Response of Broiler Chicks Fed on Graded Dietary Essential Oils Combination as Natural Feed Additives

Abstract

Four experiments were fulfilled out to appraise the response of broiler chicks to diets supplemented with graded levels of mixed essential oils extracted from herbal plants including: Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus Essential Oil, E.E.O) (Myrtaceae family), Clove fruits (Clove Essential Oil, C.E.O) (Eugenia ssp), Basil plants (Basil Essential Oil, B.E.O) (Ocimum basilicum L.) and a combination of them (1:1:1) as natural feed additives. 96 day old, un-sexed broiler chicks (Cobb strain), were used in each experiment. Chicks were divided into four groups of (24) chicks in each experiment and each group was sub-divided into three replicates with (8) birds in each. The first group was fed on control diet supplemented with Eucalyptus and Clove mixed essential oils at levels of )0.00, 200 mg/kg; 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg(, the second group was fed on control diet supplemented with Eucalyptus and Basil mixed essential oils at levels of )0.00, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg(, the third group was fed on control diet supplemented with Clove and Basil mixed essential oils at levels of )0.00, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg(, the fourth group was fed on control diet supplemented with Eucalyptus, Clove and Basil mixed )1:1:1) essential oils at the same levels mentioned above. The experiment parameters covered growth performance, carcass and non-carcass values, sensory evaluation, serum constituents, enzyme activities and minerals and economical appraisal. The results were showed that no significant effects in body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio among all tested groups, however inclusion of mixed essential oils at (200 mg/kg) had the best results compared with control group, also the results declared that there were no significant differences among all tested groups in internal organs, commercial cuts; their separable tissues, the subjective and objective of meat quality parameters. Also the same results were observed for serum metabolites, enzymes activities and minerals ratios. The results of economical evaluation of the tested groups supplemented with mixed essential oils in broilers diets declared economical values. (200 mg/kg) of Eucalyptus and Clove mixed essential oils registered profitability ratio (1.149), while (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) Eucalyptus and Basil mixed essential oils registered (1.140, 1.147 and 1.112) profit ratio as successively, also (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) Clove and Basil mixed essential oils registered (1.222, 1.008, 1.134) profit ratio as successively, and finally (200 mg/kg) of Eucalyptus, Clove and Basil mixed essential oils registered profitability ratio (1.202). The state of being organized, (200 mg/kg) of Clove and Basil mixed essential oils registered (1.222), followed by (200 mg/kg) of Eucalyptus, Clove and Basil mixed essential oils which registered profitability ratio (1.202), then (200 mg/kg) of Eucalyptus and Clove mixed essential oils registered profitability ratio (1.149) and (400 mg/kg) of Eucalyptus and Basil mixed essential oils registered (1.147) whereas (200 mg/kg) of Eucalyptus and Basil mixed essential oils recorded (1.140). As general we can record that, supplementation of mixed essential oils to broiler diets as growth promoters had good beneficial economic effects.