Effects of Savory Essential Oil and Flavomycin on Performance and Immune Parameters in Broiler Chicks

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Savory essential oil and Flavomycin on performance, some carcass traits, immune response and hematology of broiler chickens. In this research, four houndered Ross 308 male chicks were used in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates and 20 broiler chicks per experimental unit. Experimental treatments consisted of control group (without any additive in diet), diet containing 0.6% of flavomycin, and dietes containing 200, 400 and 600 mg savory essential oil per Kg diet, respectively. The results showed that the addition of savory essential oil significantly improved feed intake and feed conversion ratio in comparison with flavomycin in first and fifth weeks of age and in the first week significantly improved weight gain compared with the negative control group (p<0.05). The effect of savory essential oil and flavomycin on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in broiler chicks was not significant in the whole period. There was a significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of water intake during the whole period of breeding, and in this regard, chicks fed 400 ppm of savory essential oil had the least water intake (p<0.05). Consumption of savory essential oil and flavomycin had no significant effect on carcass traits, blood parameters, immunity statue and quality of breast meat of broiler chicks (p>0.05). Based on the results of this study, savory essential oil and flavomycin had not positive impact on productive performance, immune response and carcass quality in broiler chicks.