcumin, volatile oil, curcuminone, as well as gingerene, borneol and sesquiterpene alcohols, have significant inhibitory effects on tumor cells. It also has a choleretic effect, which can increase the production and secretion of bile and promote gallbladder contraction.

[0014] Marigold: A source of natural pigments, marigolds are mainly used for pigment extraction. Its flowers can be used as a poultry feed additive to improve the color of egg yolks and poultry skin. It also has heat-clearing, detoxifying, phlegm-reducing, and cough-suppressing effects; it has a fragrance and can be used as a flavoring agent to improve the palatability of feed.

[0015] Sea buckthorn: Sea buckthorn is rich in amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and unsaturated fatty acids. Flavonoids have pharmacological effects such as treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, lowering blood lipids, lowering blood sugar, and cardioprotection. Polyphenols have antioxidant, cell-protecting, heart-protecting, and wound-healing effects. Vitamin C and vitamin E have significant anti-aging and antioxidant effects. Sea buckthorn leaves combine the palatability of herbaceous plants with the regenerative properties of woody plants, making them an ideal green plant feed material that can be developed into excellent livestock feed or feed additives.

[0016] Dodder seed: The dried, mature seed of dodder has the effects of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening essence, improving eyesight and calming the fetus. Its main chemical components include flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, fatty acids, steroids, and lignin compounds. The main chemical components of dodder seed play important roles in metabolic regulation, immune regulation, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, improving reproductive system function, promoting bone cell activity, regulating endocrine system function, lowering blood pressure, protecting the liver, and improving eyesight.

[0017] Rhodiola rosea: It invigorates qi and blood circulation, combats fatigue, improves tolerance to hypoxia, and promotes metabolism. Rhodiola rosea contains 35 trace elements, 18 amino acids, various vitamins, and anti-aging active superoxide dismutase. Its nutritional components are complete and well-balanced.

[0018] Cordyceps militaris: Neutral in nature and sweet in taste, it benefits the lungs and kidneys, stops bleeding, and resolves phlegm. Cordyceps militaris is rich in cordycepic acid, cordycepin, ergosterol, etc., which have the effects of dilating the trachea, sedation, antibacterial activity, and lowering blood pressure. Cordycepin has significant antagonistic or inhibitory effects on Bacillus subtilis, mouse ascites verrucae, human nasopharyngeal carcinoma KB cells, and human epidermoid verrucae Kela cells. Cordycepic acid can promote metabolism and diuresis; cordyceps polysaccharides can improve the liver's detoxification ability and play a liver-protective role. At the same time, Cordyceps militaris is rich in nutrients, with a protein content as high as 40.7%, containing 19 kinds of amino acids.

[0019] Zeaxanthin (dihydroxy-β-carotene): A dihydroxy derivative of β-carotene. The unique molecular structure of zeaxanthin gives it strong antioxidant properties, preventing the oxidation of lipids and vitamins in food, preserving its nutrients and flavor, and extending its shelf life. As a feed additive, zeaxanthin effectively improves animal nutrition, egg yolk color, and the color of poultry meat and skin. Furthermore, the oxygen-containing group on the two six-membered carbon rings in the zeaxanthin molecule gives it significant stability, preventing its conversion into vitamin A after absorption in the intestines and allowing it to retain its original color and molecular structure, thus exhibiting strong coloring ability. In poultry, zeaxanthin is deposited in the claws, beak, and subcutaneous fat, coloring the meat and improving carcass quality. In laying poultry, zeaxanthin is deposited in the yolk, giving it a yellow color, improving egg quality, and increasing its nutritional value.

[0020] Glycoterpenes are formed by the combination of sugar chains (such as glucose, galactose, etc.) and triterpenes or steroidal compounds (terpene aglycones) through glycosidic bonds; they can enhance immunity, have antioxidant effects, scavenge free radicals, and delay aging; at the same time, glycoterpenes have an inhibitory effect on pathogenic microorganisms; they have the function of regulating the endocrine system of laying hens, promoting the balanced secretion of hormones, and helping to improve egg production rate.

[0021] Flaxseed gum is a natural plant gum extracted from flaxseeds. It is a water-soluble polysaccharide. It has good thickening, stabilizing and emulsifying properties and is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber, which can improve intestinal health, improve nutrient absorption efficiency, and provide sufficient energy and nutrition for egg production.

[0022] This application utilizes a stabilizer composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum to explore the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine extracts and the stabilizer "zeaxanthin-glycoside-linseed gum" to investigate the effects of the compound on egg production rate and egg quality in laying hens. The results showed that the stabilizer and the traditional Chinese medicine extract have complex and diverse functions. Different stabilizers and different traditional Chinese medicines have different immune activation and regulatory mechanisms, and the immunomodulatory effects of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine extracts and stabilizers are multifaceted. Therefore, developing a highly efficient stabilizer-traditional Chinese medicine extract formulation is the technical challenge of this application.

[0023] This application utilizes a scientific combination of zeaxanthin, glycosides, flaxseed gum, and traditional Chinese medicine to form a multi-target synergistic network of "antioxidant-antibacterial-nutritional regulation-reproductive regulation," which significantly improves the production performance of laying hens and the quality of eggs, while reducing dependence on chemical additives, thus conforming to the trend of green farming.

[0024] Preferably, the feed additive for laying hens specifically comprises the following components in parts by weight: 125-135 parts of privet fruit, 125-135 parts of angelica sinensis, 105-115 parts of chuanxiong rhizome, 105-115 parts of astragalus root, 85-95 parts of turmeric, 85-95 parts of marigold, 65-75 parts of sea buckthorn, 65-75 parts of sea buckthorn leaf, 65-75 parts of dodder seed, 65-75 parts of rhodiola rosea, 25-35 parts of cordyceps militaris, and 35-45 parts of stabilizer.

[0025] Preferably, the stabilizer is composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides and flaxseed gum in a weight ratio of 25-35:12-18:6-9.

[0026] Preferably, the stabilizer is composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides and flaxseed gum in a weight ratio of 30:15:7.

[0027] Secondly, this application provides a method for preparing the aforementioned feed additive for laying hens, specifically comprising the following steps in sequence:

[0028] Take appropriate weights of privet fruit, angelica, chuanxiong, astragalus, turmeric, and marigold, add water and decoct to extract 2-4 times, then filter to discard the dregs, combine the filtrates, concentrate, dry to solid, pulverize and sieve to obtain Chinese herbal extract A;

[0029] Take appropriate weights of sea buckthorn, sea buckthorn leaves, dodder seed and rhodiola rosea, mix them, add ethanol aqueous solution to extract 2 to 4 times, then filter to discard the residue, combine the filtrates, concentrate, dry to solid, pulverize and sieve to obtain Chinese herbal extract B;

[0030] A stabilizer is obtained by mixing zeaxanthin, glycosides, and flaxseed gum in a certain proportion.

[0031] The feed additive for laying hens is obtained by thoroughly mixing Chinese herbal extract A and Chinese herbal extract B with Cordyceps militaris pulverized through an 80-mesh sieve and a stabilizer.

[0032] Preferably, the process parameters for each decoction and extraction are as follows: the amount of water used is 8 to 12 times the weight of the raw medicinal materials, and the decoction time is 150-210 minutes.

[0033] Preferably, the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are as follows: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 30-60 wt%, extraction temperature of 30-50℃, ethanol aqueous solution dosage of 8-12 times the weight of raw medicinal material, and extraction time of 60-180 min.

[0034] Preferably, the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are as follows: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 40-50 wt%, extraction temperature of 35-45℃, ethanol aqueous solution dosage of 8-12 times the weight of raw medicinal material, and extraction time of 90-150 min.

[0035] Thirdly, this application provides a poultry feed for laying hens, wherein the poultry feed contains the feed additives.

[0036] Preferably, the poultry feed is composed of the feed additive and the basal diet in a weight ratio of 0.1-0.3:100; the basal diet is composed of the following components in parts by weight: 70-80 parts corn, 10-20 parts soybean meal, 10-16 parts wheat bran, 0.6-1.2 parts soybean oil, and 1.5-2.5 parts fish meal.

[0037] In summary, the technical solution of this application has the following effects:

[0038] The feed additive for laying hens provided in this application has the following effects: promoting blood circulation and replenishing qi, nourishing the liver and kidneys, promoting protein synthesis, scavenging free radicals, and regulating reproductive system function. Multiple active ingredients in the herbal extracts have significant immune-enhancing effects, improving the disease resistance of laying hens, reducing the occurrence of diseases, and ensuring continuous egg production. The components in the stabilizer work synergistically with the herbal extracts to form a protective barrier against the invasion of external pathogens.

[0039] The use of the feed additives and feeds for laying hens provided in this application can significantly improve the egg production rate of laying hens and significantly improve the quality of eggs. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments, comparative examples and performance test results. These embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0041] Example

[0042] Examples 1-5

[0043] Examples 1-5 respectively provide a feed additive for laying hens, a feed for laying hens, and a method for preparing the same.

[0044] The difference between the above embodiments lies in the composition of the stabilizer, as shown in Table 1.

[0045] The preparation method of the feed additive for laying hens in the above embodiments is as follows:

[0046] Take 130g of Ligustrum lucidum, 130g of Angelica sinensis, 110g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 110g of Astragalus membranaceus, 90g of Curcuma longa, and 90g of Taraxacum mongolicum, mix them together, add water and decoct three times, then filter and discard the dregs, combine the filtrates, concentrate to a thick paste with a density of 1.15, dry to a solid state, pulverize and pass through an 80-mesh sieve to obtain herbal extract A; the process parameters for each decoction are: water volume is 10 times the weight of the raw materials, and the decoction time is 180min.

[0047] Take 70g of sea buckthorn, 70g of sea buckthorn leaves, 70g of dodder seed, and 70g of rhodiola rosea, mix them, add ethanol aqueous solution and extract three times in a sealed manner, then filter and discard the residue, combine the filtrates, concentrate to a thick paste with a density of 1.15, dry to a solid state, pulverize and pass through an 80-mesh sieve to obtain herbal extract B; the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 45wt%, extraction temperature of 40℃, ethanol aqueous solution volume of 10 times the weight of raw materials, and extraction time of 120min.

[0048] According to Table 1, zeaxanthin, glycosides, and flaxseed gum were mixed in proportion to obtain a stabilizer.

[0049] The feed additive for laying hens is obtained by thoroughly mixing Chinese herbal extract A, Chinese herbal extract B, 30g of Cordyceps militaris (crushed through an 80-mesh sieve), and 40g of stabilizer.

[0050] The preparation method of the egg-laying poultry feed in the above embodiments is as follows:

[0051] Preparation of the basic diet: Weigh out 75 kg of corn, 15 kg of soybean meal, 13 kg of wheat bran, 0.9 kg of soybean oil, and 2 kg of fish meal, and mix them evenly.

[0052] Mix 0.2 kg of feed additive with 100 kg of basal diet evenly to obtain poultry feed.

[0053] Table 1. Composition of stabilizers in Examples 1-5

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] Examples 6-13

[0057] Examples 6-13 respectively provide a feed additive for laying hens, a laying hens feed, and a method for preparing the same.

[0058] The difference between the above embodiments and Embodiment 3 is that the preparation methods of the feed additives for laying hens are different, as detailed below.

[0059] In Example 6: 120g of Ligustrum lucidum, 140g of Angelica sinensis, 100g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 120g of Astragalus membranaceus, 80g of Curcuma longa, and 100g of Marigold were mixed and extracted with water to prepare herbal extract A; 60g of Hippophae rhamnoides, 80g of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 60g of Cuscuta chinensis, and 80g of Rhodiola rosea were mixed and extracted with alcohol to prepare herbal extract B.

[0060] In Example 7: 140g of Ligustrum lucidum, 120g of Angelica sinensis, 120g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 100g of Astragalus membranaceus, 100g of Curcuma longa, and 80g of Marigold were mixed and extracted with water to prepare herbal extract A; 80g of Hippophae rhamnoides, 60g of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 80g of Cuscuta chinensis, and 60g of Rhodiola rosea were mixed and extracted with alcohol to prepare herbal extract B.

[0061] In Example 8: 125g of Ligustrum lucidum, 135g of Angelica sinensis, 105g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 115g of Astragalus membranaceus, 85g of Curcuma longa, and 95g of Marigold were mixed and extracted with water to prepare herbal extract A; 65g of Hippophae rhamnoides, 75g of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 65g of Cuscuta chinensis, and 75g of Rhodiola rosea were mixed and extracted with alcohol to prepare herbal extract B.

[0062] In Example 9: 135g of Ligustrum lucidum, 125g of Angelica sinensis, 115g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 105g of Astragalus membranaceus, 95g of Curcuma longa, and 85g of Marigold were mixed and extracted with water to prepare herbal extract A; 75g of Hippophae rhamnoides, 65g of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 75g of Cuscuta chinensis, and 65g of Rhodiola rosea were mixed and extracted with alcohol to prepare herbal extract B.

[0063] In Example 10: the preparation method of herbal extract B: the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 20wt%, extraction temperature of 60℃, ethanol aqueous solution amount of 10 times the weight of raw material, and extraction time of 120min.

[0064] In Example 11: In the preparation method of herbal extract B, the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 30wt%, extraction temperature of 50℃, ethanol aqueous solution amount of 10 times the weight of raw material, and extraction time of 120min.

[0065] In Example 12: the preparation method of herbal extract B: the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 60wt%, extraction temperature of 30℃, ethanol aqueous solution amount of 10 times the weight of raw material, and extraction time of 120min.

[0066] In Example 13: the preparation method of herbal extract B: the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 70wt%, extraction temperature of 25℃, ethanol aqueous solution amount of 10 times the weight of raw material, and extraction time of 120min.

[0067] All other process parameters in the above embodiments are the same as those in Embodiment 3.

[0068] Comparative Example

[0069] Comparative Examples 1-2

[0070] Comparative Examples 1 and 2 respectively provide a feed additive for laying hens, a feed for laying hens, and a method for preparing the same.

[0071] The difference between the above comparative example and Example 3 is that the composition of the stabilizer is different, as shown below.

[0072] In Comparative Example 1: The stabilizer was composed of cryptoxanthin, glycosides and linseed gum in a weight ratio of 30:15:7.

[0073] In Comparative Example 2, the stabilizer was composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides and flaxseed gum in a weight ratio of 7:30:15.

[0074] All other process parameters in the above comparative examples are the same as those in Example 3.

[0075] Comparative Examples 3-7

[0076] Comparative Examples 3-7 provide a feed additive for laying hens, a feed for laying hens, and a method for preparing the same.

[0077] The difference between the above comparative examples and Example 3 is that the preparation methods of herbal extract A or herbal extract B are different, as detailed below.

[0078] In Comparative Example 3: In the preparation method of herbal extract A, an equal amount of Cnidium monnieri was used to replace Ligusticum chuanxiong.

[0079] In Comparative Example 4: In the preparation method of herbal extract B, an equal amount of motherwort was used to replace sea buckthorn leaves.

[0080] In Comparative Example 5: 90g of Ligustrum lucidum, 90g of Angelica sinensis, 80g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 80g of Astragalus membranaceus, 130g of Curcuma longa, and 130g of Marigold were mixed and extracted with water to prepare herbal extract A; 100g of Hippophae rhamnoides, 40g of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 100g of Cuscuta chinensis, and 40g of Rhodiola rosea were mixed and extracted with alcohol to prepare herbal extract B.

[0081] In Comparative Example 6: 130g of Ligustrum lucidum, 130g of Angelica sinensis, 110g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 110g of Astragalus membranaceus, 90g of Curcuma longa, 90g of Marigold, 70g of Hippophae rhamnoides, 70g of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 70g of Cuscuta chinensis, and 70g of Rhodiola rosea were mixed, decocted with water three times, then filtered to remove the dregs, the filtrates were combined, concentrated to a density of 1.15, dried to a solid state, and pulverized through an 80-mesh sieve to obtain the herbal extract (replacing herbal extracts A and B); the process parameters for each decoction were: the amount of water was 10 times the weight of the raw materials, and the decoction time was 180 minutes.

[0082] In Comparative Example 7: 130g of Ligustrum lucidum, 130g of Angelica sinensis, 110g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 110g of Astragalus membranaceus, 90g of Curcuma longa, and 90g of Marigold were mixed and extracted three times with an ethanol aqueous solution in a sealed container. The residue was then filtered and discarded. The filtrates were combined and concentrated to a density of 1.15. The extract was then dried to a solid state and pulverized through an 80-mesh sieve to obtain herbal extract A. The process parameters for each extraction with an ethanol aqueous solution were: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 45wt%, extraction temperature of 40℃, ethanol aqueous solution volume of 10 times the weight of the raw materials, and extraction time of 120min.

[0083] Take 70g of sea buckthorn, 70g of sea buckthorn leaves, 70g of dodder seed, and 70g of rhodiola rosea, mix them, add water and decoct to extract three times, then filter and discard the dregs, combine the filtrates, concentrate to a thick paste with a density of 1.15, dry to a solid state, pulverize and pass through an 80-mesh sieve to obtain herbal extract B; the process parameters for each decoction are: water volume is 10 times the weight of the raw materials, and the decoction time is 180min.

[0084] All other process parameters in the above comparative examples are the same as those in Example 3.

[0085] Performance testing

[0086] 1. Materials and Methods

[0087] 1.1 Test Materials

[0088] The experimental materials were provided by Beijing Aoruis Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

[0089] 1.2 Experimental Animals and Experimental Design

[0090] Experiment location: Dandong breeding farm, Liaoning Province.

[0091] Experimental animals: Hy-Line Brown poultry of similar age and in good health at 300 days old, with 50 birds in each experimental group.

[0092] 1.3 Feeding and Management

[0093] Artificial feeding, free access to feed and water, and a combination of natural and artificial lighting for 16 hours per day. Chickens were fed three times a day. Before the experiment, the chicken cages, feed troughs, and water troughs were cleaned and disinfected. After the experiment began, the chicken house was cleaned once a day and disinfected every 3-5 days to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

[0094] 2. Experimental Methods

[0095] 2.1 Pre-test period: Production performance will be observed and tested for 7 consecutive days before the start of the test.

[0096] 2.2 Formal Period: After the start of the experiment, the diet was fed continuously for 7 days, and relevant indicators were tested from day 7 to day 14 of the experiment. During the experiment, the basal diet without feed additives was used as the control group.

[0097] (1) Egg production rate of laying hens: Eggs were collected twice a day, at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and the total number of eggs produced was collected to calculate the average daily egg production rate. Test results: as shown in Table 2.

[0098] (2) Egg quality: Ten egg samples were taken from each group and sent to a qualified third-party testing center to test the egg quality (protein, selenium, cholesterol, lecithin, DHA). Test results are shown in Table 2.

[0099] (3) Egg storage time: 50 eggs were placed in an environment with a temperature of 28℃ and a humidity of 50% for each group. The Haugh unit (an index of egg freshness, the higher the Haugh unit value, the fresher the egg) of the eggs was tested at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks and 5 weeks. The average value of the test results for each group was taken.

[0100] The method for measuring Haugh units: When measuring Haugh units, first break the egg and pour it onto a glass plate. While keeping the yolk and albumen intact, use an albumen height measuring instrument to measure the height of the albumen around the yolk, avoiding the chalaza. Take the average of three equidistant points as the albumen height. Haugh unit = 100 × Log(H - 1.7 × W × 0.37 + 7.57), where: H is the albumen height (mm), and W is the egg weight (g).

[0101] Test results are shown in Table 3.

[0102] Table 2 shows the test results of egg production rate and egg quality of laying hens in the examples and comparative examples.

[0103]

[0104] As can be seen from the test results in the table above, the feed additives and feeds for laying hens provided by the technical solution provided in this application can significantly improve the egg production rate of laying hens, and can significantly increase the protein, selenium, lecithin, and DHA content of eggs, while reducing the cholesterol content of eggs, thus significantly improving the quality of eggs.

[0105] Comparing the test results of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-2, it can be seen that the stabilizer in Comparative Example 1 is composed of cryptoxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in a weight ratio of 30:15:7, and the stabilizer in Comparative Example 2 is composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in a weight ratio of 7:30:15. The resulting feed additives and feeds for laying hens have a poor effect on improving egg production rate and egg quality. In contrast, the present application uses a stabilizer composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in a weight ratio of 20-40:10-20:5-10. The resulting feed additives and feeds for laying hens can effectively improve egg production rate and egg quality.

[0106] By comparing the test results of Examples 3, 6-13, and Comparative Examples 3-7, it can be seen that the preparation methods of herbal extract A or herbal extract B have a significant impact on the performance of feed additives and feeds for laying hens. This application uses a mixture of 120-140 parts of Ligustrum lucidum, 120-140 parts of Angelica sinensis, 100-120 parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 100-120 parts of Astragalus membranaceus, 80-100 parts of Curcuma longa, and 80-100 parts of Marigold to prepare herbal extract A via water extraction; simultaneously, it uses a mixture of 60-80 parts of Hippophae rhamnoides, 60-80 parts of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 60-80 parts of Cuscuta chinensis, and 60-80 parts of Rhodiola rosea to prepare herbal extract B via alcohol extraction. The resulting feed additive for laying hens, prepared by mixing these extracts with 20-40 parts of Cordyceps militaris and 30-50 parts of a stabilizer, exhibits excellent application performance.

[0107] Table 3 shows the test results of egg storage time in the examples and comparative examples.

[0108]

[0109]

[0110] According to the Hough unit (HFU) values ​​of eggs in the table above, as the storage time of eggs increases, the protein undergoes hydrolysis, resulting in a decrease in the viscosity and viscosity of the egg white. Therefore, the HFU value of eggs gradually decreases, indicating a gradual decline in egg freshness. Feeding laying hens with the egg-laying hen feed additive provided in this application can significantly improve egg freshness and extend egg storage time, thereby improving economic efficiency.

[0111] Although the present invention has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of the present invention fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A feed additive for laying hens, characterized in that, Specifically, the feed additive includes the following components by weight: 125-135 parts of Ligustrum lucidum, 125-135 parts of Angelica sinensis, 105-115 parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 105-115 parts of Astragalus membranaceus, 85-95 parts of Curcuma longa, 85-95 parts of Marigold, 65-75 parts of Hippophae rhamnoides, 65-75 parts of Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, 65-75 parts of Cuscuta chinensis, 65-75 parts of Rhodiola rosea, 25-35 parts of Cordyceps militaris, and 35-45 parts of stabilizer; the stabilizer is composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in a weight ratio of 25-35:12-18:6-9; the preparation method of the feed additive for laying hens specifically includes the following steps in sequence: take the corresponding weights of Ligustrum lucidum, Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Astragalus membranaceus, Curcuma longa, and Marigold, mix them, add water and decoct to extract 2-4 times, then filter to discard the residue, and combine the filtrates. Concentrate, dry to a solid state, pulverize and sieve to obtain herbal extract A; take appropriate weights of sea buckthorn, sea buckthorn leaves, dodder seed, and rhodiola rosea, mix, add ethanol aqueous solution for extraction 2-4 times, then filter to discard the residue, combine the filtrates, concentrate, dry to a solid state, pulverize and sieve to obtain herbal extract B; the process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 30-60wt%, extraction temperature of 30-50℃, ethanol aqueous solution volume of 8-12 times the weight of raw materials, and extraction time of 60-180min; take zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in proportion to obtain a stabilizer; mix herbal extract A, herbal extract B, Cordyceps militaris pulverized through an 80-mesh sieve, and the stabilizer thoroughly to obtain the feed additive for laying hens.

2. The feed additive for laying hens according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stabilizer is composed of zeaxanthin, glycosides and flaxseed gum in a weight ratio of 30:15:

7.

3. The method for preparing the feed additive for laying hens according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, Specifically, the process includes the following steps: Take appropriate weights of Ligustrum lucidum, Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Astragalus membranaceus, Curcuma longa, and Marigold, mix them, add water and decoct to extract 2-4 times, then filter to discard the residue, combine the filtrates, concentrate, dry to a solid state, pulverize and sieve to obtain herbal extract A; Take appropriate weights of Hippophae rhamnoides, Hippophae rhamnoides leaves, Cuscuta chinensis, and Rhodiola rosea, mix them, add ethanol aqueous solution to extract 2-4 times, then filter to discard the residue, combine the filtrates, concentrate, dry to a solid state, pulverize and sieve to obtain herbal extract B; The process parameters for each ethanol aqueous solution extraction are: ethanol aqueous solution concentration of 30-60 wt%, extraction temperature of 30-50℃, ethanol aqueous solution dosage of 8-12 times the weight of the raw materials, and extraction time of 60-180 min; Take zeaxanthin, glycosides, and linseed gum in a certain proportion to obtain a stabilizer; Mix herbal extract A and herbal extract B thoroughly with Cordyceps militaris pulverized through an 80-mesh sieve and the stabilizer to obtain the poultry feed additive.

4. The method for preparing the feed additive for laying hens according to claim 3, characterized in that, The process parameters for each decoction and extraction are as follows: the amount of water used is 8 to 12 times the weight of the raw medicinal materials, and the decoction time is 150 to 210 minutes.

5. The method for preparing the feed additive for laying hens according to claim 3, characterized in that, The process parameters for each extraction with ethanol aqueous solution are as follows: the concentration of ethanol aqueous solution is 40-50 wt%, the extraction temperature is 35-45℃, the amount of ethanol aqueous solution used is 8-12 times the weight of the raw medicinal material, and the extraction time is 90-150 min.

6. A type of poultry feed, characterized in that, The feed for laying hens comprises any one of the feed additives according to claims 1-2.

7. The poultry feed according to claim 6, characterized in that, The poultry feed is composed of the feed additive and the basal diet in a weight ratio of 0.1-0.3:100; the basal diet is composed of the following components in parts by weight: 70-80 parts corn, 10-20 parts soybean meal, 10-16 parts wheat bran, 0.6-1.2 parts soybean oil, and 1.5-2.5 parts fish meal.

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