engleski

Influence of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil as feed supplement on production traits, blood oxidative status and treatment of coccidiosis in laying hens

Aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil in the nutrition of laying hens on table egg production, antioxidant activity and potential as a natural anticoccidial drug. A total of 360 Lohmann Brown laying hens aged 54 weeks were divided into 3 different treatment diets, supplemented with 0(T1), 40 (T2) and 80 mg/kg (T3) tea tree essential oil, respectively. Each treatment was replicated 4 times with 30 birds each. The experiment lasted 56 days in total (55 to 62 weeks of hen age). The 56 day experimental period was divided into 2 periods of 28 days duration each: period 1 (55 to 58 weeks of hens age) and period 2 (59 to 62 weeks of hens age). The hens’ blood oxidative status, including glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the anticoccidial effects of tea tree on Eimeria spp. compared to the unsupplemented control treatment, were evaluated. With the diet supplemented with tea tree essential oil, hen-day egg production improved significantly (P<0.05). Dietary addition of tea tree as a natural coccidiostatic in treatments T2 and T3 indicated a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in SOD and GSHPx activity compared with control treatment T1, while significant changes in MDA concentration were not recorded (P>0.05). The anticoccidial activity of tea tree essential oil caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the output of Eimeria spp. oocysts per hen. Based on the results, it may be concluded that dietary tea tree essential oil was effective in increasing hen-day egg production and reducing coccidia oocysts output, hence it can be used as a prophylactic feed additive. Also tea tree oil showed an important role in the activation of antioxidative protection systems in hens.

hens ; tea tree ; Melaleuca alternifolia ; coccidiosis ; eggs ; antioxidative protection ; nutrition

nije evidentirano