Bioactive Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Essential Oils Blend of Oregano, Thyme and Garlic oils on Performance of Broilers Infected with Eimeria species

Abstract

A detailed understanding of the bioactive effect of feeding plant by-products or its extract to reduce the incidence of coccidial infection in birds remains a challenge. Essential oils (EO) from Oregano (Origanum vulgare L), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and Garlic (Allium sativum) as natural alternative feed additives were evaluated on the growth performance and health state of broiler chickensinfected with Eimeria species (spp).Seven groups of broiler chickens were conducted in the present study. G1 is the control negative group fed on basal diet (BD). G2 is a group fed on basal diet and medicated with Amporolium sulfate 20% (2gm/litter) as a reference drug. Groups G3 and G4 were fed on basal diet supplemented with EO blend of Oregano (10 mg/kg diet), thyme (10 mg/kg diet) and Garlic (5mg/kg diet) up to 35 day of age and 15 day of age, respectively. G5 and G6 were fed on basal diet supplemented with EO blend of Oregano (20 mg/kg diet), thyme (20 mg/kg diet) and Garlic (10mg/kg diet) up to 35 days and 15 day of age respectively. Group G7 fed on basal diet and act as control positive. At 15 day of age all groups were infected with Eimeria spp oocyst (20000 sporulated oocyst/ bird) except control negative group (G1). Results showed improvement in body weight, relative growth rate and feed conversion ratios of EOsupplemented groups specially G3 and G4. The lowest growth performance was for the control positive group, which infected with Eimeria without medication or essential oils supplementation. There were gradually decrease in oocysts count that shed from infected supplemented groups (G5 and G6) comparing with Amprolium sulfate treated group. No significant changes were found in serum total protein, albumin and globulin while significant increases in serum glucose, total cholesterol and significant decrease in triglycerides levels in all groups compared with the control groups. Belonging to carcass traits, EO supplementation showed no significant improvement in carcass traits. It was concluded that essential oils blend of Oregano, Thyme and Garlic improved broilers performance and could be used as anticoccidial phytobiotic.