Effects of Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Oils on Nutrients Digestibility, Blood Parameters and Growth Performance of Brown Swiss Neonatal Calves

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oils(EO)on nutrients digestibility, blood parameters and growth performanceof neonatal dairy calves during eight weeks. Sixty suckling dairy calves with an initial body weight (43.2±3.8 kg) were randomly allocated to five treatments including CO, control without essential oils (EO) supplementation; AJW-L, ajwain (AJW) oil mixed in milk at 1 mL/d per calf; AJW-H, AJW oil mixed in milk at 2 mL/d; THY-L, thyme (THY) oil mixed in milk at 1 mL/d and THY-H, THY oil mixed in milk at 2 mL/d. The experiment consisted of 7 d adaptation and 60 d sampling and data recording period. Experimental diets had no significant effects (P>0.05) on feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. Dietary supplementation of both AJW and THY linearly improved (P