For millenniums, aromatic plants have been used for the treatment of many diseases worldwide. These plants contain a wide variety of active phytochemicals including flavonoids, terpeniods, lignans, sulfides, polyphenolics, carotenoids, coumarins, saponins, plant sterols and phthalides (Craig 1999). Among all, Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) fruit extract, known as a phytoestrogenic herb, has been used for the treatment of menstrual disorders (amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea), premenstrual syndrome (PMS),

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... rpus luteum insufficiency, hyperprolactinaemia, infertility, acne, menopause, and disrupted lactation (Daniele et al. 2005). Previous studies have reported the efficacy of VAC in PMS, cycle disorders, hyperprolactinaemia and mastalgia in human and other animals. However, no study has yet been published on the effect of VAC on laying hens' performance in second cycle of production. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of VAC fruit powder on performance, egg quality, immune responses, blood biochemical parameters, tibial characteristics, and reproductive traits of laying hens in second cycle of production. Material and methods: This experiment was conducted to determine the nutritional value of VAC and to investigate its effects on performance and egg quality of laying hens in the second cycle of production. In the first step, AOAC methods were used for determination of the nutritional value of VAC. In the second step, 150 Leghorn Hy-Line (W-36) laying hens (80 to 90 weeks of age) were used based on a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 5 replicates and 6 hens per each replicate. Treatment diets included 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% of VAC fruit powder. The birds received basal diet (corn- and soybean-based diet with 15.05% crude protein and 2802 kcal/kg metabolizable energy) in a mash form and formulized according to the Hy-Line W-36 (2016) nutrient requirements. The diet did not have any antibiotics and coccidiostats. Water and feed were [...]