Manwar, S. J.WADE, M.R.2019-12-192019-12-192019-04-01http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810138077The present investigation was planned to study effect of incorporation of essential oils alone or in combinations in diets on performance of broiler chickens. Five experiments were conducted on Vencobb-400 broiler chicks for a period of six weeks. Under each trial, every treatment group had three replicates of 20 chicks each. In the first trial, the birds in control group (A) offered basal diet adequate in all nutrients as per BIS (2007). The birds in dietary treatment groups B, C and D were offered diets containing Thyme EO and groups E, F and G were offered diets containing thyme and clove EO @100; 200 or 300 mg/kg diet, respectively. In second trial, the dietary treatment groups B, C and D were offered diets containing cinnamon EO @ 100; 200 or 300 mg/kg diet and birds in groups E, F and G were offered diets containing peppermint EO 100; 200 or 300 mg/kg diet, respectively. In the third trial, the dietary treatments were Group A: Control; Group B: blend of (Thyme + Clove Essential oil) Group C: blend of (Thyme + Cinnamon Essential oil); Group D: blend of (Thyme + Peppermint Essential oil); Group E: blend of (Clove + Cinnamon Essential oil); Group F: blend of (Clove + Peppermint Essential oil) and Group G: blend of (Cinnamon + Peppermint Essential oil) In fourth trial, A: Control; Group B: blend of (Thyme + Clove + Cinnamon Essential oil) Group C: blend of (Clove + Cinnamon + Peppermint Essential oil) Group D: blend of (Cinnamon+ Peppermint + Thyme Essential oil) Group E: blend of (Peppermint + Thyme + Clove Essential oil) Group F: blend of (Thyme + Clove + Cinnamon + Peppermint Essential oil). The fifth trial was conducted to compare the best performing groups selected based on the results of experiment I to IV in order to explore the superior dietary treatment. In first experiment, the live body weight and gain in body weights was significantly (P<0.01) higher in broilers fed diets having clove EO 300 mg/kg than all treatment groups from 2nd to 6th weeks. Significantly higher (P<0.05) weekly feed consumption was observed in treatment group G (Clove EO 300mg/kg) as compared to control group. The improved feed efficiency was observed in all essential oil supplemented treatments as compared to control. Among the essential oil supplemented groups, the birds fed with 300 mg/kg clove EO had obtained higher ND and IBD titer values compared to control and other essential oil fed birds. The maximum dressing yield was observed in bird fed 300 mg/kg clove EO followed by 100 mg/kg Thyme EO; 200 mg/kg clove EO and lowest dressing yield was found in control group. The improved appearance, texture, juiciness, flavor, tenderness and overall acceptance were observed in all essential oil supplemented groups. The higher profit per kg of broiler was in group G ( ration containing clove EO 300 mg/kg) as compared to other groups. In second experiment, live body weight and cumulative weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the birds fed peppermint or cinnamon EO 200 mg/kg diet as compared to other essential oils fed birds and control. The bird fed 200 mg/kg diet peppermint essential oil slightly higher cumulative feed consumption than control group. Numerically better FCR was observed in treatment group F. At 3rd and 6th weeks, the antibody titers against ND and IBD in treatment groups receiving diet essential oil supplemented bird were numerically higher than control. The dressing yield was significantly higher in all essential oil supplemented groups compared to control. The higher profit per kg of broiler was in group F (ration containing peppermint EO 200 mg/kg) In third experiment, the birds fed blend of clove plus peppermint essential oil had given significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight as compared to other treatment groups. The cumulative feed consumption in birds fed blend of clove and peppermint diet was higher. The significantly better cumulative feed efficiency was found in group F (Clove + Peppermint Essential oil) and group E (Clove + cinnamon) than control. At 3rd and 6th weeks, the antibody titers against ND and IBD in treatment groups receiving diet essential oil supplemented bird were numerically higher as compared to other groups. Among essential oil supplemented groups, the significantly higher dressing yield was observed in bird fed blend Thyme plus Cinnamon EO. The higher profit per kg of broiler was in group F (ration containing clove and peppermint) In fourth experiment, the live body weight and cumulative weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the birds fed with blend of clove, cinnamon and peppermint (group C). Cumulative feed consumption in birds fed with blends of thyme, clove, cinnamon and peppermint essential oil had given significantly higher. Blend of clove, cinnamon and peppermint EO had shown significantly better cumulative FCR. The higher profit per kg of broiler was in ration containing blend of Clove + Cinnamon + Peppermint Essential oil. In fifth experiment, the live body weight and cumulative weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the birds fed with blend of clove, cinnamon and peppermint (group E) had given higher body weight gain. Among the essential oil supplemented groups the clove, cinnamon and peppermint EO have gave better feed efficiency as compare to other essential oil fed bird and control group. The slightly improved serum protein and albumin was observed in blend of clove plus peppermint essential oil fed birds and lower serum glucose was observed in all essential oil fed birds. The lower Serum cholesterol, SGPT and SGOT was observed in blend of clove and peppermint EO fed birds. The maximum nitrogen retention was observed in bird fed blends of clove, peppermint and cinnamon. The higher profit per kg of broiler was in ration containing blend of Clove + Cinnamon + Peppermint Essential oil. Thus, it may be concluded that supplementation of essential oil in broiler diets found beneficial in terms of growth performance, immune response and economics of broiler production and overall acceptability of broiler meat. Among the essential oil fed groups, the blend of clove, peppermint and cinnamon EO added in broiler diets improved the growth performance, feed efficiency, immune response, biochemical parameters, nutrient utilization and improved the profit margin in broiler production.ennullThesis