Effect of Date Palm Pollen Supplementation on the Egg Production, Ovarian Follicles Development, Hematological Variables and Hormonal Profile of Laying Hens

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Date palm pollen (DPP) is a natural product produced from male palm flowers and is used to improve ovulation and fertility in both women and men because it contains amino acids, fatty acids, flavonoids, saponins and sterols. Thus, this experiment investigated the effect of DPP supplementation on the oviposition rate, egg quality, ovarian follicle development, hematological variables and hormonal profile of laying hens. The findings indicated that the egg weight (EW), egg mass, albumen quality and laying rate of laying hens treated with DPP levels were significantly increased compared to those of the hens in the control group. The increased DPP levels significantly (p < 0.05) increased white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), while H/L ratio significantly decreased. The increased DPP level significantly (p < 0.05) increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration, ovary and oviduct weights compared to those of the control group. ABSTRACT: This experiment studied the effect of DPP supplementation in the laying hens’ diet on the ovarian follicle development, hematological variables and hormonal profile of laying hens. Eighty-four, 78-week-old, Lohman LSL hybrids layers were equally divided into four groups (4 groups × 7 replicates × 3 hens); hens in the 1st group were fed a basal diet (control), while those in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups, were fed on the same diet and supplemented with 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 g DPP/kg diet. The results showed that the egg weight, egg mass and laying rate of laying hens treated with DPP levels were significantly increased compared to those of the hens in the control group. Egg weight, egg surface area, albumen quality and percentage of the yolk in treated hens significantly increased compared with controls. The increased DPP levels in laying hens‘ diet significantly (p < 0.05) increased WBC, Hb and TAC, while heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L ratio) significantly decreased. Additionally, the concentrations of FSH and LH and the weights of ovary and oviduct in the treated hens significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with the control. In conclusion, the DPP supplementation in the hen diet significantly improved egg production, EW, H/L ratio, ovarian follicles, FSH and LH hormones concentrations.