Abstract

This study was designed to mitigate the volatile and oxidative ability of essential oils (EOs) in poultry feed using natural plant charcoal. The dietary treatments consisted of supplementing control diet (R0) with 0.01% of the mixture (1/1) of thyme and oregano EOs (RTh+or), 0.2% of Canarium charcoal without EO (R0C), 0.2% charcoal respectively enriched with 0.01% of thyme EO (R0C+Th), oregano EO (R0C+Or) and the mixture of EOs (R0C+Th+Or). Results revealed a non-significant increase in weight gain for about 5 and 6%, respectively with the mixture of the EOs without charcoal and charcoal enriched with the mixture of the EOs compared to the control (R0). The carcass yield was higher with oregano EO and the mixture of EOs compared to the other treatments. Intestinal density was lower (P < 0.05) with the mixture of the EOs compared to thyme EO alone and the control ration. Charcoal containing EOs significantly increased (P < 0.05) total protein in serum content, triglycerides, albumin, globulin and decreased serum content in creatinin, ASAT, ALAT and cholesterol. Hematological parameters were not significantly affected by the treatments. The blend of EOs associated or not to charcoal increased lactic acid bacteria count in both the ileum and the cæcum as compared to E. coli and salmonella. It was concluded that Canarium charcoal can be used to stabilize EOs in the feed for gut microbiota modulation and better growth performances of broiler chickens.