Productive Performance Response of a Commercial Broiler Hybrid to Dietary Supplementation with Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L) Powder and Oil

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Abu Hadi area of Sirte to evaluate the productive performance response of a commercial broiler hybrid to dietary supplementation with thyme powder and thyme oil. A total of 45 ROSS broiler chicks, two weeks of age, were randomly allocated into three treatments (15 birds per group). Each treatment was subdivided into three replicates, with five birds per replicate. The first group was fed a standard diet (Dads Company supplement), whereas the second group received thyme oil supplementation at 5 ml/kg, and the third group was supplemented with thyme powder at 5 g/kg. The results demonstrated a highly significant improvement (p<0.01) in live body weight at the second and fifth weeks, as well as in the final body weight of the experimental treatments. Birds in the supplemented groups also exhibited a marked enhancement in feed conversion ratio throughout the experimental period. Furthermore, a highly significant reduction (p<0.01) in average daily feed intake was observed, with the second treatment recording the lowest daily feed intake. The third treatment showed a significant superiority (p<0.05) in cumulative daily weight gain, and mortality rates were reduced in the supplemented groups.

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the inclusion of thyme powder and thyme oil in broiler diets resulted in improvements in live body weight, daily and cumulative weight gain, and feed conversion ratio, accompanied by reductions in feed intake and mortality rate.