Effect of microencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil as antibiotic substitute on broiler performance

ESCOBAR F.M.; MAGNOLI A.P.; BARRIOS R.B.; MONTENEGRO M.A.; DÍAZ VERGARA L.; LUNA M.J.; PARADA J.; CAVAGLIERI L.R.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2024

1836-5787

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing antibiotics with microencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil (M-Mv-EO) as a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on growth performance, liver and intestinal histological changes, serum biochemical parameters, genotoxic activity, and cecal microorganisms in broiler chickens. The Mv-EO was microencapsulated using spray-dried wall material (WM), consisting of a mixture of Gum Arabic, Maltodextrin, and Whey Protein Concentrate (1:1:1, w/w/w). The physicochemical and microstructural properties of the microcapsules were also investigated. Forty-eight 1-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (three replicates per treatment) and fed with a basal diet (CON), a diet supplemented with antibiotics (Bacitracin zinc salt, 7.5 mg/kg) (BZS), a diet supplemented with M-Mv-EO at a concentration of 100 mg/kg, or a diet supplemented with WM only (CON-WH). The results showed that the microcapsules obtained by spray drying remained stable without modifying the composition of Mv-EO. Dietary supplementation with M-Mv-EO increased weight gain and feed intake, and improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR; P < 0.05) compared to the CON, CON-WH, and BZS groups. Furthermore, M-Mv-EO supplementation did not cause histological changes in the small intestine or the liver. M-Mv-EO supplementation reduced the total cholesterol levels and demonstrated non-cytogenotoxic effects in the bone marrow micronucleus test. Moreover, supplementation with M-Mv-EO promoted (P < 0.05) the growth of Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteria, and total aerobic bacterial proliferation compared to the BZS group. These findings suggest that microencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil as a PFA could replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets with comparable growth performance and health parameters.