Effect of supplementation of phytogenic feed additives (powdered vs. encapsulated) on performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens

Abstract

Inclusion of phytogenic feed additives (PFA) in feed may enhance performance of broilers. Levels of essential oils in powdered form (characterized by menthol and anethole) at 150 mg/kg (P-150) and matrix-encapsulated form (characterized by carvacrol, thymol, and limonene) at 100 mg/kg (ME-100) were supplemented in diet to investigate their effect on performance (trial 1) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients (trial 2) in broilers. A total of 480 1-day-old broilers (Cobb 500) were used in trial 1 and 120 broilers in trial 2. Broilers were distributed in 24 pens with 8 pens per treatment (trial 1) and 6 pens with 2 pens per treatment (trial 2), with 20 birds per pen. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experimental periods in both trials. In trial 1, body weight of birds at d 42 and overall body weight gain from d 1 to d 42, was higher in treatment ME-100 than birds in control treatment (P = 0.023 and P = 0.024, respectively). Feed efficiency during finisher phase was improved in treatment ME-100 relatively to control and P-150 treatments (P = 0.035). At d 21 in trial 2, the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein was higher in ME-100 treatment in comparison with control and P-150 treatments (P < 0.001). Apparent ileal absorption (AIA) of phosphorus was higher in ME-100 treatment than control treatment (P = 0.028). AID of cysteine was higher in both phytogenic additive supplemented treatments in comparison with control treatment (P = 0.001). In conclusion, inclusion of a powdered phytogenic additive characterized by menthol and anethole at 150 mg/kg had no effect but only a tendency towards improved performance and AIA of phosphorus, whereas essential oils addition in encapsulated form characterized by caravacol, thymol, and limonene at 100 mg/kg improved performance as well as apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients in broilers, possibly due to improved secretion of digestive enzymes.

Effects of Some Herbal Plant Supplements on Growth Performance and the Immune Response in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus)

“…This study was to investigate the pathways in the somatic growth and nutritional physiology of Nile tilapia that could be affected by turmeric, rosemary and thyme additive. The three phytogenic compounds had been shown to be a promote growth in monogastric animals (Hafeez et al, 2016), as it confirmed herein with Nile tilapia. Given that it remained unclear which pathways are involved in promoting growth.…”

Plant Bioactive Compounds in Pre- and Postharvest Management for Aflatoxins Reduction

“…Bioactive compounds are widely used as zootechnical additives to increase animals weight gain and performance. A general positive effect was shown for feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion rate in piglets, sows, and poultry, while inconsistent data were registered for apparent digestibility in piglets (Franz et al, 2010;Christaki et al, 2012;Zeng et al, 2015) possibly due to improved secretion of digestive enzymes and bile secretion (Hafeez et al, 2015). A positive effect on gut microbiota in monogastric animals was also reported by several authors (Tiihonen et al, 2010;Bento et al, 2013).…”

The impact of the humic acid and phytobiotics on performance and carcass parameters of broiler chickens

“…Study conducted by Toghyani et al (2010) reported that broilers receiving 5 g.kg -1 thyme had a significantly higher body weight at day 42 of age, while a report published by Kamali Sangani et al (2014) claimed the opposite by demonstrating that no significant effect was recorded. In the experiment Hafeez et al (2016) were body weight of birds at day 42 and overall body weight gain from day 1 to day 42 higher in treatment by carvacrol, thymol, and limonene than birds in control treatment.…”