Grigorova et al. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science (2021) 11(4), 827-833 827 Effects of Rosehip Feed Supplementation on Egg Quality Parameters, Yolk Lipid Oxidation, and Blood Parameters of Laying Hens INTRODUCTION Rosehip (Rosa canina, fam. Rosaceae) fruits are an impor- tant source of several biologically active substances such as vitamins C, B1, B2, PP, K, and E (in seeds); ß carotene (the yellow/orange pigment, which is a precursor of vitamin A); lycopene (the red pigment); pectin; flavonoids (campferol, quercetin, rutin); potassium, calcium, phosphorus salts (Demir and Özcan, 2001; Böhm et al. 2003; Ercisli, 2007; Guimaraes et al. 2010; Murathan et al. 2016). Rosehips are well known for their efficiency in strengthening the body’s defense against infection, and particularly the common cold (Demir and Özcan, 2001). Currently, the rosehip is widely used as an aromatic and medicinal plant with high antioxi- dant activity (Yesilbag et al. 2011; Jakubcová et al. 2015). An experiment was performed with fattening lambs that received rosehip seeds in their diet at different levels (Esenbuga et al. 2011). The authors established a statisti- cally significant effect of supplementation of 15% Rosa canina seed on the carcass weight and dressing percentages of the lambs. Loetscher et al. (2013) reported that the rose- hip fruits supplemented to the diet influenced positively the carcass weight of broilers. Tekeli (2014) showed that rose- hip fruits supplements decreased thiobarbituric acid reac- tive substances (TBARS) number in the broiler meat and increased carcass weight, compared to the broilers treated with rosemary. The studies about the use of plant supple- ments as a source of bioactive compounds in livestock nu- trition have been in scientific focus last decade, because of their impact on the animal performances. The investigations of Baghban-Kanani et al. (2018), Baghban-Kanani et al. (2019a), Baghban-Kanani et al. (2019b), shows that sup- plementation of layers diet with different kinds of plants (sunflower meal, leaves of Artemisia annua, sesame seeds) The current study was conducted to evaluate the influence of rosehip supplementation on egg production, egg morphological characteristics, yolk lipid oxidation, and some blood parameters of laying hens. The experiment was carried out with a total of forty laying hens Lohmann classic brown breed, which randomly divided in two groups-control and experimental (20 hens in each group). The diet of experimental hens was supplemented with 0.5% dried and milled fruits of rosehip. The trial lasted 50 days. Rosehip fruits supple- mentation to the layers diet for 40 days had no significant effect on their final live body weight, egg produc- tivity, and egg morphological characteristics during the experimental period. However, the triglycerides level in the blood serum as well as yolk malondialdehyde (MDA) level significantly decreased during egg storage 30 days in the fridge (P<0.05), and during 30 days on room temperature (P<0.01). The use of 0.5% rosehip fruits led to a significant increase in egg yolk pigmentation (P<0.001). KEY WORDS MDA level, poultry, Rosa canina, yolk pigmentation. S. Grigorova 1 , N. Gjorgovska 2* and V. Levkov 2 1 Agricultural Academy, Institute of Animal Science, sp. Pochivka, 2232 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria 2 Institute of Animal Science, Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopјe, Macedonia Received on: 10 Sep 2020 Revised on: 12 Apr 2021 Accepted on: 1 May 2021 Online Published on: Dec 2021 *Correspondence E‐mail: natasha.gjorgovska@istoc.ukim.mk © 2010 Copyright by Islamic Azad Univer ty, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran si Online version is available on: www.ijas.ir Research Article