Effect of dietary supplementation of oregano and thyme oil on the growth performance, development of lymphoid and digestive organs and carcass quality traits of Turkey poults

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of oregano and thyme oil on the growth performance, development of lymphoid and digestive organs and carcass quality traits of turkey poults. Day old turkey poults (n=144), were divided into four treatment groups, having three replicates of 12 birds each. The study was conducted in turkey poults during 0-8 weeks of age. Poults were fed T1 basal diet, T2- basal diet supplemented with oregano oil @ 1% diet, T3 – basal diet supplemented with thyme oil @ 1g/kg diet, T4- basal diet supplemented with oregano oil @ 1% and thyme oil @ 1g/kg diet. Weekly body weight was significantly higher (P<0.05) in poults of T1 and T3 than poults of T4 during 1-8 week of age. Weekly feed intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in poults of T1, T2 and T3 than T4 poults at 2^nd and 8^th week of age. At 7^thweek of age, FCR of poults of T1, T2 and T3 were significantly better (P<0.05) than T4. There was no significant difference in development of digestive organs, lymphoid organs, yield of giblet and cut up parts and carcass quality traits among the different treatment groups. T2 poults had significantly higher (P<0.05) ready to cook yield% than T1. Thus, it may be concluded that dietary supplementation of thyme oil @ 1g/kg of diet and oregano oil @ 1% of diet resulted in better growth performance and higher percent ready to cook yield respectively in turkey poults.