The Effect of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Meat Quality of Broilers at High Stocking Density

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

• Mosayeb Karimi Bahrasman ¹
• Omidali Esmaeilipour ¹
• Mozhgan Mazhari ¹
• Hossein Doomary ²

¹ Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jiroft, Kerman, Iran

² Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jiroft, Kerman, Iran.

10.22067/ijasr.2022.78413.1097

Abstract

Introduction: In the broiler breeding industry, chickens are often reared in confinement at high stocking densities, which can make them susceptible to infectious diseases. Antibiotics, growth promoters, and anti-coccidial drugs are frequently used as feed additives to elevate growth rates, combat diseases, and lower losses. However frequent use of antibiotics in broiler diets may result in a rise in the antimicrobial resistance of both human and animal bacteria. Alternatives to antibiotics as growth promoters for broilers could decrease bacterial resistance to antibiotics, while at the same time maintaining growth and improving carcass composition. In addition, the bioactive components of herbal plants have a high free radical inhibitory activity that may help the endogenous oxidative status of animals and thus may prevent oxidation in meat and lead to improved meat quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) on growth performance, blood metabolites, and meat quality of broilers at high stocking density‏.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with a 2×2 factorial arrangements. A total of 216 1-d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were allotted to one of four treatments with four replicates. Two different stocking densities (low stocking density (LSD): 9 birds/m² and high stocking density (HSD): 18 birds/m²) were tested with two different thyme levels: zero and 0.1%. Chickens had given ad-libitum access to water drinking and diet. At the end of the experiment (42 days old), two birds with the closest weights to the mean weight of the pen were selected, and after blood sampling slaughtered for determining meat quality. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) of birds were measured per pen at the end of each period. Mortality and the weight of birds that died or were culled during the experiment were recorded. Corrected feed conversion ratio was calculated based on mortality for these periods. Blood biochemical indices (glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride) were determined using a clinical biochemistry autoanalyzer using a kit from Pars Azmoun, Tehran, Iran. To determine the Water-holding capacity, 5 gr of breast sample were placed in filter paper and centrifuged at 1500×g for 4 min. Then the samples were placed in an oven at 70 °C for 24 h. Finally, the Water-holding capacity was calculated from the difference in the weight after centrifugation and the weight after drying, divided by the initial weight multiplied by 100. Collected data were subjected to ANOVA using the GLM procedure of SAS (SAS, 2005). Analysis of variance was performed using a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of treatments. Tukey’s multiple range test was used to determine differences among the treatment means. Statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that in the starter period, birds in the HSD group had the highest feed intake and weight gain compared to the LSD group (P<0.05). HSD caused a significant decrease in feed intake and body weight and a significant increase in feed conversion ratio in grower, finisher, and the total periods compared to LSD (P<0.05). A significant increase in glucose, heterophil concentration, and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase and lymphocyte concentrations were observed in birds raised in HSD than LSD (P<0.05). Also, HSD decreased water holding capacity and increased cooking loss and dripping loss of breast meat (P<0.05). The addition of thyme powder increased feed intake and body weight and decreased feed conversion ratio in grower, finisher, and the total periods (P<0.05). The treatment containing thyme decreased the concentration of glucose, heterophil, and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and increased the concentration of glutathione peroxidase, white blood cells, and lymphocytes (P<0.05). A significant increase in water holding capacity and a significant decrease in cooking loss, dripping loss, and thiobarbituric acid of breast meat were observed in the treatment containing thyme (P<0.05). The positive effects of thyme on reducing the negative effects of high stocking density and improving growth performance, antioxidant status, blood immunity, and meat quality of broilers could be due to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The improvement in the growth performance of broiler chickens caused by thyme could be partly attributed to its positive effect on nutrient digestibility. Furthermore, this positive result could be, at least in part, due to the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of herbal products in the gut.
Conclusion: Therefore, adding 1% thyme powder can reduce the negative effects of high stocking density on growth performance, and blood metabolites, and improve the meat quality of broilers raised under high stocking density.

Keywords

• Broiler
• Glutathione peroxidase enzyme
• Meat oxidative stability
• Stocking density
• Weight gain

Main Subjects

• Poultry Nutrition

---

References

1. Abdel-Azeem, A. S., Hegazy, A. M., Zeidan, H. M., Ibrahim, K. S., & El-Sayed, E. M. (2017). Potential renoprotective effects of rosemary and thyme against gentamicin toxicity in rats. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 14(4), 380-394.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2016.1253632
2. Abudabos, A. M., Samara, E. M., Hussein, E. O., Al-Ghadi, M. A. Q., & Al-Atiyat, R. M. (2013). Impacts of stocking density on the performance and welfare of broiler chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 12(1), e11.‏ https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2013.e11
3. Ahn, D. U., Olson, D. G., Jo, C., Chen, X., Wu, C., & Lee, J. I. (1998). Effect of muscle type, packaging, and irradiation on lipid oxidation, volatile production, and color in raw pork patties. Meat Science, 49, 27-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0309-1740(97)00101-0
4. Akyurek, H., & Yel, A. (2011). Influence of dietary thymol and carvacrol preparation and/or an organic acid blend on growth performance, digestive organs and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 5(8), 979-984.‏ DOI: 10.5897/AJMR10.203
5. Alagawany, M., El-Hack, M., Farag, M. R., Tiwari, R., & Dhama, K. (2015). Biological effects and modes of action of carvacrol in animal and poultry production and health-a review. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 3(2s), 73-84.‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.aavs/2015/3.2s.73.84
6. Attia, Y. A., Bakhashwain, A. A., & Bertu, N. K. (2017). Thyme oil (Thyme vulgaris) as a natural growth promoter for broiler chickens reared under hot climate. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 16(2), 275-282.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2016.1245594
7. Berg, E. P. (2001). Influence of stress on composition and quality of meat, poultry and meat products. Journal of Animal Science, 79(1), 204.‏
8. Büyükkılıç Beyzi, S. E. L. M. A., Konca, Y., Kaliber, M., Sarıözkan, S., Kocaoğlu Güçlü, B., Aktuğ, E., & Şentürk, M. (2020). Effects of thyme essential oil and A, C, and E vitamin combinations to diets on performance, egg quality, MDA, and 8-OHdG of laying hens under heat stress. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 48(1), 126-132.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2020.1746662
9. Cengiz, Ö., Köksal, B. H., Tatlı, O., Sevim, Ö., Ahsan, U., Üner, A. G., Ulutaş, P. A., Beyaz, D., Büyükyörük, S., Yakan, A., & Önol, A. G. (2015). Effect of dietary probiotic and high stocking density on the performance, carcass yield, gut microflora, and stress indicators of broilers. Poultry Science, 94(10), 2395-2403.‏ https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pev194
10. Cheah, K. S., Cheah, A. M., & Krausgrill, D. I. (1995). Effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin E on pig meat quality. Meat Science, 39(2), 255-264.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1740(94)P1826-H
11. Christensen, L. B. (2003). Drip loss sampling in porcine m. longissimus dorsi. Meat Science, 63(4), 469-477. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0309-1740(02)00106-7
12. Cross, D. E., McDevitt, R. M., Hillman, K., & Acamovic, T. (2007). The effect of herbs and their associated essential oils on performance, dietary digestibility and gut microflora in chickens from 7 to 28 days of age. British Poultry Science, 48(4), 496-506. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660701463221
13. Dai, S. F., Gao, F., Xu, X. L., Zhang, W. H., Song, S. X., & Zhou, G. H. (2012). Effects of dietary glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid on meat colour, pH, composition, and water-holding characteristic in broilers under cyclic heat stress. British Poultry Science, 53(4), 471-481.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.03.005
14. Dal Bosco, A., Mourvaki, E., Cardinali, R., Servili, M., Sebastiani, B., Ruggeri, S., Mattioli, S., Taticchi, A., Esposto S., & Castellini, C. (2012). Effect of dietary supplementation with olive pomaces on the performance and meat quality of growing rabbits. Meat Science, 92(4), 783-788.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.07.001
15. Estevez, I. (2007). Density allowances for broilers: where to set the limits?. Poultry Science, 86(6), 1265-1272.‏ https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/86.6.1265
16. Feddes, J. J., Emmanuel, E. J., & Zuidhoft, M. J. (2002). Broiler performance, body weight variance, feed and water intake, and carcass quality at different stocking densities. Poultry Science, 81(6), 774-779.‏ https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/81.6.774
17. Gholami, M., Chamani, M., Seidavi, A., Sadeghi, A. A., & Aminafschar, M. (2020). Effects of stocking density and environmental conditions on performance, immunity, carcase characteristics, blood constitutes, and economical parameters of cobb 500 strain broiler chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 19(1), 524-535.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2020.1757522
18. Gholami-Ahangaran, M., Ahmadi-Dastgerdi, A., & Karimi-Dehkordi, M. (2020). Thymol and carvacrol; as antibiotic alternative in green healthy poultry production. Plant Biotechnology Persa, 2(1), 22-25.‏ DOI:10.29252/pbp.2.1.22
19. Goo, D., Kim, J. H., Choi, H. S., Park, G. H., Han, G. P., & Kil, D. Y. (2019). Effect of stocking density and sex on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 98(3), 1153-1160.‏ https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey491
20. Gumus, R., Ercan, N. A. Z. L. I., & Imik, H. I. I. I. (2017). The effect of thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) added to quail diets on performance, some blood parameters, and the antioxidative metabolism of the serum and liver tissues. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 19, 297-304.‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2016-0403
21. Hashemipour, H., Kermanshahi, H., Golian, A., & Veldkamp, T. (2013). Effect of thymol and carvacrol feed supplementation on performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, fatty acid composition, digestive enzyme activities, and immune response in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 92(8), 2059-2069.‏ https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2012-02685
22. Hassan, F. A., & Awad, A. (2017). Impact of thyme powder (Thymus vulgaris) supplementation on gene expression profiles of cytokines and economic efficiency of broiler diets. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 15816-15826.‏ DOI 10.1007/s11356-017-9251-7
23. Hoseini, S. M., & Yousefi, M. (2019). Beneficial effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract on oxytetracycline‐induced stress response, immunosuppression, oxidative stress and enzymatic changes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquaculture Nutrition, 25(2), 298-309.‏ https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12853
24. Kamel, N. F., Hady, M. M., Ragaa, N. M., & Mohamed, F. F. (2021). Effect of nucleotides on growth performance, gut health, and some immunological parameters of broiler chicken exposed to high stocking density. Livestock Science, 253, 104703.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104703
25. Kaukonen, E., Norring, M., & Valros, A. (2016). Effect of litter quality on foot pad dermatitis, hock burns and breast blisters in broiler breeders during the production period. Avian Pathology, 45(6), 667-673.‏ DOI:10.1080/03079457.2016.1197377
26. Khafaga, A. F., & El-Sayed, Y. S. (2018). Spirulina ameliorates methotrexate hepatotoxicity via antioxidant, immune stimulation, and proinflammatory cytokines and apoptotic proteins modulation. Life Sciences, 196, 9-17.‏ DOI:10.1016/j.lfs.2018.01.010
27. Lambert, R. J. W., Skandamis, P. N., Coote, P. J., & Nychas, G. J. (2001). A study of the minimum inhibitory concentration and mode of action of oregano essential oil, thymol and carvacrol. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 91(3), 453-462.‏ DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01428.x
28. Lee, K. W., Everts, H., Kappert, H. J., Frehner, M., Losa, R., & Beynen, A. C. (2003). Effects of dietary essential oil components on growth performance, digestive enzymes and lipid metabolism in female broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 44(3), 450-457.‏ DOI: 10.1080/0007166031000085508
29. Li, W., Wei, F., Xu, B., Sun, Q., Deng, W., Ma, H., Bai, J., & Li, S. (2019). Effect of stocking density and alpha-lipoic acid on the growth performance, physiological and oxidative stress and immune response of broilers. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 32(12), 1914.‏ DOI: 10.5713/ajas.18.0939
30. Madhupriya, V., Shamsudeen, P., Raj Manohar, G., Senthilkumar, S., Soundarapandiyan, V., & Moorthy, M. (2018). Phyto Feed Additives in Poultry Nutrition: A Review. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology, 7(3), 815-22.‏
31. Mehdipour, Z., Afsharmanesh, M., & Sami, M. (2014). Effects of supplemental thyme extract (Thymus vulgaris) on growth performance, intestinal microbial populations, and meat quality in Japanese quails. Comparative Clinical Pathology, 23, 1503-1508.‏ DOI 10.1007/s00580-013-1813-6
32. Mirfendereski, E., & Jahanian, R. (2015). Effects of dietary organic chromium and vitamin C supplementation on performance, immune responses, blood metabolites, and stress status of laying hens subjected to high stocking density. Poultry Science, 94(2), 281-288.‏ https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/peu074
33. Moskaug, J. Ø., Carlsen, H., Myhrstad, M. C., & Blomhoff, R. (2005). Polyphenols and glutathione synthesis regulation. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(1), 277S-283S.‏ DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/81.1.277S
34. Nasr, M. A., Alkhedaide, A. Q., Ramadan, A. A., Abd-El Salam, E. H., & Hussein, M. A. (2021). Potential impact of stocking density on growth, carcass traits, indicators of biochemical and oxidative stress and meat quality of different broiler breeds. Poultry Science, 100(11), 101442.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101442
35. Petracci, M., Fletcher, D. L., & Northcutt, J. K. (2001). The effect of holding temperature on live shrink, processing yield, and breast meat quality of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 80(5), 670-675.‏ https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/80.5.670
36. Pirmohamammadi, A., Daneshyar, M., Farhoomand, P., Aliakbarlu, J., & Hamian, F. (2016). Effects of Thymus vulgaris and Mentha pulegium on colour, nutrients and peroxidation of meat in heat-stressed broilers. South African Journal of Animal Science, 46(3), 278-284.‏ DOI: 10.4314/sajas.v46i3.7
37. Popović, S., Puvača, N., Peulić, T., Ikonić, P., Spasevski, N., Kostadinović, L., & Đuragić, O. (2019). The usefulness of dietary essential oils mixture supplementation on quality aspect of poultry meat. Journal of Agronomy, Technology and Engineering Management, 2(6), 335-343.
38. Pournazari, M., AA-Qotbi, A., Seidavi, A., & Corazzin, M. (2017). Prebiotics, probiotics and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) for broilers: performance, carcass traits and blood variables. Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias, 30(1), 3-10.‏ https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rccp.v30n1a01
39. Rafat Khafar, K., Mojtahedin, A., Rastegar, N., Kalvani Neytali, M., & Olfati, A. (2019). Dietary inclusion of thyme essential oil alleviative effects of heat stress on growth performance and immune system of broiler chicks. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 9(3), 509-517.‏ (In Persian).
40. Ritz, C. W., Fairchild, B. D., & Michael, P. L. (2009). Litter quality and broiler performance Bulletin 1267. University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
41. Rota, M. C., Herrera, A., Martínez, R. M., Sotomayor, J. A., & Jordán, M. J. (2008). Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Thymus vulgaris, Thymus zygis and Thymus hyemalis essential oils. Food Control, 19(7), 681-687.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2007.07.007
42. Saadat Shad, H., Mazhari, M., Esmaeilipour, O., & Khosravinia, H. (2016). Effects of thymol and carvacrol on productive performance, antioxidant enzyme activity and certain blood metabolites in heat stressed broilers. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 6(1), 195-202.‏ (In Persian).
43. Saki, A. A., Kalantar, M., & Khoramabadi, V. (2014). Effects of drinking thyme essence (Thymus vulgaris) on growth performance, immune response and intestinal selected bacterial population in broiler chickens. Poultry Science Journal, 2(2), 113-123.‏ DOI: 10.22069/PSJ.2014.1960
44. Sharma, A., Sangameswaran, B., Jain, V., & Saluja, M. S. (2012). Hepatoprotective activity of Adina cordifolia against ethanol induce hepatotoxicity in rats. International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, 1(9), 279-284.‏
45. Simsek, U. G., Dalkilic, B., Ciftci, M., & Yuce, A. (2009). The influences of different stocking densities on some welfare indicators, lipid peroxidation (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme activities (GSH, GSH-Px, CAT) in broiler chickens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8(8), 1568-1572.‏
46. Sohail, M. U., Ijaz, A., Yousaf, M. S., Ashraf, K., Zaneb, H., Aleem, M., & Rehman, H. (2010). Alleviation of cyclic heat stress in broilers by dietary supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharide and Lactobacillus-based probiotic: Dynamics of cortisol, thyroid hormones, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and humoral immunity. Poultry Science, 89(9), 1934-1938. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-00751‏
47. Souri, H., Khatibjoo, A., Taherpoor, K., Hassan Abadi, A., Fattahnia, F., & Askari, M. (2015). Effect of Thymus vulgaris and Satureja khuzestanica ethanolic extracts on broiler chickens’ performance and immune response. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 5(2), 437-446.‏
48. Srinivasan, K. (2005). Plant foods in the management of diabetes mellitus: spices as beneficial antidiabetic food adjuncts. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 56(6), 399-414.‏
49. Talebi, E., Rowghani Haghighi Fard, E., Navabi, M., & Eatemadi, M. (2021). Evaluating the effect of two types of thyme essential oils (Zataria multiflora & Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam) on some productive traits and blood parameters in broilers. Poultry Science Journal, 9(1), 107-119. DOI: 22069/PSJ.2021.18831.1668‏
50. Toghyani, M., Tohidi, M., Gheisari, A. B., & Tabeidian, S. A. (2010). Performance, immunity, serum biochemical and hematological parameters in broiler chicks fed dietary thyme as alternative for an antibiotic growth promoter. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9, 6819-6825. DOI: 10.5897/AJB09.1998
51. Wade, M. R., Manwar, S. J., Kuralkar, S. V., Waghmare, S. P., Ingle, V. C., & Hajare, S. W. (2018). Effect of thyme essential oil on performance of broiler chicken. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 6(3), 25-28.
52. Wilkinson, K. G., Tee, E., Tomkins, R. B., Hepworth, G., & Premier, R. (2011). Effect of heating and aging of poultry litter on the persistence of enteric bacteria. Poultry Science, 90(1), 10-18.‏ https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-01023
53. Wu, Y., Wang, Y., Yin, D., Wu, W., Sun, X., Zhang, Y., Guo, X., Chen, J., & Yuan, J. (2019). Effect of supplementation of nicotinamide and sodium butyrate on the growth performance, liver mitochondrial function and gut microbiota of broilers at high stocking density. Food & Function, 10(11), 7081-7090. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FO00904C
54. Wu, Y., Wang, Y., Wu, W., Yin, D., Sun, X., Guo, X., Chen, J., Mahmood, T., Yan, L., & Yuan, J. (2020). Effects of nicotinamide and sodium butyrate on meat quality and muscle ubiquitination degradation genes in broilers reared at a high stocking density. Poultry Science, 99(3), 1462-1470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2019.10.070
55. Yalcin, S., Handan, E. S. E. R., ONBAŞILAR, İ., & Yalcin, S. (2020). Effects of dried thyme (Thymus vulgaris) leaves on performance, some egg quality traits and immunity in laying hens. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 67(3), 303-311.‏ DOI: 10.33988/auvfd.677150
56. Yan-ishlieva, N. V., Marinova, E. M., Gordon, M. H., & Raneva, V. G. (1999). Antioxidant activity and mechanism of action of thymol and carvacrol in two lipid systems. Food Chemistry, 64(1), 59-66.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(98)00086-7
57. Zhang, Y. R., Zhang, L. S., Wang, Z., Liu, Y., Li, F. H., Yuan, J. M., & Xia, Z. F. (2018). Effects of stocking density on growth performance, meat quality and tibia development of Pekin ducks. Animal Science Journal, 89(6), 925-930.‏ https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.12997