PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL

Pak Vet J, 2024, 44(4): 1329-1337

Effect of Supplementing a Blend of Essential Oils on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, Serological Parameters and Gut Health in Broiler Chickens

Hairui Yu^1*, Abdur Rahman^1,2*, Fahad Umer², Muhammad Waqas^3,4*, Mubarik Mahmood², Tuğçe Merve Berberoğlu⁵, Tuba Riaz², Shahid Sherzada⁶, Muhammad Khan⁷, Ali Raza⁸, Maha Abdullah Momenah⁹ and Fatma Mohamed Ameen Khalil¹⁰

¹Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Universities of Shandong (Weifang University), Weifang Key laboratory of Coho Salmon Culturing Facility Engineering, Institute of Modern Facility Fisheries, College of Biology and Oceanography, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China; ²Department of Animal Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore Sub-campus Jhang, Pakistan; ³Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Atakum, 55139, Samsun, Turkiye; ⁴Department of Poultry Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; ⁵Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100 Kars, Turkiye; ⁶Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan; ⁷Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Jindian, Panlong District, Kunming 650201, China; ⁸Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkiye; ⁹Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; ¹⁰King Khalid University, Applied College , Unit of health specialties, basic sciences and their applications, Mohayil Asir Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding author: yhr6003@hotmail.com(H.Y.); abdurrehman@uvas.edu.pk (A.R.); m.waqas@uvas.edu.pk (M.W)

Abstract

For an extended period, the poultry industry has employed antibiotics as feed additives to enhance the growth of birds. Nevertheless, the utilization of antibiotics raises significant concerns regarding the development of antimicrobial resistance. Consequently, it is essential to identify effective and safe alternatives for feed additives, such as essential oils. The study was meticulously designed to assess the effects of essential oil blends as feed additives in broilers. A total of 600 day-old broiler chicks (n=600) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each comprising three replicates with 40 birds per replicate. Treatments were the following: Group A (basal diet + antibiotics) positive control, Group B (basal diet only) negative control, Groups C, D, and E consisted of essential oil blend at the dose rate of 0.12mL/kg, 0.25mL/kg, and 0.50mL/kg of feed, respectively. The duration of the trial was 35 days. The findings revealed significant improvement in body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR), while feed consumption showed no notable changes. Body weight gain and FCR were significantly better in group E. There was no significant improvement in carcass characteristics like eviscerated, dressed, and giblet weights. Meat pH, meat color, and antibody titer against ND were affected significantly (P<0.05) by treatment group E. Villus length was significantly higher in group D, while crypt depth and villus width remained unaltered. Total bacteria count was noticed to be lower in treatment groups than in control groups. In conclusion, essential oil supplementation has enhanced performance, gut health, meat quality, immunity and decreased total bacterial count.

To Cite This Article: YuH, RahmanA, UmerF, WaqasM, MahmoodM, BerberoğluTM, RiazT, SherzadaS, KhanM, Raza A, Momenah MA and Khalil FMA, 2024. Effect of supplementing a blend of essential oils on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, serological parameters and gut health in broiler chickens. Pak Vet J, 44(4): 1329-1337. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.301

Abstract

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)
ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)