Effects of oregano (Lippia origanoides) essential oil supplementation on the performance, egg quality, and intestinal morphometry of Isa Brown laying hens

Abstract

Background and Aim: The use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the feed of poultry, has contributed to an increase in the antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens worldwide. Hence, the development of new effective alternatives to antibiotics that do not hinder productivity is imperative. For this, the aim of the present study was to determine whether oregano essential oil (OEO) extracted from Lippia origanoides is a suitable alternative to growth-promoting antibiotics (GPAs) for improving the performance, egg quality, and intestinal morphometry of ISA Brown laying hens. Materials and Methods: A total of ninety-six 70-week-old ISA Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups with four replicates per treatment and six hens per replicate. The treatments consisted of four different diets that were formulated according to the nutritional requirements of the genetic line and the production phase with and without the addition of GPA and OEO: NC, which did not contain OEO or GPA; GPA, which included 50 ppm zinc bacitracin as a GPA; 80OEO, which included 80 ppm OEO and no GPA; and 150OEO, which included 150 ppm OEO and no GPA. Results: All of the OEO and GPA treatment groups had a better feed conversion ratio than the NC group. However, the addition of 150 ppm OEO to the diet improved the percentage egg production and egg mass, as well as the external and internal quality of the egg compared with the other treatments. In addition, both the 80OEO and 150OEO treatments improved the yolk color, shell thickness, and shell color, as well as parameters related to the intestinal morphometry compared with the NC group. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that 150 ppm OEO can be used as a substitute for GPA to improve the performance, egg quality, and parameters related to the intestinal morphometry of ISA Brown laying hens.

Effects of Dietary Macleaya cordata Extract Containing Isoquinoline Alkaloids Supplementation as an Alternative to Antibiotics in the Diets on Growth Performance and Liver Health of Broiler Chickens

“…A study in post-weaned piglets also demonstrated that supplemented with 120 mg/kg MCE provided at 12.5 g/kg mixture of quaternary-benzo(c)phenanthridine alkaloids and isoquinoline alkaloids in the diet increased BW gain, FCR, and nutrient digestibility, but did not affect jejunal morphology ( 19 ). Besides, we also found that aureomycin as AGP supplemented in the broiler diet could increase BW and ADG, and decrease the feed-to-gain ratio, which was in accord with previous studies ( 20 , 21 ). Therefore, our study suggested that MCE-containing isoquinoline alkaloids supplementation could improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, and MCE-containing isoquinoline alkaloids had the potential to replace AGP in broiler diets.…”

Natural Products of Plants and Animal Origin Improve Albumen Quality of Chicken Eggs

“…Inclusion of natural essential oils of plant origin in birds' diets has been reported to influence egg quality due to their antioxidant property (220). The peppermint oil (126), peppermint oil alone or combined with thyme oil (221), fish oil (222), and essential oils (223)(224)(225), were found to improve albumen indices and HU value. The antioxidant capacity of the oils conferred by vitamin E on the plants could explain the cumulative effect of oil from diverse sources on albumen quality (226).…”

Egg Lipid Profile, Growth Traits, Blood Biomarkers, and Physical Egg Characteristics of Heavy Ecotype Laying Hens Fed Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Meals

“…The oregano biocomponent has an impact on the metabolic activities of bacteria in the GIT of layers. Consequently, it increases the rate of mineral absorption, particularly Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ (Panda et al 2003;Ramirez et al 2021).…”