Single and combined effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils and acetic acid on productive performance, certain blood and kidney health-related parameters in broiler chickens

Abstract

A 2 × 6 factorial experiment was carried out to evaluate the single and combined effects of oral gavage of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO; 0, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 mg/bird/day) and dietary acetic acid (AA; 0 and 20 mg/kg) on selected parameters using 252 Ross-308 14-day-old broiler chicks. Effects of 12 treatments were examined in seven replicates of three birds each. Administration of SkEO at 400, 500 and 600 mg/day reduced ADFI by 8.99, 8.09 and 10.12% compared with those gavaged with 200 mg, respectively. In the birds gavaged with 400 mg SkEO, serum concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased when compared with those who received 600 mg SkEO in Days 42 of age. Serum concentration of albumin (ALB) was greater by 8.38% in birds fed with AA-added diets than the control birds in Day 34 of age. Serum concentration of antioxidants increased in the birds receiving 400 mg of SkEO and fed with the non-acidified diet than those receiving 300 mg of SkEO and fed acidified diets. Gross kidney health improved by gavaging SkEO indicated by greater frequency of score zero (apparently healthy) and reduced fat percentage in the SkEO-fed birds. The kidney fat proportion in the birds gavaged SkEO at 300 to 500 mg were decreased when compared with control birds in Day 38 of age. In conclusion, SkEO can be fed to broiler chicken to improve kidney health at 200 to 400 mg/day with no adverse effect of performance.HIGHLIGHTSDirect administration of SkEO into crop through oral gavageing lowered feed intake and improved gross kidney health.Almost all productive performance indications were adversely affected in birds receiving AA-added diets.No interaction was found between the SkEO and acetic acid in main productive traits.