Improvement of productive and metabolic indicators of broiler by the application of Lippia origanoides essential oil in an in vivo intestinal inflammation model

Abstract

Broiler meat is the animal origin protein source with the highest nutritional quality, growth, and projection in the last decade. However, the presence of traces of antimicrobials in the final products, mainly due to the indiscriminate addition of antibiotics (prophylactic use) as growth-promoters antibiotics (GPA) has raised major concerns. In the search for viable alternatives, natural additives such as essential oils appear, among which the oregano (OEO-Lippia origanoides) stands out. It has been used with success at an industrial level and its antimicrobial properties are well known. The current study aimed to evaluate the zootechnical parameters (accumulated weight gain, feed conversion, and feed efficiency) and blood metabolites (Alanine aminotransferase, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, phosphorous, calcium) in broilers adding OEO into their diet in an in vivo inflammation model achieved by adding Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from E. coli. 1200 animals were distributed in six diets: D1: basal diet (control) or balanced commercial diet without the addition of GPA, OEO, and LPS; D2: D1+150 ppm GPA (Avilamycin); D3: D1+150 ppm OEO (Lippia Origanoides); D4: D1+1.0 ppm LPS; D5: D1+1.0 ppm LPS+150 ppm GPA; D6: D1+1.0 ppm LPS+150 ppm OEO. The trial was carried out under a randomized block design. OEO-Lippia origanoides improved the zootechnical and metabolic variables (P<0.05) of birds in the face of in vivo inflammation at different ages; furthermore, it improved the animal response and the metabolic conditions of the animals under study. The zootechnical and blood metabolites results at different ages evidenced the technical feasibility of OEO as a nutritional growth promoter.