Dietary Tea Tree (<i>Melaleuca alternifolia</i>) Oil Supplementation Improves Growth Performance, Cecal Microflora, Immunity, and Antioxidant Capacity of Partridge Shank Chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tea tree oil (TTO) supplementation on the growth performance, cecal microflora composition, immunity, and antioxidant status of Partridge Shank chickens. A total of 144 one-day-old chicks were allocated into three treatments with six replicates of eight chicks each and fed with a basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control group), 500, and 1000 mg/kg TTO for 50 days. Compared with the control group, the broilers fed with the basal diet supplemented with 1000 mg/kg TTO exhibited an increase in average daily gain from 22 to 50 days (P＝0.035) and in both relative thymus weight (P＜0.001) and Lactobacillus colonies in the cecal contents (P＝0.045) at 50 days of age, but a reduction in the feed/gain ratio during 1 to 50 days (P＝0.048). Additionally, dietary TTO supplementation, irrespective of dosage, increased the relative spleen weight (P＝0.003) and total antioxidant capacity in the jejunum (P＝0.049) and ileum (P＝0.001) at 21 days, but decreased the malondialdehyde content in the ileum at both 21 (P＝0.003) and 50 days (P＜0.001) and in the jejunum at 50 days (P＝0.012). The results suggested that TTO supplementation could improve the growth performance, cecal microflora composition, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of Partridge Shank chickens.

Effects of adding tea tree oil on growth performance, immune function, and intestinal function of broilers

“…It has been reported ( Dong et al, 2019 ) that supplement of 150 mg/kg TTO in daily feed improves intestinal mucosal immunity significantly in weaning pigs compared to the use of antibiotics. Similar benefits have been reported in poultry medicine, which revealed that adding TTO in daily feed improves growth performance, cecum microflora, immunity, and antioxidant capacity in Partridge Shank chickens ( Qu et al, 2019 ). However, information regarding how TTO affects intestinal morphology, immunity, and growth performance in Fengyan black bone chickens ( Ayam Cemani ) remains scant.…”

“…The results of this study showed that ADG increased significantly while F/G significantly decreased with supplement of TTO since 14th day of the study. Qu et al (2019) found that TTO supplementation had a significant effect on ADG in Partridge Shank chickens. Therefore, these results indicate that the addition of TTO to the ration can promote broiler growth and increase the feed conversion ratio.…”

Dietary tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil supplementation enhances the expressions of amino acid transporters in goat ileal mucosa and improves intestinal immunity

“…This shows that the addition of TTO does not change the flavor or amino acid content of goats. Studies have claimed that TTO can improve animal growth performance (Abo Ghanima et al, 2021 ; Puvaca et al, 2019 ; Qu et al, 2019 ). In animals, muscle protein turnover (protein synthesis and decomposition) is a critical factor affecting growth performance, but the effect of TTO on protein turnover in muscle tissue is still unknown.…”

“…shows that the addition of TTO does not change the flavor or amino acid content of goats. Studies have claimed that TTO can improve animal growth performance (AboGhanima et al, 2021;Puvaca et al, 2019;Qu et al, 2019). In animals, muscle protein turnover F I G U R E 2 Schematic diagram for tea tree oil improving intestinal immunity by enhancing amino acid transport in the ileal mucosa of goats.…”

Effects of the substitution of oregano essential oil for antibiotics in the plateau-broiler diet

“…However, few studies have investigated its effects as a dietary supplement for chickens in plateau areas. And Partridge Shank chicken, a native poultry strain in China, not only provide exquisite and nutrient-rich meat for Chinese consumers, but also exhibit strong adaptability and disease resistance compared with commercial broiler strain (Qu et al 2019). It is generally slaughtered at 75 day-old.…”