article · The Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Supplementing the diet of broiler chickens with essential oils from thyme and star anise improves growth performance and meat antioxidant properties. In a 42-day trial involving 270 chicks, birds were fed a basal diet containing no additive, 150 mg/kg, or 300 mg/kg of the essential oil blend. Chickens receiving either dosage achieved higher final body weights and overall weight gains than the unsupplemented control group, while overall feed intake remained unchanged. The higher dosage of 300 mg/kg improved the feed conversion ratio, reduced bird mortality, and enhanced free radical scavenging activity in meat. Although total bacterial and Lactobacillus counts showed no significant variation across groups, Enterococcus counts increased with supplementation. Both additive levels raised the European production efficiency factor, demonstrating positive effects on overall broiler performance under Egyptian climate conditions.
Poultry producers constantly seek natural feed additives that enhance bird development and product quality without relying on synthetic stimulants. Demonstrating that thyme and star anise essential oils improve growth efficiency, lower bird mortality, and enhance the antioxidant profile of meat offers a practical nutritional strategy for managing poultry performance under challenging, warm weather conditions.
This research provides applied and tested evidence of an effective phytogenic feed additive for the poultry sector. Commercial feed manufacturers and broiler farmers can directly utilise these inclusion rates to formulate natural growth promoters. Because the trial was conducted on commercial broiler stock up to slaughter age, the findings represent an applied stage of development that is near to practical industry adoption.
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The present study evaluated the feed additive containing essential oils of thyme and star anise from 1 to 42 D of age on growth performance, physiological parameters, carcass traits, intestinal bacterial community, antioxidant status of meat, and economic efficiency in broilers under Egyptian weather condition. Two hundred and seventy 1-day-old Indian River broiler chicks were randomly distributed in three groups and fed a basal diet for 42 D. The control (Co) group, T1 group, and T2 group were fed 0.0 mg/kg diet, 150 mg/kg diet, and 300 mg/kg diet, respectively. The highest final weight and weight gain were recorded by the T2 and T1 groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The feed intake was not affected by any of the treatments. Improvements in feed conversion ratio and mortality of chickens were recorded by the T2 group. Blood serum parameters were significantly affected by dietary treatments but remained within the normal range. Carcass characteristics were insignificantly different among groups. The scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical was significantly increased in the T2 group compared to the control group. The total bacterial counts, including Lactobacillus, were not affected significantly among groups. However, The Enterococcus counts were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 groups. European production efficiency factor was increased in T1 and T2 groups compared to the control group. This implied that the addition of essential oils of thyme and star anise had a positive effect on growth performance of broiler chickens.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2020.07.005
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