In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, Iran

Abstract

It is essential to maintain proper nutrition and increase the health of the ostrich flock during the fattening period to increase meat production and thus to reduce the cost of breeding. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of combined essential oils (containing an equal level of Zataria multiflora, Mentha piperita, Foeniculum vulgare and Eucalyptus globules essential oils) on the concentrations of blood metabolites and electrolytes, blood enzymes activity and antioxidant status of ostrich chicks from 5 to 7 months of age. A total of 18 ostriches were used in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replicates (six birds). Experimental treatments were addition of 0 (control), 200 and 400 parts per million (ppm) combined essential oils (CEO) into drinking water. The results showed that addition of CEO into drinking water at 200 ppm significantly increased body weight gain compared to control group (P=0.019). Supplementation of drinking water with 400 ppm CEO resulted in higher concentration of uric acid and higher lipase activity in the serum (P<0.05). The higher blood glutathione peroxidase activity and lower serum malondialdehyde level were also observed in the birds receiving 200 and 400 ppm of CEO in their drinking water compared with that of the control birds (P<0.05). Moreover, serum total antioxidant capacity tended to be higher (P=0.085) in the ostriches receiving 200 and 400 ppm CEO compared with that of the control group. However, the blood values of total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyltransferase, superoxide dismutase, amylase, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and chloride were not affected by experimental treatments (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that an addition of 200 ppm CEO into drinking water for ostrich chicks improves growth rate and antioxidant activities without impairing metabolic health status.

Keywords

- Abd El-Hakim, A.S., Cherian, G. and Ali, M.N., 2009. Use of organic acid, herbs and their combination to improve the utilization of commercial low protein broiler diets. International Journal of Poultry Science, 8: 14-20.
- Akbari, M. and Torki, M., 2014. Effects of dietary chromium picolinate and peppermint essential oil on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chicks reared under heat stress conditions. International Journal of Biometeorology, 58: 1383-1391.
- Akbarian, A., Golian, A., Kermanshahi, H., De Smet, S. and Michiels, J., 2015. Antioxidant enzyme activities, plasma hormone levels and serum metabolites of finishing broil.er chickens reared under high ambient temperature and fed lemon and orange peel extracts and Curcuma xanthorrhiza essential oil. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 99: 150-162.
- Aliabadi, A., Izadi, M., Rezvani, M.E. and Esmaeili-dehaj, M., 2016. Effects of thymol on serum biochemical and antioxidant indices in kindled rats. International Journal of Medical Laboratory, 3: 43-49.
- Al-Kassi, G.A.M. and Wit, N.M., 2010. A comparative study on diet supplementation with a mixture of herbal plants and dandelion as a source of prebiotics on the performance of broilers. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 9: 67-71.
- Awaad, M.H.H., Afify, M.A.A., Zoulfekar, S.A., Mohammed, F.F., Elmenawy, M.A. and Hafez, H.M., 2016. Modulating effect of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils on vVND infected chickens. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 36: 350-355.
- Brand, T. and Olivier, A., 2011. Ostrich Nutrition and Welfare: 91-109. In: Glatz, P.C., Lunam, C. and Malecki, I., (Eds.). The Welfare of Farmed Ratites. Springer-Verlag. Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany, 266p.
- Brenes, A. and Roura, E., 2010. Essential oils in poultry nutrition: Main effects and modes of action. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 158: 1-14.
- Emadi, M., Kermanshahi, H. and Maroufyan, E., 2007. Effect of varying levels of turmeric rhizome powder on some blood parameters of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal based diets. International Journal of Poultry Science, 6: 345-348.
- Frankic, T., Voljc, M., Salobir, J. and Rezar, V., 2009. Use of herbs and spices and their extracts in animal nutrition. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 94: 95-102.
- Ghasemi, H.A., Kazemi-Bonchenari, M., Khaltabadi-Farahani, A.H. and Khodaei Motlagh, M., 2013. The effect of feeding rations with different ratios of concentrate to alfalfa hay on blood hematological and biochemical parameters of farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus). Tropical Animal Health and Production, 45: 1635-1640.
- Habibi, R., Sadeghi, G.H. and Karimi, A., 2014. Effect of different concentrations of ginger root powder and its essential oil on growth performance, serum metabolites and antioxidant status in broiler chicks under heat stress. British Poultry Science, 55: 228-237.
- Hadavi, A., Kermanshahi, H., Nassiri Moghaddam, H. and Golian, A., 2017. Effects of fennel extract on egg production, antioxidant status and bone attributes of laying hens administered carbon tetrachloride. Poultry Science Journal, 5: 165-171.
- Hashemi, S.R. and Davoodi, H., 2011. Herbal plants and their derivatives as growth and health promoters in animal nutrition. Veterinary Research Communications, 35: 169-180.
- Hernández, F., Madrid, J., García, V., Orengo, J. and Megías, M.D., 2004. Influence of two plant extracts on broilers performance, digestibility, and digestive organ size. Poultry Science, 83: 169-174.
- Hoffman-Pennesi, D. and Wu, C., 2011. The effect of thymol and thyme oil feed supplementation on growth performance, serum antioxidant levels, and cecal Salmonella population in broilers. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 19: 432-443.
- Ipu, M.A., Akhtar, M.S., Anjumi, M.I. and Raja, M.L., 2006. New dimension of medicinal plants as animal feed. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 26: 144-148.
- Jang, I.S., Ko, Y.H., Kang, S.Y. and Lee, C.Y., 2007. Effect of a commercial essential oil on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal microflora population in broiler chickens. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 134: 304-315.
- Karadas, F., Pirgozliev, V., Rose, S.P., Dimitrov, D., Oduguwa, O. and Bravo, D., 2014. Dietary essential oils improve the hepatic antioxidative status of broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 55: 329-334.
- Khaksar, V., Krimpen, M., Hashemipour, H. and Pilevar, M., 2012. Effects of thyme essential oil on performance, some blood parameters and ileal microflora of Japanese quail. Journal of Poultry Science, 49: 106-110.
- Khempaka, S., Pudpila U. and Molee, W., 2013. Effect of dried peppermint (Mentha cordifolia) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, antioxidant properties, and ammonia production in broilers. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 22: 904-912.
- Kim, S.J., Lee, K.W., Kang, C.W. and An, B.K., 2016. Growth performance, relative meat and organ weights, cecal microflora, and blood characteristics in broiler chickens fed diets containing different nutrient density with or without essential oils. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 29: 549-554.
- Kohlert, C., Van Rensen, I., März, R., Schindler, G., Graefe, E.U. and Veit, M., 2000. Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of natural volatile terpenes in animals and humans. Planta Medica, 66: 495-505.
- Lumeij, J.T., 1997. Avian clinical biochemistry: 857-883. In: Kaneko, J.J., Harvey, J.W. and Bruss, M.L., (Eds.). Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals. Academic Press, London, 916p.
- Luna, A., Lema-Alba, R.C., Dambolena, J.S., Zygadlo, J.A., Labaque, M.C. and Marin R.H., 2017. Thymol as natural antioxidant additive for poultry feed: oxidative stability improvement. Poultry Science, 96: 3214-3220.
- Mathivanan, R. and Kalaiarasi, K., 2007. Panchagavya and Andrographis panculata as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters on haematological, serum biochemical parameters and immune status of broilers. Journal of Poultry Science, 44: 198-204.
- Miraj, S. and Kiani, S., 2016. Study of antibacterial, antimycrobacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities of Foeniculum vulgare: A review. Der Pharmacia Lettre, 8: 200-205.
- Satoh, K., 1978. Serum lipid peroxide in cerebrovascular disorders determined by a new colorimetric method. Clinica Chimica Acta, 90: 37-43.
- Srinivasan, K., 2005. Spices as influencers of body metabolism. Food Research International, 38: 77-86.
- Sun, Q., Liu, D., Guo, S., Chen, Y. and Guo, Y., 2015. Effects of dietary essential oil and enzyme supplementation on growth performance and gut health of broilers challenged by Clostridium perfringens. Animal Feed Science and Technology Volume, 207: 234-244.
- Taranu, I., Marin, D.E., Untea, A., Janczyk, P., Motiu, M. and Criste, R.D., 2012. Effect of dietary natural supplements on immune response and mineral bioavailability in piglets after weaning. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 57: 332-343.
- Tiihonen, K., Kettunen, H., Bento, M.H.L., Saarinen, M., Lahtinen, S., Ouwehand, A.C., Schulze, H. and Rautonen, N., 2010. The effect of feeding essential oils on broiler performance and gut microbiota. British Poultry Science, 51: 381-392.
- Traesel, C.K., Wolkmer, P., Schmidt, C., Silva, C.B., Paim, F.C., Rosa, A.P., Alves, S.H., Santurio, J.M. and Lopes, S.T.A., 2011. Serum biochemical profile and performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing essential oils and pepper. Comparative Clinical Pathology, 20: 453-460.