Wahidullah Charkhi; Fardin Hozhabri; Hadi Hajarian
Volume 26, Issue 1 , March 2024, , Pages 15-31
Abstract
Introduction: Medicinal plants are one of the most important known herbal additives in feeding ruminant animals. It has been reported that medicinal plants with favorable effects on rumen fermentation improve the function of the digestive system and as a result feed intake, as well as the level of animal ...
Read More
Introduction: Medicinal plants are one of the most important known herbal additives in feeding ruminant animals. It has been reported that medicinal plants with favorable effects on rumen fermentation improve the function of the digestive system and as a result feed intake, as well as the level of animal products and the growth rate of infants increases. Also, numerous and sometimes contradictory reports have been reported about the effects of using medicinal plants in the diet of different animals on blood parameters. Limited studies have been published regarding the addition of medicinal plants to the diet of mother ewes and its effect on the suckling lambs. Most of the studies are about the direct use of medicinal plants by lambs and its effect on the performance and other behavioral characteristics of the animal. Therefore, in the present study, the main goal was to investigate the effects of adding a mixture of different proportions of medicinal plants such as cumin, coriander seeds and peppermint to the ration of lactating ewes on the performance, blood parameters, and antioxidant status of the suckling lambs.
Materials and Methods: This research was conducted in a completely randomized design using 48 lambs with an average weight of 3.34±0.44 kg along with 24 lactating ewes with an average milk production of 1107.03±122.25 grams per day in individual stalls for a period of 65 days. The groups of mother ewes included: control (basic diet) and first, second and third treatments, in addition to the basic diet, were received 15 grams of cumin, coriander and peppermint mixed powder with the ratios of 60:30:10; 10:45:45 and 30:60:10 %, respectively. The lambs were weighed every two weeks and at the end of the experiment, blood was taken from the jugular vein.
Results and Discussion: The final weight and average daily gain (ADG) of lambs of first treatment were higher than other groups (P<0.05). Red blood cells (RBC) and hematocrit were the lowest in third and the highest in first treatments, although there was no significant difference with control. Platelets and red cell distribution width (RDW) in first treatment were lower than control (P<0.05). There was no difference between treatments in terms of white blood cells (WBC), percentages of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The concentration of blood glucose in lambs of first treatment decreased compared to control. The total antioxidant capacity of lambs from mothers receiving herbal supplement increased and malondialdehyde was lower compared to control.
Conclusion: The results showed that the use of a mixture of cumin, coriander and peppermint in the ration of mother ewes increased the antioxidant capacity and decreased malondialdehyde in suckling lambs, although ADG was not noticeable.
Mohammad Reza Rezvani; Masoud Arab; Ogholbakht Kami
Volume 21, Issue 3 , September 2019, , Pages 359-369
Abstract
This research was carried out in order to investigate the effect of peppermint, thyme and tarragon essential oils on the performance and antibody titer of broilers. In this experiment, a total number of 240 Cobb 500 broiler chickens were used in a completely randomized design with eight treatment groups. ...
Read More
This research was carried out in order to investigate the effect of peppermint, thyme and tarragon essential oils on the performance and antibody titer of broilers. In this experiment, a total number of 240 Cobb 500 broiler chickens were used in a completely randomized design with eight treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated five times with six birds per replicate. Dietary treatments included; control, 200 mg/kg virginiamycin antibiotic, 150 and 200 mg/kg peppermint, thyme and tarragon essential oils. Chickens fed diets supplemented with antibiotic and 200 mg/kg thyme essential oil had significantly higher daily weight gain in comparison to control diet at the period of 21-42 days and 1- 42 days. Feed conversion ratio in birds fed the diets supplemented with 200 mg/kg peppermint essential oil and antibiotic was significantly improved in comparison to control diet. The highest ileum length and the best antibody titer against bronchitis and Gumboro in 42 days old chickens were recorded in150 mg/kg tarragon essential oil, 200 and 150 mg/kg peppermint essential oils, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to supplement 200 mg/kg peppermint or thyme essential oils instead of dietary antibiotics in order to improve performance and antibody titer in broilers.
Sajedeh Shamsollahei; Leila Hassanvand; bahman parizadian
Volume 20, Issue 3 , November 2018, , Pages 437-450
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of peppermint essential oils (PEO) on productive performance and immune response in laying hens imposed to dexamethasone-induced stress. The experiment was performed in a 2×3 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block ...
Read More
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of peppermint essential oils (PEO) on productive performance and immune response in laying hens imposed to dexamethasone-induced stress. The experiment was performed in a 2×3 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with 90 Hy- Line (W36) laying hens in 6 treatments and 5 replicates of 3 birds in each. Peppermint essential oil was included into a basal (control) diet at 200 and 400 mg/kg. Dexamethasone was injected subcutaneously in two levels of 0 and 4 mg per bird/ week. Dexamethasone injection decreased egg production, egg mass and body weight gain while increased feed conversion ratio, eosinophil count and serum total protein concentration compared with control birds (P < 0.05). Egg yolk weight was greater in birds fed with diets containing 200 mg/ kg PEO compared with control birds (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone, peppermint essential oil as well their interaction exhibited no significant effect on antibody titer against Newcastle, Influenza and Gambro viruses (P > 0.05). In conclusion, dexamethasone-induced stress exhibited an adverse impact on feed conversion ratio and egg production in laying hens and inclusion of PEO at 200 mg/ kg modulated, in part, certain negative effects including egg weight of hens.