The effects of various essential oils (Carvacrol, Cinnamaldehyde, Thymol) having antimicrobial properties that are applied to broiler litter on litter hygiene and broiler performance

In the current study, some volatile oils including carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and thymol compounds with 15 % solutions (added stabilizer) have been added on broiler litter material (pine shavings) in order to determine their antimicrobial properties. The litter material has been bedded as 10 cm height (3x2x0.1=0.6 m(3) litter material for each unit) and 22,5 mL of volatile oil solution were pulverized on the material according to their treatment group for every 0.6 cubic meter litter material. A total of 500 one-day old male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were used in the study. The chicks raised on pine shaving litter material during whole rearing period. Four treatment groups were designed and five replicates (25 chicks in each replication) allocated for each treatment group and totally 125 chicks were used for each treatment group. In this trial, 0-6 wks feed consumptions (FC), feed conversion rates (FCR), live weight gains (LWG) and carcass rates have been evaluated. As result, there were not established any positive effects on production parameters of broiler when volatile oil compounds added on litter material. However, the number of dead birds were decreased when thymol and cinnamaldehyde volatile oils added to litter material. Therefore, further studies should be investigated particularly on thyme and cinnamaldehyde volatile oils to asses its effects on poultry production parameters.