Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) on the performance of broiler chicks. 500 Ross broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups of 4 replications in a completely randomized design format. The diets were ISO-caloric and ISO-nitrogenous ones and contained 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 g/kg of peppermint powder. At start, growing, and end periods, the effects of peppermint powder on average daily weight gain, feed conversation ratio, and mortality rate were studied. The results of the present study showed that over a production period of 42 days peppermint had a significant effect on average daily weight gain and feed conversation ratio when compared with the control group (P < .05). The level of 4.5 g/kg had the highest average daily weight gain (52.78 g), and control treatment with 46.98 g had the least average daily weight gain among different levels of peppermint. The level of 4.5 g/kg and 6 g/kg of peppermint had the least mortality compared to control treatment during training period (P < .05). From this experiment, we can conclude that treatment with 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder has better performance and carcass characteristics in broilers.
Keywords: medicinal plants, Mentha piperita L., performance of broilers
The use of medicinal plants in the poultry industry has become popular and requires selecting the most suitable plant. Different studies have proved the antimicrobial properties of some medicinal plants in human laboratory.1–3 Nowadays the use of medicinal supplements as antibiotic growth promoters has developed in broiler farms. On the other hand, some studies have shown some adverse effects that resulted from the use of some antibiotic growth promoters.4 The extensive use of these antibiotics in broiler farms has some problems such as rising production costs and compromising the health of the society because of consuming the products with pharmaceutical residues. Studies show that using medicinal plants can play an effective role in producing healthy products (organic) besides improving production.5 Peppermint is a member of the Labiate family and one of the world’s oldest medicinal herbs.6 The Labiate family, rich in essential oil, has commercial and medicinal values. These herbs are widespread throughout the world and are widely use in food, flavor, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.7,8 The chemical components of peppermint are menthol, menthone, 1,8-cineole, methylacetate, methofuran, isomenthone, limonene, b-pinene, a-pinene, germacrene-d, trans-sabinene hydrate, and pulegone. Menthol is the main phenolic component in oil of peppermint, which has antibacterial activities.9 Studies have shown that this plant has antiseptic, spasmolytic, and disinfectants properties.10 Therefore, it improves carcass traits in broiler production.11 This study aimed to assess the effect of different levels of peppermint powder on the production of broilers and some blood biochemical parameters at different periods of training in broilers.
Materials and Methods
A total of 500 day-old Ross broiler chicks were distributed randomly in 20 separated experimental cages (120 × 120 × 80) in 5 treatments, and each treatment had 4 replications (25 chicks per cage). Each cage contained an equal number of male and female birds. Chicks were raised under environmentally controlled conditions, following a standard temperature regimen that gradually decreased from 32°C to 24°C by 0.5°C daily, and a 23L:1D lighting program. Artificial lighting was provided throughout the experiment. The temperature of the house, humidity, and vaccination program applied was based on broiler raisers’ recommendations. The ingredients and composition of the basal diet were ISO-caloric and ISO-nitrogenous and formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional recommendations by the National Research Council.12 The birds were fed a starter diet from 0 to 14 followed by grower and finisher diets from 15 to 28 days and 29 to 42 days of age, respectively (Table 1).
Table 1.
Composition (g/kg) and Calculated Analysis of Experimental Dietsa.
| Feed Ingredient (g/kg) | Starter (0-14 Days) | Grower (15-28 Days) | Finisher (29-42 Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn3 | 577 | 662 | 702 |
| Soybean oil | 15 | 23 | 25 |
| Soybean meal | 365 | 280 | 240 |
| Di calcium phosphate | 19 | 12 | 12.4 |
| Salt (NaCl) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Limestone | 15.3 | 13.8 | 11.6 |
| DL-methionine | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1 |
| L-lysine | 1 | — | — |
| Vitamin premixed | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Mineral premixed | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Calculated analysis | |||
| AMEn (kcal/kg) | 3004 | 3100 | 3150 |
| Crude protein (%) | 21.92 | 19.39 | 17.72 |
| Ca (%) | 0.95 | 0.87 | 0.79 |
| Available P (%) | 0.43 | 0.35 | 0.37 |
aMEn, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolism able energy. A mineral mixture supplied (mg per kg diet): Mn, 64.5; Zn, 33.8; Fe, 100; Cu, 8; I, 640; Co, 190; Se, 8, as support. The vitamin mixture supplied the following vitamins (per kg diet): vitamin A 4 400 000 IU; vitamin D 72 000 IU; vitamin E 14 400 IU; vitamin K 2000 IU; cobalamin 640 mg; thiamine 612 mg; riboflavin 3000 IU; calcium pantothenate 4896 mg; niacin 12 160; pyridoxine 612 mg; folic acid 1.5 mg; choline chloride 260 g.
Peppermint powder was added in the following 5 levels to the basal diet in every period. The treatments were as follows:
Treatment 1: Control (basal diet without the additive)
Treatment 2: Basal diet containing 1.5 g/kg peppermint powder
Treatment 3: Basal diet containing 3 g/kg peppermint powder
Treatment 4: Basal diet containing 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder
Treatment 5: Basal diet containing 6 g/kg peppermint powder
Feed and water were providing ad libitum throughout the 6 weeks. The average live body weights, body weight gains, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measure on a weekly basis. In addition, mortality for each treatment was recorded. At the end of the experimental period, 2 birds per treatment cage (n = 10 birds/treatment) were randomly selected, individually weighed, and slaughtered. Carcass yield was calculated by dividing eviscerated weight by live weight. Abdominal fat, gizzard, and liver were collected, weighed, and calculated as a percentage of live body weight.
Statistical Analysis
Data obtained were subjected to ANOVA using the General Linear Models Procedure in SPSS software.13 Treatment means were tested using Duncan’s multiple-range test, and statistical differences declared at P < .05.
Results
As shown in Table 2, feed intake, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were significantly different in broilers fed various levels of peppermint.
Table 2.
Effects of Experimental Diets on DWG (g), DFI (g), and FCR of Broiler Chicks.
| Treatments | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Traits | Control | 1/5 g/kg | 3 g/kg | 4/5 g/kg | 6 g/kg | SEM |
| Starter | DFI | 36.64 | 36.12 | 34.65 | 34.11 | 36.26 | 0.220 |
| DWG | 25.27 | 26.56 | 26.45 | 26.24 | 26.47 | 0.305 | |
| FCR | 1.45 | 1.36 | 1.31 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 0.220 | |
| Grower | |||||||
| DFI | 86.05 | 92.20 | 90.35 | 90.70 | 89.54 | 0.829 | |
| DWG | 50.62 | 52.99 | 55.09\ | 53.67 | 51.46 | 0.922 | |
| FCR | 1.7 | 1.74 | 1.64 | 1.69 | 1.74 | 0.324 | |
| Finisher | |||||||
| DFI | 164.60 | 167.60 | 160.14 | 160.62 | 164.45 | 1.472 | |
| DWG | 70.34 | 72.87 | 80.88 | 80.31 | 76.49 | 0.809 | |
| FCR | 2.34 | 2.3 | 1.98 | 2 | 2.15 | 0.523 | |
| Total | |||||||
| DFI | 86.43 | 91.70 | 93.29 | 91.84 | 90.02 | 1.028 | |
| DWG | 46.22 | 51.26 | 49.3 | 52.78 | 49.19 | 0.626 | |
| FCR | 2.17 | 2.16 | 2.12 | 2.04 | 2.13 | 0.303 | |
Abbreviations: DFI, daily feed intake (g per bird per day); DWG, daily weight gain (g per bird per day); FCR, feed conversation ratio (g/g); SEM, standard error of the mean.
Daily Weight Gain
During the starter period, no significant differences were observing between the daily weight gain of birds receiving peppermint and the control diet, although control treatment had the least average daily weight gain among other treatments. In the grower period, a significant growth promoting effect was observed from 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder than the control group (P < .05). Significant differences were seen among 3 g/kg, 4.5 g/kg, and 6 g/kg peppermint powders when compared with the control treatment in the finisher period. During the overall rearing period birds fed 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder basal diet had significantly (P < .05) better daily weight gain compared to the control group.
Feed Conversation Ratio
The results of the present study showed a significant (P < .05) improvement in feed conversion ratio of birds kept on a diet containing 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder.
Mortality
Birds fed 4.5 g/kg and 6 g/kg peppermint powder in diet had significantly (P < .05) lower mortality compared to the control group.
Carcass Yield and Internal Viscera Organ
The results showed that peppermint powder had an effect on the weight of heart, liver, gizzard, and abdominal fat in broilers. Data showed that there was significant difference (P < .05) on liver weight between birds fed 3 g/kg, 4.5g/kg, and 6 g/kg peppermint powder compared to the control group (Table 3).
Table 3.
Effect of Peppermint on Carcass Yield and Internal Relative Organ Weight of Broiler Chicks*.
| Treatments | Carcass Yield (%) | Abdominal Fat (%) | Liver (%) | Gizzard (%) | Heart (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | 71.04b | 1.42a | 3.1 ± 1.11a | 2.7 ± 0.06a | 0.63 ± 0.05a |
| 1.5g/kg | 72.06ab | 1.38a | 2.9 ± 0.09b | 2.8 ± 0.06a | 0.58 ± 0.04a |
| 3 g/kg | 72.98ab | 1.40a | 2.8 ± 0.09b | 2. 7 ± 0.07a | 0.62 ± 0.03a |
| 4 g/kg | 73.58a | 1.40a | 2.7 ± 0.08b | 2.8 ± 0.05a | 0.66 ± 0.04a |
| 6 g/kg | 73.04a | 1.46a | 2.8 ± 0.07b | 2.7 ± 0.05a | 0.67 ± 0.05a |
| SEM | 0.31 | 0.21 | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.07 |
Abbreviation: SEM, standard error of the mean.
*Means in each column with different superscripts are significantly different (P < .05).
Discussion
The plants of the Labiate family are widely used in food, flavor, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.7 Different studies on the effect of peppermint in humans showed that the plant has antiseptic, spasmolytic, and disinfectants properties.14 The results of this study indicated that feeding broilers with peppermint led to significant improvements in daily weight gain in the grower and finisher periods. This result was in accord with the results of Ocak et al15 It seems that the positive effect of different levels of peppermint on increasing average daily weight gain was due to its decreasing effects on gastrointestinal disorders, thus strengthening the digestive system and improving feed efficiency.16 Moreover, the antiseptic property of peppermint prevents harmful bacterial growth in the digestive system that led to better digestion and absorption. The antiseptic property of peppermint results from the presence of menthol.17 Sefidcon et al proved that peppermint strengthened the stomach and intestinal slow motion because of alpha humlone.18 Another study showed that peppermint extract causes neutralization of the ileum spasms in Indian pigs.19 It seems that the presence of active compounds such as essential oil in the plant stimulate appetite and improve the digestion and mineral absorption and increase feed efficiency in broilers. Peppermint has also been shown to cure indigestion and gastroparesis and indigestion in humans.15 Our results showed that enjoying peppermint especially at the starting period could decrease broiler mortality. It seems that the antiseptic properties of the plant prevented harmful bacterial growth in the intestinal tract and finally decreased broiler mortality. In addition, it has been shown that the improvement in the mortality might be due to the role of peppermint as an immune stimulating factor. Studies have shown that peppermint extract prevented bacterial growth of organisms such as Shigella dysenteries, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhi.20 Sefidcon et al showed that existing limonen in peppermint removed the germs producing pneumococ in 1 to 3 hours, Staphylococcus in 20 minutes, and Streptococcus in 12 hours.18 Our results also showed that peppermint had a suitable role in decreasing mortality deriving from heart attack in male chicks at the end of the growth period. It seems the essential oil of the peppermint is effective to set the heart’s activity and preventing cardiac complications. In this regard, using the oil of peppermint has been report in heart pharmaceutical formulations such as valocordin and zelenin drops.21 It should be noted that peppermint has antioxidant activity and is able to counteract free radicals and oxidative stress.22,23 Antioxidants have been shown to combat a wide variety of diseases.24–26 Therefore, peppermint, which possess antioxidant activity, might also have protective effects on chicks and also enhance their quality.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences for the cooperation extended.
Authors’ Note: This study has been registered with Code Number 74-0210324-01 with the Vice Chancellor for Research in Education and Promotion, Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Author Contributions: All the authors contribute equally toward writing the first draft of the manuscript. MRK revised and edited the final version.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Ethical Approval: Ethical issues have been completely observed by the authors.
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