Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of a blend of oregano essential oil (OEO) (as a source of natural antibacterial growth-promoting substances) and attapulgite (as a source of toxin-binder and as an antidiarrhoeal agent) on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal morphometry in broiler chickens (Ross-308). In the first trial, the control group was fed a basal diet without antibiotic growth promoters, and the experimental group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 5% OEO (OEO) (Ecodiar ® powder at 150 g/tn) and 80% attapulgite 80% (Ultrafed ® at 6 kg/tn) blend. In the second trial, the experimental group was given the basal diet supplemented with 5% OEO (Ecodiar ® powder at 300 g/tn) and 80% attapulgite (Ultrafed ® at 3 kg/tn) blend. Intestinal microbiota was enumerated by conventional techniques with selective agar media at the end of the trial at both ileum and caecum, and intestinal morphology was assessed in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Results showed that in the first trial, despite the positive impact on daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio, growth performance was not affected by the blend with OEO and attapulgite. Furthermore, no effect was found on intestinal morphometry. However, the counts of lactic acid bacteria were increased significantly, and coliforms were decreased in caecal contents. In the second trial, a positive impact was noticed on daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio by the high OEO and low attapulgite blend. Dietary supplementation of OEO and attapulgite increased ileal villus height and lactic acid bacteria significantly and reduced coliforms in ileal and caecal contents compared with the control group. In conclusion, the combination of OEO at 15 mg/kg and attapulgite at 2.4 g/kg exerted a positive effect on growth performance, ileal villus height and intestinal microbiota of broilers. Keywords: Gut microflora, intestinal architecture, magnesium aluminium silicate, oregano
Highlights
Antibiotics fed at sub-therapeutic levels have been widely used as the cornerstone of increased performance with improved growth rate and feed efficiency in broiler chickens, as well as health improvement with reduced morbidity and mortality (Castanon, 2007), and several positive effects related to gut health
Despite the positive effects of clays on animal health, a high inclusion level (0.6%) might cause a dilution of energy and protein that could explain their mitigated growth-promoting effect. Another explanation as to whether feed additives might not affect growth performance is that the control performance level is high and may mask growth permission properties of tested feed additives
The results of the current study suggest that the combination of 15 mg oregano essential oil (OEO)/kg and 2.4 g attapulgite/kg exerted a positive effect on growth performance, ileal villus height and intestinal microbiota for broilers
Summary
Antibiotics fed at sub-therapeutic levels have been widely used as the cornerstone of increased performance with improved growth rate and feed efficiency in broiler chickens, as well as health improvement with reduced morbidity and mortality (Castanon, 2007), and several positive effects related to gut health. Owing to the development of bacteria strains that are resistant to antibiotics (Pratt et al, 2003), this use has been questioned. European Union (EU) countries were the first to ban antibiotic growth promoters. Several other countries have put restrictions on the use of in-feed antibiotics. Suggestions for restrictions or even a ban on the use of antibiotics as feed additives might eventually come. Sci. vol 46 to American and Asian countries (Clark et al, 2012) owing to increased concern about the transmission and proliferation of bacteria resistance via the food chain
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