1. A total of 200 male Ross 308 chickens were used to evaluate the effects of a standardised combination of essential oils including 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% capsicum oleoresin (XT 6930; Pancosma S.A., Geneva, Switzerland) on their performance, hepatic antioxidant concentration and caecal tonsils morphometry. 2. Two diets were offered to broiler chickens from d old to 21 d of age. The control diet (C) was slightly lower in metabolisable energy (12.13 MJ/kg ME) and crude protein (215 g/kg CP) than breeders' recommendation. The second diet, made as XT 6930, was added on the top of the control diet at 100 mg/kg. Each diet was offered ad libitum to birds housed in one of 10 floor pens in a randomised complete block design. The birds were housed in 20 floor pens, 10 birds in each pen, and were allocated to 10 replicates of the two dietary treatments. 3. The concentration of antioxidants in the liver of the birds was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at 21 d of age. Birds fed control diet only had lower weight and converted less efficiently feed to gain compared to birds fed essential oils-supplemented diet. Feed consumption was not affected by dietary treatments. The antioxidant data showed that supplemented essential oils improved the hepatic concentration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 when fed to broiler chickens. The morphometry of the caecal tonsils of the birds was not influenced by dietary treatments. 4. It can be concluded that that dietary combination of essential oils, including carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and capsicum oleoresin, improved growth, feed efficiency and the hepatic concentration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 when fed to broiler chickens.

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SUMMARYFive thousand one hundred and nineteen chicks were obtained from a diallel combination of four breeds of chickens; (Anak Titan (A), Alpha (B), Giriraja (G) and Normal indigenous (N) chickens) in a broiler improvement program. The chicks were reared to 12 weeks in which data on weekly body weight (BW), breast girth (BG) and tibia length (TL) were recorded. Sire and dam genotype significantly (p<0.05) affected all traits. Anak Titan cocks and hens performed best in body weight (BW) with values ranging from 38.45 ± 0.74 g and 40.21 ± 0.66 g at day old to 1135.93 ± 35.67 g and 953.38 ± 35.38 g at week 12 respectively. Normal and Alpha improved indigenous performed better in linear body parameters. Results of diallel analysis to test for general and specific combining abilities of breeds on traits showed that additive genetic effects were important in determining BW and dominance effects were important for BG, while both effects were important in determining TL. This indicates that selection, crossbreeding and combination of both are tools needed to improve BW, BG and TL, respectively. Anak Titan had the best general combining ability (GCA) of 19.49 ± 0.42, 288.54 ± 7.52, 458.78 ± 12.15 and 769.30 ± 4.80 for BW at weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12, respectively and therefore recommended as a good breed for BW in the improvement program. GB crosses had the best SCA for BG and TL of 7. 43 ± 0.11, 8.21 ± 0.16, 11.82 ± 0.22, 5.90 ± 0.29; 8.50 ± 0.10, 9.68 ± 0.10, 7.92 ± 0.34, 0.86 ± 0.30 at weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12 respectively. It is recommended that an improvement process that involves all the breeds should be adapted using reciprocal recurrent selection or modifications of it. RESUMENCinco mil ciento diecinueve pollos fueron obtenidos, en un programa de mejora de pollos de engorde, a partir de una combinación dialélica de cuatro razas: Anak Titan (A), Alpha (B), Giriraja (G) y Normal indígena (N). Los pollos fueron criados a 12 semanas en las que se registraron los datos sobre peso corporal por semana (BW), circunferencia del pecho (BG) y longitud de la tibia (TL). El genotipo de machos y hembras afectó significativamente (p<0,05) a todos los caracteres. Los gallos y las gallinas Anak Titan mostraron el mejor comportamiento en peso corporal (BW) con valores que van desde 38,45 ± 0,74 g a 40,21 ± 0,66 g al día de edad hasta 1135,93 ± 35,67 g y 953,38 ± 35,38 g en la semana 12, respectivamente. Las razas indígenas mejoradas Normal y Alpha obtuvieron mejores resultados en los parámetros lineales del cuerpo. Los resultados del análisis dialélico para probar las capacidad general y específica de combinación de las razas en los caracteres, mostraron que los efectos genéticos aditivos fueron importantes en la determinación BW y los efectos de dominancia fueron importantes para BG, mientras que ambos efectos son importantes en la determinación de TL. Esto indica que la selección, el mestizaje y la combinación de de 19,49 ± 0,42; 7,52 ± 288,54; 458,78 ± 12,15 y 769,30 ± 4,80 para BW en las semanas 1, 4, 8 y 12, respectivamente, por l...

1. A 56-d experiment was conducted to study the comparative influence of organic and inorganic dietary copper (Cu) sources on growth, blood characteristics and copper accumulation in organs of broilers. 2. A total of 480 Arbor-Acre unsexed broilers were fed on diets containing copper sulphate (CuSO(4)) or copper proteinate (Cu Pro) at concentrations of 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of Cu supplementation. The birds were given a broiler starter diet from 1-28 d and a broiler finisher diet from 29-56 d which contained 30·8 mg/kg and 41·1 mg/kg basal copper concentration respectively. Growth performance, blood characteristics and Cu accumulation in organs of the broilers were measured. 3. At 28 d, Cu Pro-fed birds had improved feed conversion ratio compared with CuSO(4). At 56 d, birds fed on Cu Pro diets had significantly greater body weight than CuSO(4)-fed birds. Birds fed on CuSO(4) supplemented diets had significantly better feed conversion efficiency. Feed consumptions for the two Cu sources were not significantly different. At no stage did the concentration of added Cu affect the productive traits measured. 4. Cu Pro supplementation increased haemoglobin concentration but reduced plasma triglyceride and plasma cholesterol. Plasma cholesterol decreased as Cu concentration increased. 5. There was a greater accumulation of Cu in the blood, heart, lung, liver and bone of broilers fed on Cu Pro than in those receiving CuSO(4). The liver Cu concentration increased as dietary Cu concentration increased. 6. Cu Pro was more effective in promoting growth and reducing blood cholesterol, and was more bio-available in the organs of broilers.

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