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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2017
The egg shell quality is related with bird age and is an important factor to poultry industry due to reproduction and economic implications (Peebs and Brake, 1987). Probiotics are biostimulators and immunomodulators containing live or lyophilizing bacterial cultures, which regulate and optimize the rations among the different types of microorganisms in the digestive system, preventing upsets and experting a stimulating effect on the disintegration and absorption of the nutrient substances (Nickolova and Penkov., 2004). Its stimulating effect on nutrients absorption possibility can improves the mineral availability such calcium and also egg shell quality. In some cases positive effects of probiotic (on damaged egg ratio; Balevi., 2001) or lactobacillus (on haugh units; Nahashon et al.,1994b) supplementations have indicated in layer hens. So possibility they could have positive effects on egg quality. Therefore this research was undertaken to asses the effects of probiotic (protexin) on egg quality (thickness, egg shell percentage, strength egg shell, egg shell weight and haugh unit) of old broiler breeder hens.