Effects of Dietary Date Palm Pollen Powder and Vitamin E-Selenium Supplementation on Productive Performance of Laying Hens

• Hawkar N. Saber1*, Mohammed A. Mohammed2, and Sameerah H. Amen3

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This study investigated the productive performance of laying hens fed diets supplemented with date palm pollen powder, either alone or in combination with vitamin E-selenium. A total of 120 White Lohmann hens, 40 weeks of age, were divided into six treatments (n = 20) in a completely randomized design, with five replicates of four hens each. The experimental schedule included a two-week adaptation period followed by five two-week production periods. The dietary treatments were as follows: a control diet; a control diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg vitamin E-selenium; 1 g/kg date palm pollen powder; 2 g/kg date palm pollen powder; 1 g/kg date palm pollen powder plus 250 mg/kg vitamin E-selenium; and 2 g/kg date palm pollen powder plus 250 mg/kg vitamin E-selenium.

Dietary supplementation significantly affected egg production percentage and egg mass during most experimental periods. The best overall response was observed in the sixth treatment, which included 2 g/kg date palm pollen powder plus 250 mg/kg vitamin E-selenium. This treatment maintained the highest egg production levels and improved egg mass as the hens advanced in age. Egg weight and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected. The positive response observed in hens receiving this combination may be attributed to the complementary effects of the bioactive components of date palm pollen and the antioxidant roles of vitamin E and selenium. These components may help reduce oxidative stress, protect ovarian and reproductive tissues, and support reproductive efficiency, thereby improving egg production and overall productive performance.

The results suggest that dietary inclusion of 2 g/kg date palm pollen powder plus 250 mg/kg vitamin E-selenium may be a useful nutritional strategy for improving egg production percentage and egg mass in laying hens without significantly altering egg weight or feed conversion ratio. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the effects of this dietary combination on egg quality, reproductive physiology, oxidative stress indicators, and economic efficiency.

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