Effect of Supplementing Different Levels of Chamomile Oil on Broiler Performance and Some Physiological Traits

Abstract

This study was conducted at the poultry farm, Animal Resources Department, University of Baghdad, College of Agriculture, to study the effect of inclusion different levels of chamomile oil on broiler performance. Two hundred and twenty five day-old (cobb) broiler chickens were allocated randomly to five dietary treatments from 7-38 days of age, with three replicate pens (15 birds/pen/per treatment). The experimental diets were as follows: control (T1), 100mg chamomile oils/Kg diet (T2), 200mg chamomile oils/Kg diet (T3) 300 mg chamomile oils/Kg diets. (T4) and 400 mg chamomile oils/Kg diets (T5). Essential oil was dissolved in vegetable oil and then gently mixed with the standard diets. Results showed that final live body weight, weight gain and feed conversion were significantly (p<0.05) better for T5 than the control. It could be concluded from this study that supplementing broiler diets with essential oil have a beneficial effect on broiler performance and plasma cholesterol and glucose.