Effects of administering an essential oil mixture and an organic acid blend separately and combined to diets on broiler performance; [Einfluss des Einsatzes von Mischungen an ätherischen Ölen und organischen Säuren einzeln und in Kombination im Futter auf die Leistung von Broilern]
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Date
2012
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Abstract
This study compares the performance-enhancing effects of adding an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), a commercial organic acid blend (OAB), a commercial, herbal, essential oil mixture (EOM) and an OAB - EOM combination to feeding regimens of broiler chicks. The corn and soybeanbased basal diet was supplemented with three doses of one of the following additives: AGP (Avilamycin, 10 mg/kg diet), OAB (0.9, 1.8, 2.7 g/kg diet, respectively), EOM (12, 24, 36 mg/kg diet, respectively) and OAB - EOM combination. Diets were fed as mash to 3,300 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross-308) that were randomly assigned to 11 groups, each with six identical subgroups. Birds were studied until they were 42 days old. At 21 and 42 days of age, the body weights of broilers in all treatment groups were significantly heavier than the body weights (BWs) of broilers in the control group (P < 0.01). A similar disparity in body weight gain (BWG) was observed between 22 and 42 days (P < 0.05). The OAB, EOM and OAB - EOM supplements promoted significantly growth when incorporated into the diets of broiler starters and growers, even at low levels. Likewise, broilers that received the diet supplemented with AGP exhibited a much better growth rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than broilers that received the unsupplemented control diet (P < 0.05). Amongst the treatment groups, there were significant differences in feed conversion ratio (FCR) between 0 to 21, 22 to 42 and 0 to 42 day periods (P < 0.05). Throughout the experimental period, dietary supplementation with AGP, EOM and the OAB - EOM mixture significantly improved FCR, compared to the control treatment. The experimental treatments had no significant effect on the feed intake or mortality of broilers during the 42-day experimental period (P > 0.05). Gradually increasing the doses of OAB, EOM and the OAB - EOM mixture led to insignificant improvements in broiler performance, compared with their lower supplementation rates. In conclusion, introducing EOM into the diets of broiler diets either alone or in combination with OAB significantly improved body weight and feed efficiency of broilers without affecting mortality. Similar results were observed with AGP. Our results raise the prospect of replacing AGP with novel alternatives, such as OABs and EOMs. © Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart.