Abstract: This experiment was performed to compare the effects of fermented soybean meal (fermented with Bacillus licheniformis D-1, FSBM) and Soybean Meal (SBM) on performance, serum biochemical parameters and intestinal morphology of laying hens. About 288, 29 weeks old laying hens were randomly allocated into 2 dietary treatments, 4 replicate groups of 36 laying hens each from 29-39 weeks of age. One treatment received the basal diet (containing 22.8% SBM) as control and the other treatment received the basal diet in which the SBM was replaced by FSBM at 2.5%. At the end of feeding trial, 8 layers of each treatment were killed and their serum and small intestine segments of duodenum, jejunum and ileum segments were collected for serum biochemical parameters and intestinal morphology evaluation. Results showed that FSBM improved performance of laying hens. The laying rate was improved by 3.59% (p<0.05). Feed/egg ratio was decreased by 4.00% (p<0.05). Hens fed FSBM had lower levels of serum urea nitrogen (p<0.05) and a higher content of serum total phosphorus (p<0.05). Birds fed FSBM had a higher level of serum IgA and IgG than birds fed entire SBM (p<0.05). FSBM increased (p<0.05) villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and jejunum compared with whole SBM. There were no effects of FSBM on hen’s ileum mucosa morphology. Therefore, it was concluded that FSBM had beneficial effects on performance of laying hens and thus, decrease or overcome the negative effect of SBM on egg-laying hens.
F.Z. Xu, L.M. Li, H.J. Liu, K. Zhan, K. Qian, D. Wu and X.L. Ding, 2012. Effects of Fermented Soybean Meal on Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Intestinal Morphology of Laying Hens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 649-654.