Effect of an Herbal Mixture of Oregano, Garlic, Sage and Rock Samphire Extracts in Combination with Tributyrin on Growth Performance, Intestinal Microbiota and Morphology, and Meat Quality in Broilers

Eleftherios Bonos (), Ioannis Skoufos, Ilias Giannenas, Erasmia Sidiropoulou, Konstantina Fotou, Ioanna Stylianaki, Olga Tsiftsoglou, Diamanto Lazari, Brigkita Venardou, Dimitrios Galamatis, Stylianos Skoufos, Evangelia Gouva and Athina Tzora
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Eleftherios Bonos: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece
Ioannis Skoufos: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece
Ilias Giannenas: School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Erasmia Sidiropoulou: School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantina Fotou: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece
Ioanna Stylianaki: School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Olga Tsiftsoglou: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Diamanto Lazari: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Brigkita Venardou: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece
Dimitrios Galamatis: Department of Animal Science, University of Thessaly, 41335 Larissa, Greece
Stylianos Skoufos: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece
Evangelia Gouva: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece
Athina Tzora: Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi Artas, 47100 Arta, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of two feed additives, the first containing an herbal mixture of oregano, garlic, sage, and rock samphire extracts and the second containing tributyrin (glyceryl tributyrate) when fed to broiler chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to four treatments (6 replicate pens of 15 chicks). One treatment served as the unsupplemented control, whereas the feeds of the other three treatments were supplemented either with the herbal additive (3 g/kg), the tributyrin additive (1 g/kg), or both additives. The duration of the trial was 37 days. Data were collected on growth performance, intestinal microbiota and morphology, and some meat quality parameters. The combined supplementation improved ( p < 0.05) weigh gain, feed conversion ratio, and the European Efficiency Factor. In the cecum, the combined supplementation lowered ( p < 0.05) the microbial populations of aerobes, anaerobes, Escherichia coli , total Enterobacteriaceae , and Clostridium spp. compared to the other treatments. Fecal coccidial oocyst counts were also reduced ( p < 0.01) by the combined supplementation. The herbal mixture supplementation improved ( p < 0.05) breast and thigh meat resistance to oxidation. In conclusion, the combined dietary supplementation with the examined feed additives could be utilized to improve the performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens.

Keywords: herbs; phytobiotics; organic acids; butyrate; tributyrin; performance; intestinal microbiota; intestinal morphology; meat quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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