Effect of lavender (<i>Lavandula Stoechas</i>) essential oil on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and antioxidant status of broilers

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of essential oils from lavender (Lavandula stoaches) (LEO), on growth performance, carcass quality and antioxidant status of broilers. Three nutritionally adequate diets were composed with the addition of LEO at 0, 24, and 48 mg/kg of feed. The diets were fed as mash in the starter (d 0-21) and grower (d 22-39) phases. A total of 405 day-old chicks (Ross-308) were allocated to the three dietary treatments, each with three replicate pens with 45 birds per pen. After the first 21-day feeding period, the bodyweight of chicks fed 24 mg/kg LEO was higher (P <0.01) than the 48 mg/kg LEO treatment, but only slightly higher than that of the untreated group. Diets with 24 and 48 mg/kg of LEO tended to increase final bodyweight of birds at 39 days old. No differences were observed for feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality among treatments. Feeding chickens on a diet with added LEO significantly reduced the relative weight of liver (P <0.01) compared with the control (CNT) group. Percentage of spleen weight of birds fed 24 mg/kg LEO was lower (P <0.05) than for those who received 48 mg/kg LEO. However, it was similar to that of the CNT. Birds fed diets supplemented with 24 and 48 mg/kg LEO had breast meat with higher brightness (L* value) and higher concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared with birds that did not receive LEO. Based on the data, it can be concluded that LEO could be used as a growth promoter in broiler nutrition with potential improvements in breast meat quality. ______________________________________________________________________________________

Effects of using essential oil of Lavandula stoechas in quail feed on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and health status

“…We also found that the addition of LO during all breeding phases resulted in significant differences in the characteristics of the carcass and the physicpchemical properties of the meat. These findings included a significant increase in both warm and cold carcass weights, carcass yield, and feather weights; interestingly, we observed no effect on live weight or the weights of the feet, head and gizzards, similar to results reported previously [9]. The effect of LO on the weight and development of the gizzard may be neutral due to the nature of its physiological function [27,28], although several groups have noted that administration of LO resulted in smaller livers.…”

“…The addition of LO to quail feed throughout the breeding period (days 1-42) and specifically during the finishing period (days 21-42) resulted in [20], who reported that the addition of 350 ppm of essential oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) to the diet of broiler chickens resulted in increased live weights during the 22-42 day interval. By contrast, Küçükyilmaz et al [9] reported that diets supplemented with 24 or 48 mg of EOLS per kg feed had no effect on the final body weight of 39-day-old broiler chickens. In accordance with these findings, the study conducted by Salajegheh et al [21] demonstrated that adding 1% herbal powder of L. angustifolia to broiler feed resulted in significant increases in weight gain during all breeding phases (growth and finishing).…”

“…The addition of LO during the entire 42-day breeding period resulted in a reduction in both the amount eaten and the CI. Interestingly, Mokhtari et al [23] and Küçükyilmaz et al [9] found that addition of LO had no effect on either of these two parameters, although Bozkurt et al [10] found that addition of essential oil derived from plants of the family Labiatae stimulated the growth in broiler chickens. Furthermore, the quantity of LO distributed (1 g/kg feed) may have an effect on these results [24].…”

“…belonging to the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family have long been used in dried and natural forms for both therapeutic (antibacterial, antifungal, and antidepressant) and cosmetic purposes. It is not yet clear precisely how essential oils promote these results; however, efforts have been made toward characterizing their constituent phenolic compounds [9]. Bozkurt et al [10] have suggested that the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the phenolic compounds found in Lavandula stoechas (lavender oil [LO]) have a direct effect on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in studies focused on poultry farming.…”

The role of antioxidants and their use in animal breeding and poultry farming (review)

“…Также был отмечен положительный эффект применения смеси эфирных масел орегано, лаврового листа, листьев шалфея, листьев мирта, семян фенхеля в количестве до 24 мг на 1 кг корма в качестве пищевой добавки на производстве яиц кур-несушек и перепелов [82,83].…”