European Journal of Zoological Research
Abstract
Author(s): Adel Feizi, Reza Ataei Kordlar, Peyman Bijanzad, Zahra Hejazifar,
Fahime Nasoudian Shalchi and Azam Amini
Recently, uses of alternative strategies to prevent an imbalance in the intestinal microbial population (IMP) and the
potential development of intestinal disorders in livestock, developed. Thyme extract have been known to exhibit
antimicrobial activity against specific microbial species and could therefore be considered an alternative in
controlling the IMP. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of different levels of thyme,
added to drinking water, on the gastrointestinal tract. Total bacterial count, of E.coli bacteria was determined in
different region of intestine. Two hundred and forty, day-old broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into four equal
groups (each group include 3 repetition). Experiment was as follow; a control group with no thyme and in other two
groups, thyme extract was used 500 ppm and 1000 ppm and in last group feed was pellet and thyme was not used.
Experiments were carried out for 42 days and thyme extract was used from day 7 to 42. Results showed that chicks
fed with 1000 ppm thyme extract had significantly lower (p<0.05) mortality rate followed by chicks fed with 500
ppm thyme extract and pellet group compared with control group, which showed the lowest performance. The chicks
fed with 500 and 1000 ppm thyme extract had reduced (p<0.05) total bacteria count (TBC) and in pellet group TBC
was highest. In conclusion, thyme extract could be considered as a potential natural growth promoter and have the
advantage of inhibiting the growth of potential pathogens for poultry at the level of 1000 ppm.
