Influence of two plant extracts on broilers performance, digestibility, and digestive organ size

• DOI: 10.1093/ps/83.2.169
• Publication Date: 2014-02-07T01:44:54Z
• Authors: F. Hernández; J. Madrid; V. García; J. Orengo; M.D. Megías
• Keywords: Gizzard; Starter; Proventriculus; Digestion

A 42-d trial was conducted to study the influence of 2 plant extracts on performance, digestibility, and digestive organ weights in broilers. The feeding program consisted a starter diet until 21 d finisher 42 d. There were 4 treatment groups: control; 10 ppm avilamycin (AB); 200 essential oil extract (EOE) from oregano, cinnamon, pepper; 5,000 Labiatae (LE) sage, thyme, rosemary. No differences feed intake or conversion observed. From 14 age, broilers fed LE grew faster than control EOE feeds (68.8 vs. 63.9 61.6 g/d, respectively). Antibiotic supplementation improved apparent whole-tract ileal digestibility nutrients. For feed, fecal DM (P < 0.01), all additives increased ether 0.001). However, no effect detected for CP > 0.1). At level, AB, EOE, starch 0.01) but not All diet. observed proventriculus, gizzard, liver, pancreas, large small intestine weight. In present study, both different performance slightly, this statistically significant.