The influence of a probiotic additive and aromatic oils from medicinal and spicy plants on the basic production parameters and on the incidence of intestinal disorders of weaned pigs (weaning at the age of 30-32 days) was compared in two trials in a commercial pig fattening farm (Michalovce, Slovakia). In the first trial, an experimental (nex = 38) and a control group (nco = 32) were used. A commercial probiotic additive containing Enterococcus faecium M-74 (6 × 10 8 CFU/g) and IgY antibodies (920 mg/g dried activated egg matter) against pig Rotavirus and different strains of Escherichia coli (K88, K99, 987P, F18) were added to feed mixture of the experimental group from 30 th to 40 th day (12 × 10 8 CFU/g) and subsequently from 40 th to 50 th day (6 × 10 8 CFU/g) of age. The second trial was performed with three groups of pigs (nex1 = 28, nex2 = 24, nco = 28). Aromatic oils isolated from sage (Salvia officinalis L., Labiateae) or oregano (Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae) were added to feed mixtures of the 1 st (90 mL/100 kg) and 2 nd experimental group (35 mL/100 kg), respectively, from 32 th to 53 th day of age. A statisticaly non-significant decrease of the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases was observed in the experimental groups of both trials as follows

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Supplementation of oregano and sage extracts into the feed of experimental chickens a caused significant increase of mitogen-activated lymphocyte proliferation on the seventh week of feeding. On the other hand, fed diet supplemented with both extracts did not change number of CD3, CD4, CD8, IgM and IgG positive peripheral blood cells examined by flow cytometry. Similarly, no significant changes have been found in values, demonstrating the functional activity of phagocytes like phagocytic activity, the index of phagocytic activity and index of metabolic burst. Level of plasma immunoglobulins was and temporary on Week 4 of feeding, significantly decreased in chickens treated with oregano extract only. Lower levels of plasma immunoglobulin suggest a connection with antibacterial effect of carvacrol. Results showed no pro-inflammatory effects in studied parameters of systemic immune response. On the other hand, lymphocyte stimulation in vitro suggest a higher immune defence ability.

The effect of oregano essential oil on growth performance, intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) level, enterocyte proliferative ability, plasma proteins, and plasma minerals (calcium and magnesium) were studied in 1 day-old Ross 308 hybrid broiler chickens under commercial conditions during 42 experiment. Chickens fed oregano oil supplemented diet (0.707 g.kg-1) had significantly higher body weight gain (BWG) in the grower (19-29 d) and finisher (30-42 d) periods. Total plasma immunoglobulin levels were lower while mineral levels were higher during the finisher period. Significant decrease of IAP activity was demonstrated in animals fed oregano oil supplemented diet on 29, and 42 days of the experiment. Proliferative activity of enterocytes significantly increased in the finisher period along duodenal villi in animals treated with essential oil extracted from oregano. We suppose that higher body performance was probably the result of higher digestibility in the digestive tract. It is suggested that the antibacterial effect of carvacrol caused a lower number of intestinal bacteria, decrease of immunoglobulins and increase of investigated plasma proteins

The effects of sage extract on the activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (AP), proliferative ability of enterocytes, and growth performance in chickens were studied during 42 days of the experiment under commercial conditions. A significant increase of body weight gain was found in chickens fed with sage extract in the grower period (17-29 days of age) and in the finisher period (30-42 day of age). Total serum proteins were significantly (p < 0.05) increased at 29 days of age in animals treated with sage extract. A significant (p < 0.001) decrease in activity of intestinal AP was demonstrated on 29 and 42 days in animals fed with sage extract complemented diet. Proliferative activity of enterocytes was increased (p < 0.01) in the finisher period along the duodenal villi in animals treated with sage extract. We conclude that the higher growth performance was probably due to improved endogenous secretion of the liver as a consequence of increased total proteins mainly in the grower period. Decreased activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase was not in correlation with proliferative ability of enterocytes and the lower activity of AP could be influenced by improved digestion of lipids.