The impact of encapsulated savory (Satureja hortensis) essential oils versus antibiotics on growth performance, ileal microbiota, and immune response in broiler chickens

This study compared the effects of non-encapsulated (SEO) savory essential oils, encapsulated savory essential oils (ESEO) and antibiotics (ANT) on growth performance, ileal microbiota, and immune responses in broiler chicks. A total of ۳۶۰ one-day-old male Ross ۳۰۸ broiler chicks was randomly assigned to six treatments, five replicates, and ۱۲ chickens per replicate. The dietary treatments included a control group (CON), an antibiotic group (ANT, ۶۵۰ ppm flavophospholipol), and groups receiving SEO and ESEO at the levels of ۱۵۰ and ۳۰۰ ppm. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), production efficiency factor (PEF), ileal microbiota, and immune response were measured on day ۴۲. Results indicated an increase (P<۰.۰۱) in BWG for birds receiving ۱۵۰ ppm SEO, while FCR improved (P<۰.۰۱) in birds receiving either ۱۵۰ ppm SEO or ESEO compared to the control and ANT groups. Birds that were fed with ۱۵۰ ppm SEO showed significantly higher PEF than other treatments except for those fed with ESEO۱۵۰. Additionally, both SEO and ESEO at ۱۵۰ ppm level positively influenced the ileal microbial population (P<۰.۰۵). Dietary supplementation with varying levels of savory essential oils (SEO or ESEO) increased (P<۰.۰۵) the relative weight of the Bursa of Fabricius compared to the ANT group. Specifically, inclusion of ۱۵۰ ppm SEO led to a notable increase (P<۰.۰۵) in anti-SRBC antibody levels at both ۳۵ and ۴۲ days of age, and elevated the IgG level at ۳۵ days of age, when compared to the control birds. Furthermore, supplementation of SEO or ESEO, particularly at the ۱۵۰ppm level, was effective in enhancing the populations of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, along with improving the growth performance and antibody response in broilers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Broiler Chickens ، encapsulation ، essential oils ، savory