Exploring the Use of Essential Oils in Poultry production
Dr. Juli Chakma1 and Dr. Divyaprakash R Choravada2
1Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751003
2Assistant Professor, Department of VeterinaryBiochemistry, Institute of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751003
Corresponding author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Essential oils are increasingly recognized as viable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in organic poultry farming systems due to their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and growth-promoting properties. Research indicates that essential oils like oregano, clove, and thyme can significantly enhance feed efficiency, weight gain, and immune function in poultry, while also reducing pathogen load and improving gut health. Essential oils (EOs), derived from various plants as secondary metabolites, have emerged as one such alternative. Essential oils are recognized for their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, digestive stimulant, immunomodulatory, and hypolipidemic properties, as well as their ability to alleviate heat stress. Unlike antibiotics, they leave no residues in animal products. These natural bioactive compounds provide a chemical-free solution that aligns with the principles of organic farming. Despite their benefits, challenges such as variability in efficacy and economic considerations must be addressed. Ongoing global research is investigating various combinations and cocktails of essential oils or their active extracts to fully understand their multifaceted potential as feed additives. The expanding scope of essential oil research is expected to significantly reduce the extensive use of antibiotics in feed additives. Looking forward, the role of essential oils in poultry feeding is poised to play a crucial role in industry development.
Keywords: Essential oil, poultry, bioactive substances, clove
Introduction
Essential oils (EOs) or volatile oils are aromatic oily liquids obtained through distillation from various plant parts such as flowers, buds, seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, wood, fruits, and roots [1]. They are extracted using steam or organic solvents (such as ethanol, methanol, toluene, or other organic solvents) and have been used traditionally for centuries across different parts of the world. EOs are valued for their pleasant flavors, aromas, and preservative properties. Specific components of EOs can be extracted from plant parts or synthesized. EOs typically contain a diverse array of compounds including terpenes, alcohols, acetones, phenols, acids, aldehydes, and esters. These substances can play a protective role against bacterial, fungal, or insect attacks. Therefore, EOs are considered natural, complex, multi-component oils.
Essential oils are plant essences obtained through water and/or steam distillation, consisting of benzene or terpene derivatives. They are highly valued for their antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and antiparasitic properties. Many plant sources of essential oils have been studied for their efficacy as feed additives. To assess the antioxidant capabilities of specific phytogenic products, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity is determined. Thyme oil, for example, has been found to exhibit better antioxidant properties Phenolic compounds with hydroxyl groups have antioxidant qualities that reduce hydroxyl peroxide formation.
The global demand for organic poultry products has surged in recent years, driven by consumer preferences for naturally raised animals and sustainable farming practices. Organic poultry farming emphasizes the use of natural inputs and prohibits the use of synthetic chemicals, including antibiotics, as growth promoters. This shift necessitates the exploration of natural alternatives that can ensure poultry health and productivity while adhering to organic farming principles.Essential oils are intricate mixtures of volatile compounds produced by living organisms and isolated solely through physical methods, such as pressing and distillation, from specific parts of plants with known taxonomic origins.
Mode of Action of essential oil
In broiler production, essential oils have shown potential for therapeutic treatment in various scenarios. They enhance poultry production by boosting the activity of digestive enzymes, reducing fermentation products, lowering pathogen levels, improving nutrient digestion, increasing intestinal accessibility to essential nutrients, and enhancing antioxidant capacity and immune function.Using essential oils, their compounds, and newly screened compounds to control pathogens in organic poultry production. Organic poultry production faces challenges beyond salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis, including coccidiosis, clostridia infections, internal and external parasites, and high disease-related mortality. The potential of essential oils and their compounds in addressing these challenges, both pre-harvest and post-harvest, warrants further exploration.
Antioxidant activity of essential oil
An important area of current research focuses on mitigating biological damage caused by free radicals. Natural antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting animals and the food industry from oxidative stress, thereby preventing food deterioration caused by oxidative activity.The antioxidant mechanisms of essential oils (EOs) rely on their ability to donate a hydrogen or an electron to free radicals and to delocalize the unpaired electron within their aromatic structure. This protects other biological molecules from oxidation. Various methods have been employed to examine the antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds in vitro, providing values that can be used to rank the antioxidant potential of aromatic substances.Antioxidant activity has been reported for various essential oils (EOs), including those from rosemary (Rosmarinusofficinalis), lavender (Lavandulaspp), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus obliqua, clove (Syzygiumaromaticum), Lippiaberlandieri, Origanumglandulosum, and Origanumvulgare. In a study by Wei and Shibamoto, EOs from angelica seed (Angelica archangelica), celery seed (Apiumgraveolens), chamomile (Anthemisnobilis), ginger (Zingiberofficinale), jasmine (Jasminumofficinale), juniper berry (Juniperuscommunis), lavender (Lavandulaofficinalis), parsley seed (Petroselinumsativum), patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli), peppermint (Menthapiperita), rose (Rosa damascena), sandalwood (Santalum album), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and ylang-ylang (Canangaodorata) were examined for their ability to prevent oxidative damage, with thyme and clove being the most effective.
Effects of dietary EOs in poultry
Replacing antibiotic performance enhancers with safe and natural substances is a key goal in the poultry industry. Promising results have been observed with the use of essential oils (EOs) and other natural products as performance enhancers. Typical performance parameters in poultry rearing include body weight, growth, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Studies have reported that incorporating oregano EO at 50 and 100 mg/kg in normal broiler diets had no significant effect on overall body weight and feed conversion ratio, showing no difference from control groups or from groups supplemented with 200 mg α-tocopheryl acetate (Lee et al., 2024).
Factors that affect the effectiveness of essential oils
The effectiveness of essential oils is influenced by a variety of factors. Key factors include:Plant Source and Quality: Essential oils are extracted from specific parts of plants (flowers, leaves, stems, etc.), so the plant variety, growing environment, harvest time, etc. affect the oil’s composition and effectiveness.The higher the purity and quality of the plant source, the more effective the essential oil will be.Extraction method: Essential oils are extracted by various methods (distillation, compression, etc.), and the composition and effects of the oil vary depending on the extraction method.
The Role of Antibiotic Growth Promoters
Antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) have been widely used in conventional poultry farming to enhance growth rates, improve feed efficiency, and prevent diseases. However, the extensive use of AGPs has raised significant public health concerns, particularly the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This has led to stricter regulations and a push towards finding safe and effective alternatives.
Essential Oils: A Promising Alternative
Essential oils can be derived from various plants, including herbs and spices, and their bioactive components can target multiple physiological pathways, making them suitable candidates for enhancing poultry health and performance.The integration of essential oils into poultry diets represents a promising strategy to enhance the sustainability and profitability of organic poultry farming. By replacing AGPs with natural alternatives, producers can meet consumer demand for healthier, antibiotic-free products while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. This aligns with the broader goals of organic agriculture, which seek to promote ecological balance, biodiversity, and sustainable farming practices.
Conclusion
The use of essential oils in organic poultry farming systems holds significant promise as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. With their wide range of beneficial properties—antimicrobial, antioxidant, growth-promoting, and more—essential oils can enhance feed efficiency, weight gain, immune function, and gut health in poultry, while leaving no residues in animal products.
References
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