Benefits of Supplementing the Diet of Laying Hens with Levan as an Additive

Damian Konkol; Marta Kuźmińska-Bajor; Ewa Popiela; Cassandra Ceccopieri; Jan P. Madej; Zbigniew Lazar; Magdalena Lis; Maciej Kuczkowski; Marianna Szczypka; Sepideh Fallahi; Mariusz Korczyński

doi:10.2478/aoas-2026-0014

Benefits of Supplementing the Diet of Laying Hens with Levan as an Additive

By: Damian Konkol , Marta Kuźmińska-Bajor, Ewa Popiela, Cassandra Ceccopieri, Jan P. Madej, Zbigniew Lazar, Magdalena Lis, Maciej Kuczkowski, Marianna Szczypka, Sepideh Fallahi and Mariusz Korczyński

Open Access

|Oct 2026

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of levan on various parameters in laying hens, such as: performance, egg quality, intestinal microflora formation, intestinal histomorphometry, morphometry and the composition of specific immune cells in the lymphoid organs, and the formation of blood lymphocyte and monocyte populations. A total of 120 laying hens of the Lohmann Brown line were randomly divided into five experimental groups, each group consisted of eight replications, and each replication consisted of three birds. Group C was the control group and received the basal diet with no levan supplement. The experimental groups received a basal diet supplemented with 0.1% (L0.1), 0.25% (L0.25), 0.5% (L0.5) or 1% (L1) levan. Levan, especially in a concentration of 0.5%, had a positive effect on egg production (EP) (P<0.05). At low doses (0.1%), levan significantly (P<0.05) improved egg breaking strength. Additionally, a significant effect (P<0.05) was observed in the increase in Lactobacillus spp. and the decrease in Enterobacteriaceae in the jejunum, as well as the increase in Bifidobacterium spp. in the cecum. Exploratory 16S rRNA-based profiling of pooled samples suggested shifts in bacterial community composition. Levan significantly (P<0.05) reduced the surface area of the villi in the ileum, and the length of the intestinal villi in the jejunum and ileum. Furthermore, an increase (P<0.05) in crypt depth and a decrease (P>0.05) in the ratio of the villus length to the depth of the crypts in the duodenum were observed. It can also be concluded that levan has a mild immunosuppressive effect. Levan had a positive effect on the performance of the birds. At low doses, levan had a positive effect on several egg quality parameters. The use of levan promoted the development of the gastrointestinal microflora. Levan, its fermentation products, as well as changes in the composition of the microflora of the digestive tract of laying hens may have some immunosuppressive effects.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2026-0014 | Journal eISSN: 2300-8733 (formerly 1642-3402) | Journal ISSN: 1642-3402

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Language: English

Submitted on: May 27, 2025

Accepted on: Jan 30, 2026

Published on: Oct 8, 2026

Published by: National Research Institute of Animal Production

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

cecal tonsil,

spleen,

thymus,

Related subjects:

© 2026 Damian Konkol, Marta Kuźmińska-Bajor, Ewa Popiela, Cassandra Ceccopieri, Jan P. Madej, Zbigniew Lazar, Magdalena Lis, Maciej Kuczkowski, Marianna Szczypka, Sepideh Fallahi, Mariusz Korczyński, published by National Research Institute of Animal Production
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