Table 3.
Evaluation of essential oils on broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress on body core temperature, serum biomarkers for intestinal inflammation, and bone parameters at days 21 and 42.
| Variable | Heat Stress Control |
Lippia origanoides (37 ppm) |
* L. origanoides, R. officinalis, Beetroot | * L. origanoides, R. officinalis, Natural Betaine | Pooled SEM | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body core temperature (°C) | 42.36 a | 42.35 a | 41.98 b | 41.98 b | 0.83 | 0.0001 |
| Serum FITC-d (ng/mL) | ||||||
| d 21 | 264 a | 288 a | 152 b | 251 b | 95 | 0.0001 |
| d 42 | 245 a | 165 b | 137 bc | 129 c | 82 | 0.0002 |
| SOD (U/mL) | ||||||
| d 21 | 7.35 b | 8.66 a | 8.55 a | 9.01 a | 0.45 | 0.0001 |
| d 42 | 8.45 b | 9.73 a | 10.05 a | 10.85 a | 0.61 | 0.0002 |
| IFN-γ (pg/ml) | ||||||
| d 21 | 134 a | 118 b | 112 b | 116 b | 17 | 0.0001 |
| d 42 | 251 a | 131 b | 122 b | 133 b | 22 | 0.0002 |
| IgA (ng/mL) | ||||||
| d 21 | 14 a | 8 b | 9 b | 8 b | 0.38 | 0.0001 |
| d 42 | 16 a | 9 b | 10 b | 9 b | 0.53 | 0.0001 |
| Tibia break strength (kg) | ||||||
| d 21 | 13.79 b | 15.69 a | 16.09 a | 15.99 a | 1.12 | 0.0001 |
| d 42 | 22.37 b | 29.17 a | 30.37 a | 31.37 a | 2.05 | 0.0002 |
| Total ash from tibia (%) | ||||||
| d 21 | 50.57 b | 51.67 b | 52.67 a | 53.77 a | 0.49 | 0.0001 |
| d 42 | 52.33 b | 53.34 ab | 54.34 a | 55.04 a | 0.31 | 0.0001 |
* L. origanoides (45 ppm); R. officinalis (45 ppm); Beetroot (300 ppm); Natural betaine (300 ppm). Data are expressed as the mean ± SE. abc Indicates significant differences between the treatments within the rows (p < 0.05).