In past several years, antibiotic growth promoters had been used in poultry feed aiming to improve growth performance and to increase some useful microorganism in intestinal microflora. However, because of emergence of bio-resistance, researchers are now exploring alternatives in place of antibiotic growth promoters. Essential oils (EOs) are found to have antibacterial ability, and also exhibit growth promoting (Kansal et al., 2017), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, digestion stimulating, and hypolipidemic activities (Gomathi et al., 2017).

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is a popular medicinal plant belonging to Lamiaceae sp. and it has been paid more attention due to its antibacterial (Dorman and Deans, 2000), anticoccidial and antifungal properties (Jamroz et al., 2003). Volatile oils from thyme were assessed as inhibitors of microbial growth (Toghyani et al., 2010). The major active components of thyme plant are thymol and carvacrol with antibacterial activities and exhibit beneficial effects in poultry health and production (Demir et al., 2008). Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely used in many countries as a food condiment and as a medicinal herb (Chrubasik et al., 2005). The main important compounds in Ginger are gingerol, gingerdiol and gingerdione which have the ability to stimulate digestive enzymes, affect the microbial activity (Dieumou et al., 2009). The pungent taste of ginger is caused by gingerol that aids digestion (Jolad et al., 2004; Shariq et al., 2011). There are few reports dealing with single and combined effects of thyme and ginger on performance and immune response in chicken. Hence, experiment was planned to evaluate effects of thyme and ginger EOs through diets on growth performance of broilers.

Materials and Methods

Experimental Site

The experiment was approved by Institutional Animal Ethics Committee vide resolution no. IAEC/28/18 dated 11/05/2018. The experiment was carried out at Department of Poultry Science, COVAS, Parbhani, affiliated to MAFSU, Nagpur, India.

Formulation of Experimental Ration                       

The feed ingredients were purchased from local market and rations were prepared as per BIS (2007), at feed mixing plant, Department of Poultry science, COVAS, Parbhani, MAFSU, Parbhani (Table 1). The pre-starter, starter and finisher rations were offered for first seven days, 8^th day to 20^thday and thereafter up to 42^nd day of age, respectively. The iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated for all the treatment groups. Ginger and thyme essential oils were purchased from M/s Fame drugs, Shastrinagar, Meerut (U.P.) and added in the feed at dose levels: ginger @ 25mg per kg and thyme @ 50mg per kg of feed. Similarly, ginger and thyme were also used in combination with the same dose levels.

Table 1: Percent ingredient and nutrient composition of (basal diet) pre-starter, starter and finisher rations with supplementation of Eos

*An essential oil was added in vegetable oil in the diet as per the dose rate mentioned in experimental design.

Experimental Birds and Data Collection 

The experiment was carried out on 300-day old Vencobb-400 broiler chicks for duration of 42 days. The chicks were weighed and distributed randomly into five treatment groups viz. A, B, C, D and E with four replicates of 15 chicks each. Experimental design used for housing of broilers is presented in Table 2. The feeding, watering, floor space and vaccination schedule were provided as per standards.

Table 2: Experimental design for housing of broilers with supplementation of EOs

* Bacitracin methylene disalicylate

Performance Parameters

The weight gain, feed consumption and FCR were recorded replicate wise at weekly interval. The economics of broiler production was calculated by consideration the cost of chick, cost of feed, litters, vaccination and medication. However, gross profit per bird was calculated by subtracting the cost of production per bird from the price fetched per bird.

Immune Status

IBD Titre

An indirect ELISA for IBD antibody test kit was developed by PDRC (Poultry Diagnostic and Research Centre, Pune) and ELISA antibody titre against IBD (Infectious Bursal Disease) was estimated at PDRC laboratory, Pune.

Statistical Analysis

Data, thus collected, was subjected to statistical analysis by using Randomized Block Design as described by Snedecor and Cochran (2002). The treatment means were compared by critical differences (CD) and analysis of variance.

Results and Discussion

Cumulative Weight Gain

Significant (P < 0.05) influence on cumulative weight gain was observed. The improvement in weight gain for thyme and ginger Eos groups were found due to important role of EOs in promoting growth stimulating activity (Lee et al., 2003) compared to control. However, combination of EOs suppressed weight gain indicating no synergetic action. Similar findings were recorded by Abdulkarimi et al. (2011), Rahimi et al. (2011), Saleh et al. (2014) and Attia et al. (2017). In contrast, significant influence on weight gain by supplementation of either thyme or ginger EOs were revealed (Feizi et al., 2013; Habibia et al., 2014; Saki et al., 2014; Pati et al., 2015 and Wade et al., 2018).

Cumulative Feed Consumption

From the data (Table 3 and Table 4) it was observed that cumulative feed consumption was found to be non-significant. However, decreased feed consumption was observed for combination of thyme and ginger Eos indicating no synergistic effect. The results in present study are in agreement with the findings of Nidaullha et al. (2010), Onu et al. (2010), Toghyani et al. (2010), Abdulkarimi et al. (2011), Bemidele et al. (2012), Ali (2014) and Wade et al. (2018). In contrast, Feizi et al. (2013), Saleh et al. (2014), and Attia et al. (2017) revealed significantly decreased feed intake by either thyme or ginger. However, Pati et al. (2015) and Karangiya et al. (2016) reported significantly higher feed intake.

Table 3:  Cumulative weight gain (g), feed consumption (g) and FCR in broiler at different age groups supplemented with EOs

Table 4: Antibody titre against infectious bursal disease (IBD) at 21^stand 28^th day of age of broiler supplemented with EOs

Feed Conversion Ratio

The superior cumulative feed conversion ratio was observed for treatment group D compared to rest of the treatment groups; however, the differences were non-significant. The findings are in close agreement with Toghyani et al. (2010), Abdulkarini et al. (2011), Pati et al. (2015), Attia et al. (2017) and Wade et al. (2018). On the other hand, Onu et al. (2010), Barazesh et al. (2013), Feizi et al. (2013), Hashempour et al. (2014), Ali (2014), Awaad et al. (2014) Saleh et al. (2014) and Narender et al. (2018) recorded improvement in FCR by supplementation of thyme and ginger. It may be due to positive effect of thyme and ginger EOs on nutrient digestibility.

Immune Status

IBD Titre

Non-significant influence of thyme and ginger essential oils on antibody titer against infectious bursal disease (IBD) was observed. It may be due to low dose levels which are in accordance with Saki et al. (2014). They revealed that the mean titer of serum antibodies of IBD did not recorded significant differences between different treatments at 21^st and 42^nd day of age. However, Nidahullah et al. (2010), Saleh et al. (2014) and Attia et al. (2017) reported higher (p<0.01) IBD titer in thyme oil groups than control.

Economics of Broiler Production

The results inferred that the diet supplemented with antibiotic and ginger EOs recorded highest net profit per bird. Similarly, Wade et al. (2018) revealed highest profitability with diet supplemented thyme oil compared to control. In contrast, Karangiya et al. (2016) revealed a significantly lower return over feed cost in ginger treated group as compared to control.

Table 5: Economics of broiler production supplemented with essential oils

Conclusion

The present study it can be concluded that the supplementation of ginger Eos @ 25 mg/kg of feed improved the growth performance, immune status and profitability, followed by thyme Eos @ 50 mg/kg of feed. Both ginger and thyme essential oils may be used as an alternative to commercial growth promoting antibiotic (BMD) through broilers feed.

Acknowledgement

The authors are highly grateful to Dr. N. M. Markandeya, Associate Dean, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani for providing necessary facilities and for her help at various stages of the experiment. The authors are also thankful to Poultry Diagnostics and Research Institute, Pune for providing facilities for serum estimation.

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