Peppermint Oil and Supplement Impact on Growth and Nutrition in Low-Energy Diets

Jenn Hoskins
15th May, 2024

Peppermint Oil and Supplement Impact on Growth and Nutrition in Low-Energy Diets

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by the University of Tehran investigated the effects of peppermint essential oil (PEO) and an emulsifier called artifier on broiler chickens fed low-energy diets
  • Broiler chickens fed low-energy diets with both PEO and artifier had similar growth performance to those on a standard diet
  • Chickens receiving PEO and artifier had lower abdominal fat and better nutrient digestibility compared to those on low-energy diets without additives
The University of Tehran recently conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of peppermint essential oil (PEO) and an emulsifier called artifier on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed low-energy diets[1]. This study is significant as it addresses the challenge of maintaining efficient poultry production while reducing dietary energy costs, a major expense in poultry farming. In this experiment, a total of 240 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into five treatment groups: control, low-energy diet, low-energy diet supplemented with 150 ppm PEO, low-energy diet supplemented with 300 ppm artifier, and low-energy diet supplemented with both 150 ppm PEO and 300 ppm artifier. Each treatment was replicated four times in a completely randomized design, and the chickens were fed these diets over a 42-day period, which included the starter, grower, and finisher phases. The results showed that broilers receiving the low-energy diet supplemented with both PEO and artifier exhibited similar body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and breast percentage as those fed the control diet. However, these birds had significantly lower abdominal fat percentages compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, birds receiving PEO and artifier in low-energy diets, either individually or in combination, demonstrated higher digestibility of dry matter and fat during the starter and grower periods compared to those on the low-energy diet without any additives (P < 0.05). Over the entire rearing period, the simultaneous inclusion of 150 ppm PEO and 300 ppm artifier in the low-energy diet resulted in comparable growth performance to the control diet. This study builds on earlier findings that have explored the supplementation of various additives to broiler diets to improve growth performance and nutrient utilization. For instance, previous research has demonstrated that lysophospholipid (LPL) supplementation in broiler diets can enhance growth performance, carcass yield, intestinal development, and bone quality[2]. Similarly, another study found that emulsifier blends can improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum lipid profiles in broilers[3]. The current study by the University of Tehran expands on these findings by specifically focusing on the effects of PEO and artifier in low-energy diets. The inclusion of PEO and artifier in low-energy diets for broiler chickens not only maintained growth performance comparable to the control diet but also led to a decrease in abdominal fat and enhanced nutrient utilization. This suggests that these additives can effectively compensate for the reduced energy content in the diet, thereby supporting efficient poultry production while potentially lowering feed costs. The higher digestibility of dry matter and fat observed in birds receiving PEO and artifier indicates improved nutrient absorption and utilization, which is crucial for optimal growth and development. In summary, the study conducted by the University of Tehran provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of supplementing low-energy broiler diets with PEO and artifier. These findings align with previous research on the positive effects of dietary additives on broiler performance and nutrient digestibility[2][3]. By incorporating PEO and artifier into low-energy diets, poultry producers can achieve comparable growth performance to standard diets while reducing feed costs and improving nutrient utilization.

HerbsNutritionAnimal Science

References

Main Study

1) Effects of peppermint essential oil and artifier on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nutrient digestibilities in broiler chickens fed with low energy diets.

Published 15th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2024.100354

Related Studies

2) Effects of lysophospholipid on growth performance, carcass yield, intestinal development, and bone quality in broilers.

https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez111

3) Influence of emulsifier blends having different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum lipid profiles, and meat quality of broilers.

https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pex303


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