Effect of a Dietary Herbal Mixture Supplement on the Growth Performance, Egg Production and Health Status in Chickens

Abstract

The experiment was carried out with dual-purpose fowls developed for rural backyard farming -indigenous Katunitsa chicken (line "AN"), in a free range management system from hatching to 52 weeks of age. The purpose of the investigation was to establish the influence of a blend of herbs as a dietary supplement on some serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides and creatinine), growth performance, egg production, egg fatty acid composition, and health status. The composition of this blend of herbs included: 0.05% garlic powder (Allium sativum), 0.3% cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum) and 0.03% of each of the following dried herbs: yarrow (Achillea millefolium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus serpyllum), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and oregano (Origanum vulgare). The birds were divided into two groups -control (n=60) without supplemental mixture to the diet and experimental (n=700) with supplemental mixture to the diet from the first day of age to the end of the experiment. The results showed that the herbal mixture supplement decreased significantly the blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels -at 7 (P<0.001) and at 52 weeks (P<0.05) of age. The content of phospholipids, triglycerides and linoleic acid in the egg yolk was higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (Р<0.05). There was no significant difference in the egg yolk cholesterol levels between both groups (P>0.05). Over the entire investigation period the chickens from the experimental group had a better feed conversion ratio (with 3.37%) and a higher egg laying capacity (with 1.79%). At the end of experiment (52 weeks of age), hens from the control group exhibited generalised fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma, while these in experimental group, the major part of hepatocytes had no fat droplets in their cytoplasm. The death rate from 0 to 7, from 8 to 21 and from 22 to 52 weeks of age was 18.33%, 0% and 8.57% in the control group and 1.00%, 0.26% and 2.62% in the experimental group, respectively. Therefore in conclusion, it can be affirmed that the use of this blend of herbs had a beneficial effect in the treated fowls and improved their egg productivity, vitality and health condition.Keywords: blood biochemical parameters, chickens, dried herbs, egg production, garlic, growth performance, mortality РезюмеПроучването е проведено с кокошки от общоползувателно направление, предназначени за свободно отглеждане във фамилни ферми -Катунска кокошка, (линия "AN") от излюпване на пилетата до 52-седмична възраст. Целта е да се установи влиянието на билкова смес използувана като добавка в комбинирания фураж върху някои серумни биохимични показатели (аланин аминотрансфераза, аспартат аминотрансфераза, общ холестерол, гамаглутамилтрансфераза, триглицериди и креатинин), растежа, носливостта, мастнокиселинния състав на яйчния жълтък и здравния статус. Съставът на билкова смес е: 0,05% чесън на прах, 0.3% канела (Cin...

The effect of a phytogenic additive on nutritional composition of turkey meat

“…For poultry are widely used supplements with antimicrobial effect, antioxidant effect, pH controlling agents, enzymes, feed acidifiers, probiotics, prebiotics, fytobiotics, synbiotics and other specific active ingredients (Arpášová, 2011). They may have a beneficial effect on gastrointestinal microflora of poultry (Kačániová et al, 2011), production characteristics, meat quality (Haščík et al, 2009;Angelovičová et al, 2010) eggs of poultry (Gálik and Horniaková, 2010;Arpášová, 2011) vitality and health condition (Gerzilov et al, 2015). Phytogenics are a relatively young class of feed additives and in recent years this feed additives have gained considerable attention in the feed industry.…”

Effect of Some Herbs in Boiler Diets on Blood Proteins and Lipids

“…In contrast parsely decrease triglyceride level. [20] reported that the herbal mixture supplement decreased the blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels at 7 (P<0.001) and at 52 weeks (P<0.05) of age in layers were added to the diets. [18] found that Barsely resulted in significant increase in blood plasma total protein, albumen, globulin, HDL, decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and creatinine in comparison to control group.…”

Oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) to feed laying hens and its effects on animal health

“…the search of new alternatives for feed supplementation in poultry production in order to improve animal health, and quantitative and qualitative productivity is considered one of the main priorities (Gerzilov et al 2015). essential oils are a mixture of several compounds of herbal origin, that can be used for animal feeding to improve its performance and health (Roofchaee et al 2011).…”