334/19 | General Article | Poultry Science

Drinking Thyme Extract on Growth Performance and Immune Response of Broiler Chickens

Department of Pathology and Poultry, College of Vet. Medicine, Al-Qasim Green University, Babil, Iraq

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of added thyme oil in drinking water of broiler chickens on growth performance and immune response. A total of 80 day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) used in this experiment, on day one, 20 chicks randomly selected then sacri ced and blood collected to assaye the maternal antibody titer (MAT) against Infectious bursal disease (IBD) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Next 60 chicks were randomly distributed into two equal groups with three replicates. The chicks in group A supplemented with tap water considered as a control group while chicks in group B supplemented with 0.3ml/liter thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) oil in drinking water from day one till the end of experiment (day 35). All birds were fed on the same ration also, all birds vaccinated against IBD at 17 days of age. The body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated weekly. The antibody titer and, the relative weight of immune organs were measured. The chickens supplemented with thyme oil had signi cant increased body weight and weight gain and decrease food intake and better feed conversion ratio, with antibody titer against IBD.

Main Article