Arch.Geflügelk., 69 (3). S. 110–116, 2005, ISSN 0003-9098. © Verlag Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co. Stuttgart

The use of natural feed additives as alternative to an antibiotic growth promoter in broiler diets Verwendung von natürlichen Futterzusätzen im Broilerfutter als Alternative zu Leistungsförderern mit Antibiotika-Charakter E. Demir1, Şenay Sarica1, M. A. Özcan1 and M. Suiçmez2 Manuskript eingegangen am 12. Mai 2003, angenommen am 30. August 2003

Introduction Antimicrobial compounds are commonly included in poultry diets for promoting of growth and control of diseases. The European Union banned feed grade antibiotic growth promoters, due to, not only cross-resistance, but also to the risk of possible drugs multiple resistances in human pathogenic bacteria. Only two such drug-related compounds are planned to remain in use (GILL, 1999; BACH KNUDSEN, 2001; SCHWARZ et al., 2001; SHANE, 2001). Feeds containing no chemical additives are increasingly used in poultry nutrition. Therefore, antibiotic growth promoters were discredited by consumer associations as well as by scientists, e.g. the use of most antibiotic growth promoters was banned by the European Union. Consequently, the animal feed manufacturers are exposed to increasing consumer pressure to reduce the use of antibiotic growth promoters as feed additive and find alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry diets (NEWMAN, 1997; HERTRAMPF, 2001; HUMPHREY et al., 2002). Many scientists searched for alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (LANGHOUT, 2000; MELLOR, 2000; WENK, 2000; KAMEL, 2001). The feed manufacturers are adopting new forms of natural feed additives that are the products of modern science (NEWCOMB, 1999; WEZYK et al., 2000). This new generation of growth enhancers include botanical additives like appropriate blends of herbs or plant extracts. The herbs and plant extracts used as feed additives include many different bio-active ingredients such as alkaloids, bitters, flavonoids, glycosides, mucilage, saponins and tannins (WANG et al., 1998; WENK, 2000). Therefore, the effects expected of herbs and plant extracts are also various: the herbs and plant extracts act on the appetite and intestinal microflora, stimulate the pancreatic secretions to increase endogenous enzyme activity and immune system. Many plant products and their constituents have a broad antimicrobial activity, antioxidant and sedative properties. Besides, scientists recently discovered that the appetizing and stimulating activity of herbs and plant extracts on animal digestive and immune system could benefit performance and health of farm animals (LOPEZ-BOTE et al., 1998; COWAN, 1999; GILL, 1999; NEWMAN and DEVEGOWDA, 1999; GOLLNISCH and HALLE, 2001; TUCKER, 2002b). They postulated that these effects could be due to the increased produc-

1 Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Turkey 2 Gaziosmanpasa University, Biological Science Department, Turkey

tion of digestive enzymes and the improved utilization of digestive products (LANGHOUT, 2000). Recently, a number of scientific studies has concentrated on the bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects of various herbs and plant extracts (DORMAN and DEANS, 2000; TUCKER, 2002b). In 1943, Osborn reported more than 60 genera of plants that exhibit inhibitory properties toward the growth of either E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus or both. GUO et al. (2000) have demonstrated that herbs and herbal products have a positive effect on broiler growth performance. MOTTAGHITALAB (2000) have reported that garlic may be used as a natural herbal growth promoter for broilers without side effects, neither for chicken performance nor consumers, and meat was not tainted with flavour or smell of garlic. WEZYK et al. (2000) reported that replacing antibiotic growth promoters with herbs resulted in decreased body weights, increased feed conversion per kg of weight gain and insignificant effects on carcass yield and carcass fatness. The results of some experiments with broiler chicks indicate that herb supplements have a positive effect on performance and the colour of skin (ZGLOBICA et al., 1994). Results from chick performance experiments show that feeding dietary garlic powder for 21 d significantly reduced plasma cholesterol level of broiler without altering growth of the chickens or feed efficiency (KONJUFCA et al., 1997). GEBERT et al. (1999) reported that replacing antibiotic growth promoter (Zinc Bacitracin) by Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum WILLD.) as a herb did not significantly affect body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and dry matter content of excreta. In some reports, the results demonstrated that broilers fed the XT (a blend of capsicum, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol) diets had significantly greater liveweight, better weight gains and feed efficiency than broilers fed a control diet with avilamycin during the experimental period. In addition, XT broilers showed lower caecal counts for E. coli and C. perfringens (JAMROZ and KAMEL, 2002). No significant effect on live weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency was reported when Magacal (a herbal feed supplement) was added to broiler diets at various levels (0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 kg ton-1 of feed) (PATIL et al., 2000). TUCKER (2002a) demonstrated that broilers receiving the botanical feed ingredient Apex had 4% better final weight as compared to a negative control without significantly increasing feed intake. SHAN et al. (2002) showed that dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) significantly increased caecal bifidobacterium number, but there was no effect of FOS on caecal E. coli number as compared to the control. The results of some experiments with broilers to determine Arch.Geflügelk. 3/2005

Demir et al.: Herbal natural feed additives the influence on growth performance of dietary herbal treatment (marjoram, oregano, rosemary, yarrow and thyme herbs) indicated that birds given the diet containing oregano herb had significantly lower body weight gain than those of birds fed diet with yarrow herb. Besides, chickens fed the diet containing oregano herb consumed less feed compared to control, marjoram, rosemary and yarrow supplemented diets. In addition, results of the experiment showed that the differences among the experimental diets in terms of feed efficiency were not statistically significant (CROSS et al., 2002). HORTON et al. (1991) demonstrated that the supplementation of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) at different levels (0 and 1 g kg-1) for 35 d did not significantly influence body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. QURESHI et al. (1983) reported that dietary garlic reduced cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibiting the activity of lipogenic enzymes in chickens. Although there are many experiments reported on the antibacterial effects of herbs as alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in commercial pig diets on the gut microflora, there are no experiments in broiler chickens. Results of some experiments in pigs indicated that the dietary herbal product was highly active against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria (GILL, 1999). The supplementa-

Table 1. The composition (g kg-1 ) of the basal diets Zusammensetzung der Grundrationen (g/kg) Starter

Grower

Finisher

Ingredients Maize Soybean meal (44%) Ground wheat Full-fat soybean Vegetable oil Limestone Dicalcium phosphate Salt Vitamin-mineral premix1 DL-Methionine L-Lysine

436.50 315.00 175.00 25.00 10.00 31.30 2.50 2.50 2.20

427.40 180.00 75.00 267.00 10.00 20.00 14.70 2.50 2.50 0.90 -

502.00 149.20 100.00 197.40 10.00 25.00 10.00 2.50 2.50 1.40 -

Total

1000

1000

1000

13.40 225 77.0 36.6 64.2 12.5 5.3 4.0 7.4 12.4

13.40 195 67.2 33.9 61.1 13.3 4.3 4.0 6.9 10.3

Calculated chemical composition ME (MJ kg-1) 12.98 Crude Protein 244 Ether Extracts 76.2 Fibre 38.5 Ash 72.5 Calcium 12.0 Available Phosphorus 5.6 Methionine 3.5 Methionine+Cystine 7.5 Lysine 15.4

1 Provided per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 12 000 IU; vitamin D 3, 1500 IU; vitamin E, 50 mg; vitamin K3, 5 mg; vitamin B1, 3 mg; vitamin B2, 6 mg; niacin, 25 mg; calcium-D-pantothenate, 12 mg; vitamin B6, 5 mg; vitamin B12, 0.03 mg; folic acid, 1 mg; D-biotin, 0.05 mg; apo-carotenoic acid ester, 2.5 mg; colin chloride, 400 mg; Mn, 80 mg; Fe, 60 mg; Zn, 60 mg; Cu, 5 mg; Co, 0.20 mg; I, 1 mg; Se, 0.15 mg.

Arch.Geflügelk. 3/2005

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tion of the mixed botanical product containing garlic, anise, cinnamon, rosemary and thyme to commercial pig diets did not significantly affect the lactobacillus species but very strongly inhibited E. coli. Birds fed botanical mixture had lower numbers of clostridia, of the same magnitude as broilers fed diets containing an antibiotic growth promoter (TUCKER, 2002b). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of five herbal natural feed additives as alternative to an antibiotic growth promoter on performance, some blood parameters, intestinal traits, dry matter content of excreta and feed costs in broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods A total of seventy-two day-old female Ross broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery was randomly assigned to six groups containing 12 chicks each. The chicks were kept on individual wire cages under uniform environmental conditions from 0 to 42 d of age. The chicks were fed a commercial broiler starter diet from 0 to 14 d of age and a commercial broiler grower diet for the period of 14 to 35 d. This was followed by a finisher diet from 35 to 42 d. For 6 wk, chickens were given maize-soybean meal based diets. In Table 1 the composition and the calculated chemical composition of the experimental diets are given. The treatment groups were designed as: T1: Commercial feed supplemented with Antibiotic Growth Promoter (1 g Flavomycin kg-1 diet) T2: Commercial feed supplemented with Nor-Spice®Oregano powder (1 g kg-1 diet) T3: Commercial feed supplemented with Du-Sacch®C Powder (Fructooligosaccharides) (0.5 g kg-1 diet) T4: Commercial feed supplemented with Quiponin®S Powder (The products from the tree of Ouillaia saponaria) (0.1 g kg-1 diet) T5: Commercial feed supplemented with Nor-Spice®S Garlic Powder (1 g kg-1 diet) T6: Commercial feed supplemented with Nor-Spice®Thyme Powder (1 g kg-1 diet) Five natural feed additives were supplied by the NOR-FEED ApS (Hvidovre, Denmark). Flavomycin used as an antibiotic growth promoter was supplied by VIMAR (Ankara, Turkey). All diets were formulated to meet minimum nutrient requirements established by NRC (1994). Metabolizable energy content of the diets was calculated based on tabulated values of feedstuffs (ANONYMOUS, 1991). Experimental diets and drinking water were provided ad libitum. Lighting regime was 24 h/day. Temperature was kept at 32oC for the first week and then was gradually reduced according to the guidelines, until a temperature of 21oC was achieved (TURKOGLU et al., 1997). During the experiment lasting 42 d, individual body weight and feed intake were measured on a weekly basis. Feed efficiency was calculated as feed to gain ratio. At the end of the rearing period, three female chickens whose body weight was similar to the group average were selected from each group and slaughtered by severing the branchial vein to determine some blood parameters, the depth of crypts and the concentrations of E. coli in caecum. The blood samples were collected for determination of some blood parameters. To prevent coagulating, blood was collected in heparinized test tubes and centrifuged at 1,800xg for 15 min. Blood samples were analyzed for total protein, albumin,cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) according to KARAGUL et al. (1999). The ileum of three representative broilers in each groups were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalde-

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hyde. Then, ileum samples were dehydrated, cleared and embedded in paraffin wax. Under the light microscopy, paraffin wax difuses to tissue better and deformation in tissue and cell is minimized by this way. Sections were cut at 5-7µm and placed on glass slides. For the assay, sections were stained with haematoxylin, eosin, PAS and Mallory’s Triple. The depth of crypts in ileum was examined by light microscopy (BANCROFT and STEVENS, 1982). The concentration of E. coli in the caecum of broiler chickens was determined. 0.01µl from the content of broiler caecum was taken, inoculated in the liquid buyyon and incubated at 37oC for 1 d. The microorganisms in this liquid buyyon were cultivated on eosin methylen blue (EMB) agar, blood agar and colcisin anaerobic agar in order to help distinguishing and counting of anaerobic bacteria. The plates were placed at 37oC in an incubator for 1 d. Then the microorganisms in these plates were morphologically distinguished and counted according to their colony shapes. Microorganisms were morphologically distinguished by gram staining (GURGUN and KADIRHALKMAN, 1988). Three broiler chickens from each group were selected and their excreta were collected at 14, 21, 28 and 35 d of age for two hours to determining the dry matter content of excreta. Dry matter analysis of excreta was carried out using standard methods according to AOAC (1980).

Statistical Analysis Data obtained were analyzed by using SPSSWIN (1994). When the F-test indicated significant (P < 0.05) differences between treatments, means were separated by using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DUNCAN, 1955).

Results and Discussion Performance: Body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and feed costs Effects of antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives in broiler diets on body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and feed costs per kg of weight gain relative to the control are presented in Table 2. Body weight gain of broilers for the first 14 d of age given a diet supplemented with garlic was higher than those given du-sacch (P < 0.05). The body weight gain was not significantly affected by the dietary treatments from 14 to 35, 35 to 42 and 0 to 42 d of age. This observation is in agreement with the results of HORTON et al. (1991), KONJUFCA et al. (1997), GEBERT et al. (1999), MOTTAGHITALAB (2000) and PATIL et al. (2000) who observed no differences in body weight gain of broiler chickens given diets supple-

Table 2. Effects of antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives in broiler diets on body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and feed costs per kg of weight gain relative to the control Einfluss des Leistungsförderers und der fünf Kräuterzusätze im Broilerfutter auf die Gewichtszunahme, die Futteraufnahme, die Futterverwertung und die Kosten je kg Lebendmassezunahme im Vergleich zur Kontrolle

Variable

T1

T2

T3

Treatments T4

T5

T6

46.2

45.9

45.9

45.9

SEM

Initial body weight, g Body weight gain, g 0 to 14 d 14 to 35 d 35 to 42 d 0 to 42 d

45.9

46.2

230ab 1109 284 1622

224ab 1139 269 1633

211b 1099 303 1613

243ab 1124 312 1679

246a 1150 315 1711

240ab 1134 315 1690

4.57 14.8 6.99 20.7

Feed intake, g 0 to 14 d 14 to 35 d 35 to 42 d 0 to 42 d

346a 2011 620 2977

336ab 2044 614 2995

311b 1960 646 2917

355a 2051 663 3070

358a 2128 654 3140

353a 2105 651 3108

4.93 25.2 10.2 35.6

Feed efficiency, g:g 0 to 14 d 14 to 35 d 35 to 42 d 0 to 42 d Feed costs per kg of weight gain relative to the control, %

1.52 1.82 2.25 1.84 -

1.52 1.80 2.37 1.84

1.50 1.78 2.16 1.81

1.47 1.83 2.16 1.83

1.47 1.85 2.09 1.84

1.48 1.86 2.10 1.84

+1.80

-1.31

-1.09

+0.49

+1.27

0.331

0.014 0.011 0.041 0.007 -

a-b Means within the same row with no common supercript differ significantly (P < 0.05)

The treatment groups were designed as: T1: Commercial feed supplemented with Antibiotic Growth Promoter (1 g Flavomycin kg-1 diet) T2: Commercial feed supplemented with Nor-Spice® Oregano powder (1 g kg-1 diet) T3: Commercial feed supplemented with Du-Sacch® C Powder (0.5 g kg-1 diet) T4:Commercial feed supplemented with Quiponin® S Powder (0.1 g kg-1 diet) T5: Commercial feed supplemented with Nor-Spice®S Garlic Powder (1 g kg-1 diet) T6: Commercial feed supplemented with Nor-Spice® Thyme Powder (1 g kg-1 diet) Arch.Geflügelk. 3/2005

Demir et al.: Herbal natural feed additives mented with different natural feed additives as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. However, our results are not in agreement with the findings of ZGLOBICA et al. (1994), GUO et al. (2000), JAMROZ and KAMEL (2002). They reported that herbs and herbal products had a significant positive effect on broiler body weight gain. Broilers fed a diet supplemented with du-sacch consumed significantly (P < 0.05) less feed than those fed diets supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter, quiponin, garlic and thyme during the first 14 d of age. Differences in feed intake of broilers fed diets supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives were not significant from 14 to 35, 35 to 42 and 0 to 42 d of age. These results are consistent with those of HORTON et al. (1991), GEBERT et al. (1999), PATIL et al. (2000) and TUCKER (2002a) who reported that the dietary herbal growth promoter had no significant effect on feed intake of broilers. However, our results are not in agreement with reports by CROSS et al. (2002) who showed that the oregano supplementation to broiler diets significantly decreased feed intake. Feed efficiency was not significantly affected by the treatments from 0 to 14, 14 to 35, 35 to 42 and 0 to 42 d of age. This observation supports findings by HORTON et al. (1991), KONJUFCA et al. (1997), GEBERT et al. (1999), PATIL et al. (2000), CROSS et al. (2002) and WEZYK et al. (2000). They concluded that herb supplement in the broiler diets did not significantly affect feed efficiency. The numerical increase in performance of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with oregano, du-sacch, quiponin, garlic and thyme may be due to stimulation of pancreatic secretions to increase digestive enzyme activity and the antimicrobial properties of bio-active components found in these herbs. It is possible that feeding diets containing these herbs exerts a positive effect on the balance of gut microbial populations. The feed costs per kg of weight gain in broilers fed diets supplemented with oregano, garlic and thyme was higher than those given diets supplemented with du-sacch, quiponin and antibiotic growth promoter. Oregano, garlic and thyme supplementation to broiler diets increased feed costs per kg of weight gain by 1.80, 0.49 and 1.27% as compared to the antibiotic growth promoter. No birds died during the 42-day experimental period.

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No significant differences were observed for total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, AST and ALT levels among dietary treatments. These findings concur with the data of HORTON et al. (1991) who indicated that the supplementation of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) at different levels (0 and 1 g kg-1) for 35 d did not significantly influence plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In the present study, the plasma cholesterol level of broilers consuming the diet supplemented with garlic powder was higher than the control although there were no significant differences among the plasma cholesterol levels of the dietary treatments. Perhaps, both the short feeding period and the relatively low doses may have been implicated in the failure of garlic to reduce plasma cholesterol level. The short feeding period (35 d) and the relatively low doses (100 mg kg-1) of dietary garlic in the study of HORTON et al. (1991) have numerical increase in plasma cholesterol level compared to negative control. However in the same study, the highest level of garlic (10 000 mg kg-1) during the short feeding period significantly reduced plasma cholesterol level compared to the chickens consuming the negative control diet and the diet containing the lowest level (100 mg kg-1) of garlic. BORDIA (1981) reported an increase in serum cholesterol followed by a subsequent reduction in a 10-month garlic feeding study, in which were given 0.25 mg kg-1 of garlic. However, KONJUFCA et al. (1997) reported that feeding dietary garlic powder for 21 d significantly reduced the plasma cholesterol level in broilers. Unfortunately, only limited information is available on the effects of herbs as feed additives on the blood parameters of broilers.

Dry matter content of excreta, the depth of crypts in ileum and the concentration of E. coli in caecum The influence of antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives on the dry matter content of excreta, the depth of crypts in ileum and the concentration of E. coli in the caecum are presented in Table 4. The supplementation with antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives did not significantly affect the dry matter content of excreta at 14 d of age. However, the dry matter content of excreta was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the dietary treatment at 21 and 28 d of age. The percentage of excreta dry matter in broilers fed diet supplemented with garlic powder was significantly higher than those of broilers fed a diet supplemented with du-sacch at 21 d of age. Dry matter content of excreta in broilers fed diet supplemented with thyme powder was sig-

Blood parameters The effects of antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives in broiler diets on some blood parameters are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3. Some blood parameters of broilers fed diets supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives1 Einige Blutparameter der Broiler nach Fütterung mit Rationen, denen entweder ein Leistungsförderer oder fünf verschiedene Kräuterextrakte zugesetzt waren Variable Total protein (g dl-1 ) Albumin (g dl-1) Total cholesterol (g dl-1) Triglyceride (mg dl-1) AST (U I-1) ALT (U I-1)

T1

T2

T3

Treatments T4

T5

T6

2.43 1.17 96.7 38.3 288 1.67

2.93 1.33 106 23.7 282 2.00

3.07 1.43 120 57.7 281 1.67

3.07 1.33 114 60.0 284 5.33

2.70 1.27 116 26.0 294 3.00

2.80 1.27 111 52.7 314 4.67

1 Values represent the average of three broilers in each groups at 42 d of age.

Arch.Geflügelk. 3/2005

SEM 0.086 0.034 3.99 5.69 9.06 0.734

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Table 4. Influence of antibiotic growth promoter and five natural feed additives on the dry matter content of excreta, the depth of crypts in ileum and the concentration of E. coli in the caecum Einfluss des Leistungsförderers und der fünf Kräuterextrakte auf den Trockensubstanzgehalt der Exkremente, der Kryptentiefe im Ileum und der Konzentration an E. Coli im Blinddarm

Variable Dry matter content of excreta (%) 14 d 21 d 28 d 35 d Depth of crypts in ileum, µm Concentration of E. coli in the caecum, logx102CFU

T1

T2

T3

21.4 18.8ab 16.1ab 19.0 181ab

20.4 20.9ab 17.7ab 20.1 192a

20.3 17.3b 18.2ab 21.1 186ab

3.99

3.76

10.7

Treatments T4

T5

T6

SEM

19.1 19.9ab 14.5b 16.1 170bc

19.5 23.0a 17.7ab 16.4 159c

18.0 19.5ab 18.6a 20.8 158c

0.645 0.714 0.532 0.814 3.82

7.97

3.99

3.99

1.40

a - c Means within the same column with no common supercript differ significantly (P < 0.05)

nificantly higher than those of broilers fed a diet supplemented with quiponin at 28 d. The supplementation of the herbal natural feed additives to broiler diets numerically affected the dry matter content of excreta on day 35 although the dietary treatments did not significantly affect the dry matter content of excreta at 35 d of age. This observation is in agreement with the result of GEBERT et al. (1999) who reported that replacing antibiotic growth promoter (Zinc Bacitracin) with Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum WILLD.) as a herb did not significantly affect excreta dry matter. The depth of crypts in the ileum was significantly reduced by inclusion of garlic and thyme in diets in comparison to diets supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter, oregano and du-sacch (P < 0.05). The crypt can be regarded as the villi factory and a large crypt indicates fast tissue turnover and a high demand for new tissue. Any additional tissue turnover increases the nutrient requirement for maintaince (SAVAGE et al., 1997). The results of the present experiment indicate that a reduction in crypt depth in the ileum of broilers given dietary natural growth promoters such as garlic and thyme might leave the energy conserved by the reduced turnover rate of the epithelial cells for lean tissue mass synthesis. This observation can help to explain some improvements seen in body weight gain and feed efficiency. The concentration of E. coli in caecum was not significantly affected by dietary treatments. This is in agreement with the results of SHAN et al. (2002) who pointed out that there was no effect of dietary fructooligosaccharides on caecal E. coli number as compared to the control. Contrary to this finding, JAMROZ and KAMEL (2002) reported that the dietary herbal treatment resulted in lower caecal counts for E. coli and C. perfringens. However, TUCKER (2002b) indicated that the supplementation of a mixed botanical product containing garlic, anise, cinnamon, rosemary and thyme to commercial pig diets significantly inhibited the number of E. coli. The results of the present experiment indicate that the herbal natural feed additives such as oregano, du-sacch, quiponin, garlic and thyme may be used as alternatives to an antibiotic growth promoter for broiler chickens, because these herbal feed additives meet the needs of producers for increased broiler performance and the consum-

ers’ demands that broiler production is conducted under environmentally friendly conditions. In conclusion, future research efforts should continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the dietary herbal growth promoters and their specific effects on performance, blood parameters, the histologic parameters and the concentrations of microorganisms in the intestine of broiler chickens that are kept under litter conditions.

Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to Anette Rasmussen-NOR FEED ApS Kanalholmen 2, Hvidovre, Denmark, for providing Oregano, Du-Sacch, Quiponin, Garlic and Thyme Powder.

Summary A study was conducted with female broilers to investigate the effects of five herbal natural feed additives as alternative to an antibiotic growth promoter. In the experiment, a total of seventy-two day-old female broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six groups containing 12 chicks each and raised from 0 to 42 d of age. The treatment groups were supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter, oregano, du-sacch, quiponin, garlic and thyme powder, respectively. Differences in body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency of broilers fed diets supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter and five herbal natural feed additives were not significant from 0 to 42 d of age. In addition, some blood parameters and the concentration of E. coli in caecum were not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary treatments. The depth of crypts in ileum was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) by inclusion of garlic and thyme in diets in comparison to diets supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter, oregano and du-sacch. The feed costs per kg of weight gain in broilers fed diets supplemented with oregano, garlic and thyme was higher than in those given diets supplemented with du-sacch, quiponin and antibiotic growth promoter. Results of this experiment demonstrated that the herbal natural feed additives such as oregano, du-sacch, quiponin, garlic and thyme may be Arch.Geflügelk. 3/2005

Demir et al.: Herbal natural feed additives used as alternatives to an antibiotic growth promoter in broiler production.

Key words Broiler, antibiotic growth promoter, herbs, blood parameters, intestinal traits

Zusammenfassung Verwendung von natürlichen Futterzusätzen im Broilerfutter als Alternative zu Leistungsförderern mit Antibiotika-Charakter In der vorliegenden Studie wurden bei weiblichen Broilern die Auswirkungen von fünf natürlichen Futterzusätzen im Vergleich zu einem Leistungsförderer mit Antibiotika-Charakter untersucht. Hierzu wurden die 72 weiblichen Eintagsküken zufällig auf 6 Behandlungen mit je 12 Tieren verteilt. Als Zusatzstoffe wurden eingesetzt: Leistungsförderer mit Antibiotika-Charakter, Oregano, Du-Sacch, Quiponin, Knoblauch und Thymian. Die Versuchsdauer betrug 42 Tage. Für keinen der fünf natürlichen Futterzusätze konnte im Vergleich zu dem Leistungsförderer signifikante Unterschiede für die Gewichtszunahmen, die Futteraufnahme und die Futterverwertung zwischen dem 0. und dem 42. Lebenstag beobachtet werden. In ähnlicher Weise traten in Abhängigkeit von den Behandlungen keine Unterschiede bei den Blutparametern und der Konzentration an E. coli im Blinddarm auf (P > 0.05). Die Kryptentiefe im Ileum war beim Einsatz von Knoblauch und Thymian im Vergleich zum Einsatz des Leistungsförderers, von Oregano und Du-Sacch signifikant reduziert (P < 0.05). Die Futterkosten bezogen auf die Lebendgewichtszunahme waren beim Einsatz von Oregano, Knoblauch und Thymian signifikant höher als beim Einsatz von Du-Sacch, Quiponin und dem Leistungsförderer. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen, dass natürliche Futterzusätze wie Oregano, Du-Sacch, Quiponin, Knoblauch und Thymian als Alternative zu Leistungsförderern mit Antibiotika-Charakter im Broilerfutter eingesetzt werden können.

Stichworte Broiler, Leistungsförderer, Kräuter, Blutparameter, Verdauungssystem

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Correspondence: Assoc. Ass. Prof. Dr. Şenay Sarica, Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, 60250, Tokat, Turkey; e-mail: [email protected]

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