The Influence of Dietary Supplementation with Ginger Ethanol Extract on Laying Hens' Production Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota

Sanjun Jin¹Jiajia Shi¹Mixue Zhao¹Xinhe Liu¹Kaige Yang¹Enci Shang¹Ping Wang¹Chaoqi Liu¹Lijun Wang¹Xinxin Li¹Qingqiang Yin^1*Zhiguang Yue²Xiaowei Dang³Juan Chang^1*

• ¹Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
• ²Henan Anjin Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xinxiang, 453000, China, Xinxiang, China
• ³Henan Delin Biological Products Co Ltd, Xinxiang, China

The objective was to investigate the effects of ginger ethanol extract (GEE) on the production performance, egg quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota of Dawu Golden Phoenix laying hens. Two hundred and eighty-eight (288) 44-week-old Dawu Golden Phoenix laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: CON (basal diet); GEE 200 (basal diet + 200 mg kg-1 GEE); GEE 400 (basal diet + 400 mg kg-1 GEE); and GEE 600 (basal diet + 600 mg kg-1 GEE). The results demonstrated that dietary GEE significantly increased apparent ether extract (EE) digestibility (P < 0.05) compared to the CON group. Hens fed GEE diets exhibited an improved feed-to-egg ratio (FCR), as well as increased serum total protein (TP) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P < 0.05), along with reduced serum total triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary GEE (600 mg kg-1) significantly increased serum antioxidant capacity and estradiol (E2) levels (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in alpha and beta diversity across groups, except for the Chao index (P < 0.05). Bacteroidota and Firmicutes predominated at the phylum level, while Bacteroides emerged as the dominant genus. The Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio tended to increase in the GEE400 and GEE600 groups. At the genus level, hens fed 600 mg kg⁻¹ GEE showed significantly increased the abundances of Faecalibacterium and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, but decreased abundances of Bacteroides and unclassified_o_Bacteroidales compared to CON group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium abundances were positively correlated with antioxidant capacity, indicating that GEE improved antioxidant status by increasing the relative abundance of intestinal beneficial probiotics. In conclusion, GEE supplementation improved animal production by reducing the FCR value and enhancing apparent EE digestibility, while modulating serum biochemical parameters. It also enhanced the antioxidant function by regulating gut microbiota. Therefore, the optimal addition of GEE as a feed additive for laying hens is 600 mg kg-1.