The Effect of Savory (Satureja khuzistanica) Essential Oils on Performance and Some Blood Biochemical Parameters of Ross and Cobb Broilers

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to compare the performance and some blood biochemical parameters of Ross and Cobb broilers fed diets containing savory essential oils (SEO). Two hundred twenty four, 1-d-old broiler chickens (mean initial weight: 36.5±1g) of mixed sex (Ross-308 and Cobb) were randomly assigned to each of the 4 treatment groups, each with 4 replicate pens of 14 chicks. The experimental groups included two treatments for Ross strain – control (RC) and the group contain 500mg/Kg SEO (RS) - and two treatments for Cobb strain –control (CC) and the group contain 500mg/Kg SEO (CS). To measure some blood biochemical parameters at the age of 30 days, from each repetition, two broilers were selected and blood sampling was performed through a wing vein.As a result of this study fed essential oil in diet had not significant effect on feed intake, but DBWG (54.10 and 55.00 for RS and CS respectively) and FCR (1.8 and 1.75 for RS and CS respectively) improved significantly (P≤0.5). Broilers receiving SEO had a significantly (p≤0.05) lower cholesterol, HDL and glucose concentrations compared to control groups. In general, the results indicate that dietary inclusion of 500 mg/kg savory essential oils can improve performance and some blood biochemical parameters in Ross and Cobb broiler strains.