Effects of dietary supplementation with pumpkin powder on egg quality and antioxidant function in laying hens

β-carotene, a carotenoid with strong antioxidant and immunity-enhancing properties, is a safe and widely available precursor of vitamin A in nature. Pumpkin powder, as a familiar agricultural product, is rich in vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, which also contain β-carotene. Currently, there remain few published reports on the effects of pumpkin powder on antioxidant function, reproductive performance, and egg quality in laying hens, representing a significant gap in existing research. 270 laying hens were divided into three groups; the CON group was fed a basal diet, the BCA group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 120 mg/kg β-carotene, and the PPD group was fed a diet containing pumpkin powder to provide an equivalent dose of β-carotene. On 35 days, the β-carotene content in the egg yolk was significantly increased in the BCA and PPD groups compared to the CON group (p<0.01). On 49 days, the UFA, vitamin A, and β-carotene content in the BCA and PPD groups were significantly higher than in the CON group (p<0.01). In the BCA and PPD groups, levels of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and T-AOC markedly increased in yolk and serum. The relative expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 levels in the BCA and PPD groups was remarkably higher compared to the CON group (p<0.01). The relative expression levels of the BMP15, and FOXL2 genes in the BCA and PPD groups of laying hens were significantly higher than in the CON group (p<0.05). The relative abundance of the genera Megamonas and Eubacterium in the fecal microbiota was significantly higher in the PPD group than in the CON group (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with pumpkin powder as a source of β-carotene in laying hens effectively enhanced egg production and quality, improved systemic antioxidant status and gut health, and reduced ovarian inflammation.