Effect of thyme extract on fertility and survival of ISA F-15 broilers

Abstract

The paper highlights the research conducted in order to assess the effect of different doses of thyme extract on the productive properties and livability of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted at a broiler poultry farm with a closed production cycle; the experiment assumed the control group and 5 experimental groups where each group contained 37 broilers at floor housing. The broilers of the 1st experimental group were fed with the extract of medicinal plant thyme dosed 2 mg/kg; broilers of the 2nd group received thyme extract dosed 4 mg/kg; 3rd group of broilers – 6 mg/kg, 4th group -8 mg/kg, and the dosage of the thyme extract was 10 mg/kg for broilers in the 5th experimental group. The authors controlled the live weight of broilers in each group by means of individual weighing every 7 days. Using this data the researchers calculated average daily body weight gain, absolute and relative gain; feed consumption was daily calculated. Feed consumption became the basis for calculating feed costs per a kilo of live weight gain. The authors recorded the number of daily fallen chickens. The data on poultry loss was the basis for calculating poultry livability. In order to assess production efficiency, the European productivity index was calculated. The research results indicate the efficiency of thyme extract application in different doses when feeding the broiler. Application of thyme extract in feeding meat poultry allowed to increase productive properties of broilers from experimental groups from 2.3 to 4.7%, reduce feed costs per a kilo by 1.1-8.1%, increase poultry livability on 2.7-8.1% and increase the European productivity index in the experimental groups on 0.2 21.3%.