A total of 240 Cobb 500 broiler chicks, 18 days old, were allocated to 10 treatments groups, each of which included 4 replicates. Experimental treatments consisted of a 5×2 factorial arrangement with 5 levels of L-threonine (Thr) supplementation and 2 levels of stocking density (11.90 birds mG 2 as the normal stocking density or 16.66 birds mG 2 as the high stocking density). L-Thr was added to a basal diet at 0.0 (control group), 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 g kgG 1 diet. Dietary Thr values were 0.69, 0.71 (deficient), 0.74 (adequate; 100% NRC), 0.76 and 0. 79% (excess) of the current NRC recommendations. At 42 days of age, dietary Thr levels had no significant effect on performance, immunity, plasma total protein and glucose (GLU). However, plasma cholesterol (CHO) levels decreased significantly (p<0.05) with L-Thr supplementation and the lowest value occurred at 0.74% total dietary Thr. In addition, plasma triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels were higher (p<0.05) at 0.76% total dietary Thr compared with the control group. The normal stocking density resulted in better performance (p<0.05) compared with the high stocking density. However, stocking density did not affect plasma total protein, total Ig, IgG, IgM, total lipids, GLU, CHO, T3 and T4 levels. Interactions between Thr level and stocking density were observed for plasma levels of total lipids and cholesterol. In conclusion, total dietary Thr level at 0.69% (93% of NRC recommendations) is sufficient to improve broiler performance or immunity under high stocking density. However, 0.74% total dietary Thr level has a positive effect on decreasing plasma total lipids and cholesterol levels during growing-finishing phase.

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The efficacy of rosemary essential oil (REO), as feed additive, on growth and blood constituents of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits was evaluated. Thirty six NZW were distributed into four groups: 1 control and 3 treated groups. The control was fed the basal diet, while feeds of other treatments were fortified with 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/kg REO for groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The criteria of response were growth performance, carcass traits, blood glucose, plasma lipids, immunoglobulins, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and testosterone concentrations. Results revealed that REO supplementation had no critical impacts on growth performance, carcass yeild or blood glucose. Rabbits recieving dietary REO exhibited lower lipid profile and higher immunoglobulins A than those of the control. The treated rabbits displayed significantly higher TAC than the basal group with the best reaction for those fed G3 diet. In a similar way, MDA was reduced essentially by including REO. There was a significant increase in testosterone levels due to added REO. The present results indicate that supplemental REO at 0.5 g/kg of diet has a beneficial impact on lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant status of rabbits.

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The effect of dietary supplementation garlic oil on performance and blood parameters of New Zealand White rabbits has been studied. The garlic oil was added at graded levels of 0.0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 g/kg for T1 (control), T2, T3 and T4, respectively. A total of thirty six male rabbits, 7 weeks of age and with an initial weigh of 950 g were used. There were four treatments, each with three replicates (n = 3) in randomly divided design. The parameters investigated were growth performance, carcass yield, glucose, plasma lipids profile, immunoglobulin’s G (IgG, IgA and IgM), antioxidant status and testosterone hormone. The results showed that feeding diet supplemented with garlic oil had insignificant effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and HDL. Rabbits fed the 0.5 g/kg garlic oil diet had significantly increased IgG level, hence improved immune responses and Testosterone hormone of rabbits. The colony forming units of coliform bacteria showed a significantly lower number compared with control. The present results indicate that supplemented of garlic oil at 0.5 g/kg of diet has a positive effect on HDL, immunoglobulin’s G, antioxidant status and testosterone hormone in addition to its antibacterial effect.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of two types of antioxidants containing compounds on some physiological components of laying hens for 8 weeks as well as egg quality with special reference to egg yolk cholesterol concentration. Ninety six adult Shaver White laying hens were randomly divided into six groups ,each contained sixteen birds , control group, two garlic groups (fed on basal diet plus 1g or 3g/kg), two yeast groups (fed on basal diet plus 2g or 4g /kg), and the last group received basal diet plus a mixture of 3g garlic and 4g yeast /kg. Feed intake significantly increased in groups received garlic (3g/kg) and that received garlic and yeast together, while egg weight , Haugh unit and egg mass, were not significantly affected but egg production percent significantly improved. Egg yolk cholesterol significantly declined in all treated groups, especially in that given both garlic and yeast. serum total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol as well as LDL-C significantly declined in most treated groups while serum HDL-C significantly increased in the groups receiving garlic (3g/kg) or both garlic and yeast. Also serum total protein and albumin levels increased in the group supplemented with both garlic and yeast. Serum levels of estrogen and progesterone significantly increased in the group receiving both garlic and yeast. In conclusion dietary garlic and yeast powder can be used for laying hens to increase egg quality , since, they have a cholesterol-lowering effect.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with three levels of thyme (5, 10 and 15 g/kg) and its essential oils (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg) on growth performance, blood profiles, immune response and antioxidant status in broiler chickens. A total of one hundred-forty day-old unsexed broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 7 equal groups, each with 4 replicates, and kept in battery cages. Feed and water were offered ad libitum till the termination of the trial at 6 weeks of age. Growth performance and blood parameters were measured. The control group and the group fed 5 g/kg thyme were significantly better in their LBW and BWG as compared to other groups in the first three weeks of study and whole experimental period. On the other hand, feeding the diet having 5 g/kg thyme enhanced feed intake during the starter and whole experimental periods as compared to other groups. Broilers fed the diet fortified with1.0 g/kg thyme oil displayed significantly better feed conversion ratio than did other experimmintal groups during the starter and whole experimintal periods. Dietary treatments had no significant effect on the plasma levels of total lipids, triglycerides and total protein as well as activity of AST and ALT. It was observed that broiler chickens fed the diets conaining thyme and/or essential oils exhibited higher concentration of plasma HDL compared with the control group, with the highest concentration of HDL in 15 g/kg thyme-group. On the other hand, dietary supplementation with thyme or its essential oils led to a significant reduction in plasma LDL compared with control group. The humoral immune response was improved in broiler chickens fed the treated diets as evidenced by a significant increase in immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) compared with the control group. It is of great interest to notice that thyme and its essential oils administred-groups significantly increased TAC but decreased MDA as compared to the control group. Findings from this study highlighted the beneficial effect of thyme supplementation in diets at the rate of 5.0 g/kg on cholesterol , immunity and antioxidant status of broiler chickens Key words:broilers-thyme-lipids profile-immune response-antioxidant status Acamovic, T., and J. D. Brooker, 2005. Biochemistry of plant secondary metabolites and their effects in animals. Proc. Nutr. Soc.64:403-412. Alçiçek, A., M. Bozkurt, and M. Çabuk, 2003. The effects of an essential oil combination derived from selected herbs growing wild in turkey on broiler performance. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 33:89-94. Alipour, F., A. Hassanabadi, A. Golian, and H. Nassiri-Moghaddam, 2015. Effect of plant extracts derived from thyme on male broiler performance. Poultry Science 94:2630-2634 Belenli, D. , D. Udum, S. Şule Cengiz and Ü. Polat, 2015. Influence of various volatile oils as a dietary supplement on biochemical and performance parameters in broilers. J. Biol. Environ. Sci., 9(25), 47-55 Bölükbaş S.C., M.K. Erhan and A.Özkan, 2006. Effect of dietary thyme oil and vitami...