Effects of carboxy methyl cellulose and thymol + carvacrol on performance, digesta viscosity and some blood metabolites of broilers

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thymol + carvacrol as plant essential oils on performance, digesta viscosity and some blood metabolites of broilers fed diets supplemented with carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and/or thymol+carvacrol. In a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, two levels of CMC (0% and 2%) and three levels of thymol+carvacrol (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were used. Each of the six dietary treatments was fed to five replicate pens of 12 birds each from 0 to 42 days of age. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), intestinal digesta viscosity and pH, plasma lipids and some blood metabolites were recorded. The inclusion of 2% CMC decreased (p < 0.05) BWG by 2.2% and increased FCR by 2.3% at 42 days of age. Carboxy methyl cellulose significantly increased the digesta viscosity and decreased serum total cholesterol, but had no significant effect on triglyceride, pH, HDL, LDL and other blood metabolites measured in this experiment. Thymol+carvacrol had no effect on feed intake, but significantly increased (p < 0.05) BWG from 1 to 42 days of age and improved FCR (p < 0.05) by the addition of 100 and 200 mg/kg thymol+carvacrol respectively. Inclusion of thymol+carvacrol at levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg in the diets decreased digesta viscosity and serum total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and also increased AST at a 200 mg/kg thymol+carvacrol without any effect on creatine kinase (CK). Thymol+carvacrol significantly increased total protein (TP), albumin and globulin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, CMC at an inclusion level of 2% of diet increased digesta viscosity and reduced growth performance. However, thymol+carvacrol decreased digesta viscosity and consequently improved the performance of broilers fed the CMC-based diet. Therefore, thymol+carvacrol addition to viscose-based diets might be helpful to alleviate the negative effects of viscous compounds in poultry diets.

Positive Impact of Oregano Essential Oil on Growth Performance, Humeral Immune Responses and Chicken Interferon Alpha Signalling Pathway in Broilers

“…In accordance to previous study which stated that thy-mol+carvacrol increased BWG from 1 to 42 days of age but decreased digesta viscosity (Hashemipour et al, 2014). Therefore, in addition to their antimicrobial activity (Wenk, 2000) thymol and carvacrol can significantly improve bird performance via their down regulatory effect on digesta viscosity (Hashemipour et al, 2014).…”

Effects of the Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) Powder and Extract on the Performance of Male Broiler Chicken

“…The results of the present study indicated that the bot natural SP and SE that were added to feed or drinking water, respectively could improve the FCR at the end of the 42-day production cycle without adverse effects on the feed intake and daily weight gain. This is consistent with the study by Hashemipour et al (2014) [8], in which a commercial product was used. Contrarily, SP was reported to have no significant effects on the feed intake, daily weight, and FCR in the studies by Zamanimoghaddam et al (2007) [12] and Ghalamkari et al (2011) [13].…”

“…Summer savory and its active essential oils have recently been experimented as food additives and in alternative to antimicrobial agents in order to determine their effects on broiler performance. For instance, Hashemipour et al (2014) [8] reported the improvement of body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), while the feed intake had no increase in the female broilers receiving 100 and 200 mg/kg of carvacrol with thymol from a commercial feed additive product. However, the feed intake linearly decreased when the concentration of thymol and carvacrol increased to zero, 60, 100, and 200 mg/kg in the basal diet.…”

Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review

“…Furthermore, the animal diet with this blend included significantly decreased digesta viscosity and serum total cholesterol and increased plasma aspartate amino transferase, total protein, albumin, and globulin, compared with the control diet. The authors concluded that the addition of CV + TH to viscose‐based diet might alleviate the detrimental effects of viscous compounds in poultry diets (Hashemipour, Kermanshahi, Golian, & Khaksar, ).…”