Performance, Histology, and Meat Quality of Coccidiosis-Challenged Broilers Fed Essential Oils

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Ralco’s Microfused Essential Oils (MEO) on growth, jejunal histology, and meat quality of coccidiosis-challenged broilers. Day old broilers (n = 768; 64 pens; 12 broilers/pen) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments fed in 4 phases: starter (d0–16), grower (d17–27), finisher (d28–34), and withdrawal (d35–41). Diets were a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON), CON+BMD50/Coban90 at 55/121, 250/550, 250/495 and 0 mg/kg (ANTI), CON+MEO at 375, 250, 125, and 100 mg/kg (MEOD), CON+MEO at constant 500 mg/ kg (MEO500), and CON+MEO at constant 250 mg/kg (MEO250). Broilers were offered a 10X dose of a coccidiosis vaccine on d 3, 15, 22, and 29. On d 14, jejunal histology was measured. Two broilers per pen were harvested on d 41 and breast pH was measured. Rancidity compounds (TBARS) were measured on whole breasts at d 7 postmortem and ground thighs on d 0, 3, 5, and 7 postmortem. Overall, MEO250-fed broilers had a tendency for greater gain over CON-fed (63.6 vs. 61.3 ± 0.87 g; P < 0.08). MEOD-fed broilers tended to have greater villus height compared to MEO500-fed (806.6 vs. 716.3 ± 27.7 μm; P = 0.09. No differences were observed for pH or TBARS of breasts (P > 0.05). There were differences in L*, a*, and b* color values of breasts and there was an interaction for color values of thighs. ANTI, MEO500, and MEO250 had decreased TBARS values for thighs compared to CON at d 7 postmortem (P ≤ 0.05). Overall, growth performance of MEO250 was not different than ANTI during peak challenge (P > 0.05). MEO250 could improve growth performance and meat quality when broilers are subjected to a coccidiosis disease challenge.