Work

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

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study aimed 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 Gum Arabic, Maltodextrin, and Whey Protein Concentrate (1:1:1, w/w/w). Forty-eight Cobb broilers aging one-day-old 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-WM). 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-WM, 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 total cholesterol levels and demonstrated non-cytogenotoxic effects in a bone marrow micronucleus test. Moreover, supplementation with M-Mv-EO promoted the growth of Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteria, and total aerobic bacterial proliferation compared to the BZS group (P<0.05). These findings suggest that M-Mv-EO as a PFA, at a concentration of 100 mg/kg, could replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets with comparable growth performance and health parameters.

Source: Al-mağallaẗ al-ʻirāqiyyaẗ li-l-ʻulūm al-bayṭariyyaẗ/Iraqi journal of veterinary sciences

DOI: 10.33899/ijvs.2024.150896.3728