{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T19:26:41Z","timestamp":1785353201919,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]],"date-time":"2025-09-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757635200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":11,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Medicine &amp;amp; Sci"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Natural alternatives to synthetic additives are being explored as a means to enhance laying hen performance and egg quality. The study conducted a systematic review and meta\u2010analysis to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with\n                      <jats:italic>Thymus vulgaris<\/jats:italic>\n                      (thyme) on productive performance and egg quality in laying hens.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A comprehensive search of databases identified 18 eligible studies. Data were analysed using random\u2010effects models, with subgroup analyses based on the thyme form (powder, essential oil, extract) and supplementation duration (\u2264 8 weeks, &gt; 8 weeks). The unstandardized mean difference was used to calculate the effect size, and confidence intervals were generated to estimate the range of the true effect size.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Thyme significantly improved egg weight, egg mass, yolk colour, yolk index and shell thickness (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.05), with very large effect sizes for egg weight and mass. However, albumen quantity decreased, while egg production rate, Haugh unit, and shell weight remained unchanged. Powdered thyme was particularly effective at enhancing egg weight and mass, while essential oils and extracts improved yolk colour. Longer supplementation periods (&gt; 8 weeks) yielded greater benefits for egg mass and weight, whereas shorter durations (\u2264 8 weeks) improved shell thickness.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These findings suggest that thyme supplementation, particularly in powdered form and over extended periods, can enhance egg quality, offering a natural alternative to synthetic additives. This research demonstrates thyme's efficacy as a phytogenic feed additive, offering a natural solution to improve egg quality and meet the rising demand for sustainable and high\u2010quality poultry products.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Summary<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>Thyme supplementation improves egg weight, egg mass, yolk colour and shell thickness in laying hens.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>Powdered thyme shows the most significant benefits for egg weight and mass.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>Longer supplementation periods (&gt;\u00a08 weeks) enhance yolk colour and egg quality traits.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>Thyme offers a natural, sustainable alternative to synthetic feed additives in poultry production.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                      <\/jats:list>\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/vms3.70614","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]],"date-time":"2025-09-12T20:06:07Z","timestamp":1757707567000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Effects of Dietary\n                    <i>Thymus vulgaris<\/i>\n                    on Laying Hens: A Systematic Review and Meta\u2010Analysis of Productive Performance and Egg Quality"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Hossein","family":"Hassanpour","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Shahrekord University  Shahrekord Iran"},{"name":"Health Equity Research Center Shahed University  Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leila","family":"Nasiri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Equity Research Center Shahed University  Tehran Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aziz A.","family":"Fallah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Shahrekord University  Shahrekord Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tahereh","family":"Karimi\u2010Shayan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Mohaghegh Ardabili  Ardabil Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.22358\/jafs\/65638\/2015"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11123471"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.47604\/jah.2224","article-title":"Review of Factors Affecting Egg Quality and Its Effect","volume":"3","author":"Abebe F.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Animal Health"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1201\/9780429091483-13"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-015-1042-6"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.56093\/ijans.v87i7.72300"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4081\/ijas.2014.3239"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/00071668.2016.1161727"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_10_1","first-page":"394","article-title":"Effects of Dietary Thyme on Immune Cells, the Antioxidant Defence System, Cytokine Cascade, Productive Performance and Egg Quality in Laying Hens","volume":"31","author":"Bala D. 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