The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of the partial substitution of maize grain with local ancient wheats by-products in an organic laying hens farm on animal performance and blood profile, as well as on eggs quality. A total of 80 Hy-Line W-36 Single Comb White Leghorn, 18 weeks old hens were homogenously divided into two groups. The two groups (40 laying hens each, 8 replicates, 5 hens/replicate) were fed two isoprotein and isoenergetic diets: the Control group (C) was fed a standard, organic maize-soybean meal diet whereas in the Ancient Grains group (AG) part of the maize grain was replaced by a mix of ancient grains middling, consisting in 50:50 of Triticum aestivum var. spelta (spelt) and Triticum durum dicoccum L. (emmer wheat). The birds fed the maize based-diet (C) showed a higher (P < 0.01) egg weight and feed intake than the Ancient Grains (AG) group. By contrary, the feed conversion ratio was more favourable (P < 0.05) in hens fed the Ancient Grains diet. The eggs produced by the hens fed the Control diet showed higher length and width than the other group (P < 0.01). The shell thickness and strength were also higher in the Control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The experimental dietary treatment positively affected some blood parameters. The Control group showed higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (P < 0.05) as well as of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (P < 0.01). In addition, butyrate, which may have great implications for the regulation of the immune response, resulted significantly higher in the caecal content of hens from the Ancient Grains group. Overall, the Ancient Grains diet seemed to be able to guarantee the production performances with positive effects on the animal health.

本研究的目的是评估有机蛋鸡农场中用当地古老小麦副产品部分替代玉米谷物对动物生产性能、血液特征以及鸡蛋质量的影响。将总共​​ 80 只 Hy-Line W-36 单梳白来航 18 周龄母鸡均匀分为两组。两组（每组 40 只蛋鸡，8 个重复，5 只母鸡/重复）饲喂两种同蛋白和等能量日粮：对照组 (C) 饲喂标准有机玉米豆粕日粮，而古谷物组 (AG ）部分玉米粒被古老的中等谷物混合物取代，其中含有 50:50 的普通小麦（ Triticum aestivum var.）。斯佩尔特小麦(spelta) 和Triticum durum dicoccum L. (二粒小麦)。饲喂以玉米为主的日粮 (C) 的鸡表现出比古代谷物 (AG) 组更高的蛋重和采食量 ( P < 0.01)。相反，饲喂古代谷物日粮的母鸡的饲料转化率更有利（ P < 0.05）。饲喂对照饮食的母鸡产下的鸡蛋显示出比另一组更高的长度和宽度（ P <0.01）。对照组的壳厚度和强度也较高（分别为 P < 0.01 和P < 0.05）。实验性饮食治疗对一些血液参数产生了积极影响。对照组的胆固醇和甘油三酯水平较高（ P <0.05），丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）和γ-谷氨酰转移酶（GGT）水平较高（ P <0.01）。 此外，丁酸盐可能对免疫反应的调节具有重大影响，它导致古代谷物组母鸡的盲肠含量显着升高。总体而言，古代谷物饮食似乎能够保证生产性能，并对动物健康产生积极影响。