Effects Of Essential Oil and Acidifier on Production Performance of Broilers

Qi Mengdi ¹, Lyu Jirong ^2.3, Lei Yan ^2.3, Ding Xuemei ¹, Zhang Keying ^1*

1 Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130

2 DadHank (Chengdu) Biotech Corp., Chengdu 611130

3 Sichuan Animal Feeding Regulation Engineering Technology Research Center, Chengdu 611130

Abstract: This test was conducted using a single factor design, with a total of 3 groups, including the control group which is fed with basic diet, Essential oil group which is fed with basic diet + essential oil (150 g/t), and Acidifier group which is fed with basic diet + acidifier (1.5 kg/t). 234 healthy 1-day-old Ross 308 white feathered male broilers were selected, with 6 replicates per treatment and 13 broilers per replicate. The test period was 42 days and divided into two stages: day 1-21 and day 22-42. Under the test conditions, essential oil and acidifier showed a certain improvement effect on the production performance of broilers. Compared with control group, adding essential oil and acidifier improved the body weight gain and feed efficiency of broilers by 3% and 2.6%, respectively. The increase of body weight gain was mainly due to the improvement in the feed weight ratio. Compared with the control group during the entire test period, the improvement in the feed weight ratio of the two treatment groups decreased by 2.9% and 3.6%, respectively. The improvement in body weight gain and feed-gain ratio has significant economic benefits for the broiler industry with nearly 10 billion broilers in China.

Key words: Essential oil, Acidifier, Broiler, Production performance

1 Test Purpose

To explore the effects of essential oil and acidifier on production performance of broilers.

2 Materials and Methods

2.1 Test design

This test was conducted using a single factor design, with a total of three groups, including the control group which was fed with basic diet, Essential oil group which was fed with basic diet + essential oil (150 g/t), and acidifier group which was fed with basic diet + acidifier (1.5 kg/t). 234 healthy 1-day-old Ross 308 white feathered male broilers were selected, with six replicates per treatment and 13 broilers per replicate. The test period was 42 days and divided into two stages: Day 1-21 and Day 22-42.

2.4 Measurement indicators and methods

On day 22 and 43 day of the test, the broilers were fasted for 12 hours in advance, and their body weight and remaining feed were weighed according to replicates. Average body weight gain (ABW), average feed intake (AFI) and feed-gain ratio (F/G) were calculated.