Abstract

RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKS TO DIETARY COMBINATIONS OF SPEARMINT AND HALFA BAR ESSENTIAL OILS AS NATURAL FEED ADDITIVES

Safa Mohammed Elmobasher, Mukhtar Ahmed Mukhtar* and K. A. Mohamed

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate mixed essential oils from spearmint and halfa bar at different levels in broiler rations as natural feed additive. Experimental parameters covered growth performances, slaughter, carcass value, serum metabolite, enzyme activities and economical appraisal. A total number of 96 seven days old initial weight 185 gm. unsexed commercial broilers of Cobb strain were used. Chicks were distributed randomly In a complete randomize design, the experimental Chicks were divided into four groups A, B, C and D, with three replicates each content 8 chicks. four experimental rations were formulated (A,B,C and D) group A or control fed on basal diet only, chicks on other group B, C and D were fed on control diet supplemented with mixing of Spearmint and halfa bar essential oils at (200, 400 and 600mg/kg)respectively. The control diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of broilers according to NRC (1994). Experimental rations were fed 5 weeks. The results showed that the addition of mixed essential oils, no significant (p ≥0.05) differences between all tested groups in feed intake, body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, however causes improvement in performance, no mortalities were recorded throughout the experimental period. The results indicate that, the dressing percentage commercial cuts and their meat, showed no significant (p≥ 0.05) difference between all tested groups for all mixing levels of essential oils. however there were significant effects on meat chemical composition among all treatment groups, the result of serum enzyme and minerals values showed significant effect among all treatment groups for all mixed levels of essential oils, the results of serum metabolites showed that inclusion of Spearmint and halfa bar mixed Eos at different levels showed significant effect for all treatments, the addition of spearmint and halfa bar mixed EOS at graded levels to the diets of broilers caused more net profit compared to control.

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