Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology

<p>This study investigates the potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> as feed additive in broiler chicken. A total of 200 Vencobb male broiler chicks 1 week of age were randomly distributed into 4 dietary treatments: T1 (control) fed basal diet only, T2 (basal diet <span class=&quo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. T. Banday, M. Wani, F. M. Alqahtani, L. Adriani, M. Alhomrani, S. Adil, W. F. Alsanie, A. S. Alamri, O. Abdulaziz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Archives Animal Breeding
Online Access:https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/68/311/2025/aab-68-311-2025.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849309589524185088
author M. T. Banday
M. Wani
F. M. Alqahtani
L. Adriani
M. Alhomrani
M. Alhomrani
S. Adil
W. F. Alsanie
W. F. Alsanie
A. S. Alamri
A. S. Alamri
O. Abdulaziz
author_facet M. T. Banday
M. Wani
F. M. Alqahtani
L. Adriani
M. Alhomrani
M. Alhomrani
S. Adil
W. F. Alsanie
W. F. Alsanie
A. S. Alamri
A. S. Alamri
O. Abdulaziz
author_sort M. T. Banday
collection DOAJ
description <p>This study investigates the potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> as feed additive in broiler chicken. A total of 200 Vencobb male broiler chicks 1 week of age were randomly distributed into 4 dietary treatments: T1 (control) fed basal diet only, T2 (basal diet <span class="inline-formula">+1</span> % thyme powder), T3 (basal diet <span class="inline-formula">+1</span>.5 % thyme powder), and T4 (basal diet <span class="inline-formula">+2</span> % thyme powder). Each group contained 5 replicates, and each replicate had 10 birds fed with a maize–soybean-based diet for 42 d. Our results show that during the overall period (7–42 d), the T4 group exhibited significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) higher body weight gain (BWG) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR). Supplementing thyme powder significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) decreased the levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides (LDL) compared to the control group. Birds receiving dietary thyme powder at a 2 % dose (T4) had significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) raised serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) and better anti-SRBC (sheep red blood cell) titre and cell-mediated immunity. Supplementation of thyme powder resulted in significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) better antioxidant status in birds. Regarding the cecal microbiology, coliforms decreased (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) and lactobacilli increased (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) notably in thyme groups with high significance in the T4 group. Jejunal villus height increased significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) in the T4 group compared to the control. In conclusion, supplementation of thyme powder at 2 % could serve as promising feed additive for improving the production performance and gut health of broiler chicken.</p>
format Article
id doaj-art-c660790a9cb84b709ceccbd8ec7df632
institution Kabale University
issn 0003-9438
2363-9822
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Archives Animal Breeding
spelling doaj-art-c660790a9cb84b709ceccbd8ec7df6322025-08-20T03:54:06ZengCopernicus PublicationsArchives Animal Breeding0003-94382363-98222025-05-016831132310.5194/aab-68-311-2025Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphologyM. T. Banday0M. Wani1F. M. Alqahtani2L. Adriani3M. Alhomrani4M. Alhomrani5S. Adil6W. F. Alsanie7W. F. Alsanie8A. S. Alamri9A. S. Alamri10O. Abdulaziz11Division of Livestock Production and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Srinagar, IndiaDivision of Livestock Production and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Srinagar, IndiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi ArabiaAnimal Husbandry Faculty, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang, IndonesiaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaResearch center for health sciences, Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaDivision of Livestock Production and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Srinagar, IndiaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaResearch center for health sciences, Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaResearch center for health sciences, Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of clinical laboratory science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia<p>This study investigates the potential of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> as feed additive in broiler chicken. A total of 200 Vencobb male broiler chicks 1 week of age were randomly distributed into 4 dietary treatments: T1 (control) fed basal diet only, T2 (basal diet <span class="inline-formula">+1</span> % thyme powder), T3 (basal diet <span class="inline-formula">+1</span>.5 % thyme powder), and T4 (basal diet <span class="inline-formula">+2</span> % thyme powder). Each group contained 5 replicates, and each replicate had 10 birds fed with a maize–soybean-based diet for 42 d. Our results show that during the overall period (7–42 d), the T4 group exhibited significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) higher body weight gain (BWG) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR). Supplementing thyme powder significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) decreased the levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides (LDL) compared to the control group. Birds receiving dietary thyme powder at a 2 % dose (T4) had significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) raised serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) and better anti-SRBC (sheep red blood cell) titre and cell-mediated immunity. Supplementation of thyme powder resulted in significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) better antioxidant status in birds. Regarding the cecal microbiology, coliforms decreased (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) and lactobacilli increased (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) notably in thyme groups with high significance in the T4 group. Jejunal villus height increased significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>&lt;0.05</span>) in the T4 group compared to the control. In conclusion, supplementation of thyme powder at 2 % could serve as promising feed additive for improving the production performance and gut health of broiler chicken.</p>https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/68/311/2025/aab-68-311-2025.pdf
spellingShingle M. T. Banday
M. Wani
F. M. Alqahtani
L. Adriani
M. Alhomrani
M. Alhomrani
S. Adil
W. F. Alsanie
W. F. Alsanie
A. S. Alamri
A. S. Alamri
O. Abdulaziz
Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology
Archives Animal Breeding
title Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology
title_full Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology
title_fullStr Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology
title_short Enhancing meat-type chicken performance through <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile, stress physiology, immunity, antioxidants, cecal microbiology, and jejunal histomorphology
title_sort enhancing meat type chicken performance through i thymus vulgaris i leaf powder supplementation by affecting serum lipid profile stress physiology immunity antioxidants cecal microbiology and jejunal histomorphology
url https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/68/311/2025/aab-68-311-2025.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mtbanday enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT mwani enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT fmalqahtani enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT ladriani enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT malhomrani enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT malhomrani enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT sadil enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT wfalsanie enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT wfalsanie enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT asalamri enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT asalamri enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology
AT oabdulaziz enhancingmeattypechickenperformancethroughithymusvulgarisileafpowdersupplementationbyaffectingserumlipidprofilestressphysiologyimmunityantioxidantscecalmicrobiologyandjejunalhistomorphology