Jamil Habibi; Hossein Reaz Shahbazi; Forugh Mohammadi
Volume 24, Issue 2 , July 2022, , Pages 189-199
Abstract
The present experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract and vitamin E on performance, biochemical parameters of blood and immune system of broilers. Two hundred and forty one-day-old male broiler chicks Ross 308 were used in a completely randomized design with ...
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The present experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract and vitamin E on performance, biochemical parameters of blood and immune system of broilers. Two hundred and forty one-day-old male broiler chicks Ross 308 were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replications, each replication containing 15 chickens. Experimental diets include 1- control (basal diet without thyme and vitamin E), 2- basal diet+ 250 mg/kg thyme extract, 3- basal diet+ 100 mg/kg vitamin E and 4- basal diet+ 250 mg/kg thyme extract+ 100 mg/kg vitamin E. The results showed that the increase in body weight and feed conversion ratio throughout the period in the diet containing a mixture of thyme extract and vitamin E were significantly increased and decreased, respectively (P<0.05). Differences in cholesterol and LDL concentrations in treatments containing thyme extract and vitamin E, as well as their mixtures, were significantly reduced with control (P<0.05). Thymus weight increased significantly compared to the control in all experimental treatments (P<0.05). In general, the results showed that the use of a mixture of thyme extract and vitamin E in the diet of broilers can improve performance and strengthen the immune system.