ABSTARCT
The principal goal of this research was to examine how the addition of sodium butyrate
(SB) and Origanium vulgare (OV) to the feed affects various aspects of broiler chickens
production, including growth rate, biochemical markers, immune system function, and
carcass traits. Five hundred one-day-old chicks of Cobb breed (males and females) were
distributed randomly into five groups on floor pens, each group has 4 replicates (25
birds/replicate) and reared at a private farm. Group (G1) was received basal diet without
any addition and kept as a negative control. Birds of groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were received
basal diet enriched with 500 g/ton of SB, 500 g/ton of OV, 250 g/ton of SB plus OV and
500 g/ton of SB plus OV, respectively. On day 35 of rearing, the growth performance,
biochemical profile, immunity parameters and carcass traits were evaluated. Our study
demonstrated that supplementing basal diet with SB and OV, alone and in combination,
increased body weight gain (BWG), improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and decreased
serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total
cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) and malondialdehyde (MDA). It increased total
protein (TP) albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and
catalase (CAT). It enhanced immunity as it increased macrophage phagocytic activity,
phagocytic index, lysozyme enzyme activity, and hemagglutination inhibition (HI)
antibody titer against NDV. It also increased levels of IgG and IgM and improved carcass
traits of broilers. It could be concluded that supplementation of basal diet with SB and
OV, alone and in combination, improved growth performance, biochemical parameters,
immune status, and carcass traits of broilers. Therefore, the utilization of sodium butyrate
and Origanium vulgare as feed additives can be used as an effective approach. They have
hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and immune stimulant effects. The mechanisms of action
underlying these effects require further study in broiler chickens.
Keywords: Broilers, Sodium butyrate, Origanium vulgare, Growth performance,
Biochemical parameters, Immune status, Carcass traits.
SUMMARY
Egypt is suffering nowadays from severe shortage of poultry meat which is a
popular food for most Egyptians. Additionally, there is a continuous rise in the cost
of feed ingredients, such as cereal grains as maize (corn), sorghum and barley due
to price fluctuations and difficulties of importation process.
Antibiotics have been traditionally used for improving health and growth
performance in poultry but, there is a gradual removal of antibiotics from
therapeutic and prophylactic uses in poultry because of the increased risk of
developing bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the incidence of antibiotic
residues.
Feed additives are products used in poultry nutrition for the purposes of
improving the quality and safety of feed and the quality of food byproducts from
animal origin. The most commonly used feed additives in poultry diet
include antimicrobials, antimycotoxins, antioxidants, acidifiers, vitamins and
minerals and prebiotics, probiotics, and phytogenic feed additives.
The present study was therefore aimed to evaluate the effects of both feed
additive sodium butyrate and Origanium vulgarea, alone and in combination, on
growth performance, biochemical profile, and immune status and carcass traits in
broiler chickens.
A total of five hundred one-day-old chicks of Cobb breed (both sexes) were
randomly allocated into five groups on floor pens, each group has 4 replicates (25
birds/replicate) and reared in a private farm, Giza, Egypt. Corn-soybean meal and
basal diet were formulated to cover the nutrient requirements for Cobb broilers
(Cobb manual catalogue 2018). Three stages of diets (starter, grower and finisher)
in the form of mash were formulated. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum
during the experimental period (35 days). The first group (G1) was fed basal diet
without any addition and served as a control group. Broiler chicks in the second
group (G2) were consumed the same basal diet with addition of 500 g/ton feed of
SB. In the third group (G3), the broiler chicks were reared on the same basal diet
to which 500 g/ton feed of OV were added. Group four (G4) was received the
same basal diet to which half of the concentration (250 g/ton feed) from both feed
additives (SB plus OV) were added. Broiler chicks in the group five (G5) were fed
the same basal diet supplemented with 500 g/ton feed from both additives (SB plus
OV).
The chicks were weighed at beginning and on day 21 and at the end of dietary
period (35 days). Daily feed intake (FI) was recorded day after day throughout the
experimental period. Body weight gain (BWG %) and feed conversion ratio (FCR)
were calculated as follows:
Body weight gain (g) = Final body weight- Initial body weight
BWG % = Final weight (g) - Initial weight (g) / Initial weight (g) X100
Feed conversion ratio (FER) = feed intake (g) / body weight gain (g)
Blood samples were collected from the brachial wing vein weekly from all
groups (five samples from each replicate, 20 samples/ group). After collection of
the whole blood, it was allowed to clot at room temperature. This usually takes 15–
30 minutes. The clots were remove by centrifugation at 1,000-2,000 X g for 10
minutes in a refrigerated centrifuge for separation of clear serum which kept in
refrigerator at - 8 °C till biochemical analysis.
The blood was withdrawn from the brachial wing vein and serum samples were
collected for determination of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), total protein
(TP), albumin, globulin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and
malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as IgG and IgM.
Assay of phagocytosis, lysozyme assay, nitric oxide assay and
hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody assay were used to evaluate the immune
status in broilers.
Twenty birds/group (5 birds / replicate) were randomly selected from all
groups. Feed was withdrawn from birds for 12 hours before slaughtering. Birds
were defeathered and eviscerated after slaughtering by bleeding of the jugular vein.
Heart, liver, thymus, bursa, gizzard, and abdominal fat were excised and weighed
to the nearest 0.01 g on a digital balance. After removal of head, shanks and offal,
the ready to cook carcass was obtained. The ready to cook carcass weight was
determined, and the carcass yield percentage (dressing %) was calculated as
follow:
Dressing % = Carcass weight / Live weight X100
The results showed the following:
1- Supplementation of basal diet with sodium butyrate (SB) at 500 g/ton feed,
Origanium vulgare (OV) at 500 g/ton feed, alone and in combination,
increased body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio
(FCR) on day 21 and on day 35 of age of broiler chickens.
2- Supplementation of basal diet with SB and OV, alone and in combination,
significantly decreased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC) and
triglycerides (TG) on day 35 of age of broiler chickens.
3- Supplementation of SB and OV, alone and in combination, to the basal diet
significantly increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and
catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes and decreased biomarker of lipid
peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) on day 35 of age of broiler chickens.
4- Supplementation of basal diet with SB and OV, alone and in combination,
significantly increased serum levels of total proteins (TP), albumin (Alb),
globulin (Glob) and albumin/globulin (Alb/Glb) ratio on day 35 of age
5- Addition of SB and OV, alone or in combination, to the basal diet resulted in
an increase in serum levels of immunoglobulins IgG and IgM in broiler
chickens on day 35 of age.
7. Addition of SB and OV, alone or in combination, to the basal diet alone and
in combination significantly increased phagocytic activity (PA), phagocytic
index (PI), lysozyme activity (LA) after challenge with Micrococcus
bacteria in broiler chickens and serum concentration of nitric oxide (NO) on
day 35 of age .
8. Supplementation of basal diet with SB and OV alone and in combination
resulted in a significant increase hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody
titer against NDV on day 21 and on day 35 post challenges.
9. Addition of SB and OV to the basal diet, alone and in combination, increased
live weight and carcass weight .The dressing percent (DP %) was 71.5%. It
significantly increased the weight of bursa Fabricius and decreased the
weight of abdominal fat. Non- significant changes of thymus, spleen, liver,
heart, and gizzard were recorded.
