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Research Article | 28 Jun 2026

Dietary β-glucan supplementation mitigates heat stress-induced impairment of performance, egg quality, and intestinal integrity in laying hens

Mohannad Abuajamieh1, Zeinab M. H. Mahasneh2, Mohmmad Al-Qaisi1, Mohamed A. Abedal-Majed1, Abdur-Rahman Al-Fataftah1, and Anas Abdelqader1 Show more
VETERINARY WORLD | Article No. 27 | pg no. 2634-2649 | Vol. 19, Issue 6 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2026.2634-2649
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ABSTRACT

                      
Background and Aim: Heat stress (HS) severely impairs laying hen productivity, egg quality, and intestinal integrity, posing significant challenges to poultry production under changing climate conditions. This study evaluated the dose-dependent effects of dietary yeast-derived β-glucan (BG) supplementation as a nutritional strategy to mitigate HS-induced impairments in commercial Hy-Line laying hens. 
Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty 22-week-old Hy-Line W-80 laying hens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (0, 1, 2, or 3 g BG/kg feed; n=40 hens/treatment) for a 28-day pre-feeding adaptation period. Hens were then subjected to two experimental periods: Period 1 (7 days under thermo-neutral conditions, 25.7 ± 2.0°C) and Period 2 (4 days of cyclic HS, 38.4 ± 0.8°C for 4 h/day). Performance parameters (feed intake, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion ratio [FCR]), egg quality traits, blood physiological and biochemical indicators, and intestinal morphometry (jejunum and ileum) were assessed. 
Results: Cyclic HS significantly reduced feed intake, laying rate, egg mass, and impaired egg quality (albumen height, Haugh unit, shell thickness, yolk index) while increasing FCR and causing intestinal villus atrophy (p < 0.01). Supplementation with 3 g/kg BG during HS improved laying rate (64% vs. 55.7%), egg mass (36.5 vs. 29.1 g/hen/day), and FCR (2.3 vs. 2.8) compared to unsupplemented controls (p < 0.01). A treatment × period interaction was observed for yolk index (p = 0.05), with BG3 showing superior values under HS. Notably, 3 g/kg BG increased jejunal and ileal villus height under HS (by 10% and 7% vs. control, respectively; p < 0.01), thereby preserving gut integrity. No adverse effects on blood gases or biochemical parameters were noted. 
Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with 3 g/kg yeast-derived β-glucan (25% 1,3-β-glucan) effectively mitigated short-term cyclic HS effects by enhancing productive performance, feed efficiency, yolk index, and intestinal morphology in laying hens. These findings highlight higher-dose BG as a practical strategy to support gut health and productivity during heat waves. 
                      
Keywords: beta-glucan, egg quality, gut integrity, heat stress, intestinal morphology, laying hens, performance, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.