Effects of Microencapsulated Blends of Organics Acids (OA) and Essential Oils (EO) as a Feed Additive for Broiler Chicken. A Focus on Growth Performance, Gut Morphology and Microbiology

Abstract

The goal of the trial was testing the effects of a blend of organic acids and essential oils dietary supplementation on growth performance and gut healthiness in broiler chickens. In total, 420 male Ross 308 chicks (1-day old) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: basal (BD) and organic acids and essential oils (OA&EO) diets (three replicates/treatment; 70 broilers/replicate). BD group received commercial diets whereas OA&EO group basal diets + 5 g/kg of microencapsulated organic acids and essential oils. OA&EO treatment improved the average daily gain (p < 0.01) and feed conversion ratio at 37–47 days compared to BD treatment. OA&EO treatment improved gut morphology mostly at ileum and duodenum levels in terms of villi height, crypt depth, number of villi, mucosa thickness and villi area at 24 and 34 sampling days. A certain selective action against Clostridium perfringens in ileum of OA&EO group was shown at 33 (p = 0.053) and 46 days (p = 0.09) together with lower median values for Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococci, Mesophilic bacteria and Clostridium perfringens at ceca level. Overall, organic acids and essential oils supplementation improved growth performance in the final growth stage and some morphological gut traits and reduced to a certain extent Clostridium perfringens count in ileum.

Thymol Nanoemulsion: A New Therapeutic Option for Extensively Drug Resistant Foodborne Pathogens

“…This notable finding was ascertained by the pronounced improvement in the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio as well as decreases in the severity of clinical findings and mortality percentages, especially in the challenged group treated with 2.25% thymol nanoemulsion. In accordance with our study, a reduced mortality rate and an improved growth gain and feed conversion ratio were observed upon supplementation of chicken diet with microencapsulated blends of natural identical essential oils especially thymol [42]. Our present in vivo observations parallel the previous study, which confirmed the antivirulence activities of thymol oil and thymol nanoemulsion against different Salmonella species [43].…”

Effects of Microencapsulated Blend of Organic Acids and Essential Oils as a Feed Additive on Quality of Chicken Breast Meat

“…The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a blend of OA (sorbic and citric acids) and EO (thymol and vanillin), already recognized as improving growth performance [28], in order to highlight the potential effects on quality of meat during refrigerated storage. In our previous trial, we observed certain positive effects on mortality rate, growth performance, gut morphology, inflammation of gut epithelium, with a reduction in Clostridium perfringens load in ileal content and a decrease in mesophilic bacteria and enterococci loads in litter, occurring in the last growing phase [30]. However, this positive finding did not lead to improvements in slaughter performances, which appeared comparable between treatments in terms of carcass yield and cut percentage, even if a higher yield percentage was numerically detected in AVI than in CON carcasses.…”

“…Its use, mainly as replacer of antibiotic growth promoters, is well documented either in swine [28] and in poultry, for which it is reported to improve feed intake, food conversion ratio, and to decrease mortality [29]. In a recent study, we observed a reduction in the overall mortality rate and a positive effect on growth rate in the last period of the growing cycle when broiler chicken diet was supplemented with 0.5% of microencapsulated blend of OA and EO [30]. Moreover, in the same study, a favourable effect on gut morphology was also found in different intestinal segments, in the last growing phases.…”

“…The animals were handled by specialized personnel following the European Union Guidelines (2010/63/EU Directive). The experimental design was in detail described by Stamilla et al [30]. Briefly, 420 male Ross 308 chicks (1 day old) from the same hatching were randomly allocated in six pens, all placed in the same shed.…”

“…Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine whether the dietary supplementation of microencapsulated blends of OA and EO affects the quality and shelf-life of breast chicken fillets. To achieve this objective, the same chickens from the study by Stamilla et al [30] were used to evaluate the oxidative stability and microbial dynamics in raw and cooked meat stored in practical conditions. Moreover, the fatty acid profile and physical parameters of the meat were determined.…”