Thymol, alpha tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate supplementation as growth enhancers for broiler chickens

LUNA, A.; TARIFA, M.; FERNANDEZ M. E.; CALIVA J. M.; PELLEGRINI S.; ZYGADLO, J.A.; MARIN R. H.

POULTRY SCIENCE

POULTRY SCIENCE ASSOC INC

Año: 2019 vol. 98 p. 1012 - 1016

0032-5791

Consumer concern on thequality of products and animal welfare has greatly increased during the pastdecades. Dietary synthetic antibiotic products usedas growth promoters have been restricted or banned in many countries. Edibleplants, essential oils or their main components were suggested as natural feedsupplements to improve growth, products quality and welfare related parameters.Thymol (THY), a main component of oregano essential oil, has been proved as aneffective antimicrobial and antioxidant compound. Tocopherol (TOC) evidenced antioxidant activitywith potential as a growth promoter and a synergic antioxidant activity betweenTOC and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) has also been reported. Herein, we evaluatedwhether broiler diet supplementation with THY, and THY with a formulation mix containingTOC and AP (1:0.5:0.5, respectively) have potential as growth enhancers undercommercial conditions. Potential protective effects against foot pad dermatitisand hock burns were also evaluated. Newly hatched male broiler chicks withsimilar body weight (BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 groups (4 replicates each)as follows: Basal (no feed supplements added), Promotor (Basal + 6.26 µmol flavomycin/kgfeed), BHT (Basal + 1.33 mmol of buthylated hidroxytoluene (BHT)/kg feed), Prom-BHT(Basal + 6.26 µmol flavomycin/kg feed + 1.33 mmol of BHT/kg feed), TOC-AP (Basal+ 0.67 mmoles of TOC + 0.67 mmoles of AP/kg feed), THY (Basal + 1.33 mmoles ofTHY/kg feed), and THY-TOC-AP (Basal + 0.67 mmoles of THY + 0.67 mmoles of a mix1:1 of TOC-AP). Along 7 wk, BW, feed intake and feed conversion ratio wereevaluated. Skin injuries were assessed at 35 d of age. At the end of the study(42 d), compared to Basal group, similarly enhanced final BW were observed in allgroups but TOC-AP. No main differences between groups were detected in feedintake, feed conversion ratio or skin injuries. Findings suggest that THYitself or in combination with TOC-AP may have value as a natural growth enhanceralternative for broilers.