Effects of Different Dietary Rosmarinus Officinalis Powder and Vitamin E Levels on the Performance and Gut Gross Morphometry of Broiler Chickens

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectsof the dietary addition of different levels of rosemary powder (RP) andvitamin E (VitE) on broiler performance and gut gross morphometry.A total of 270 one-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were randomlyassigned to nine dietary treatments with three replicates of10 birdseach. Treatments consisted of diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5or 1.0% RP and 0, 100 or 200 mg/kg VitE (alpha-tocopherol acetate).Feed intake and weight gain were recorded weekly. On day 42, onebird per replicate was euthanized after blood sampling. Gastrointestinaltract segments were measured and/or weighed. Means were comparedby least significant difference. Overall, broilers fed1.0% RP presentedlower (p< 0.05) feed intake, weight gain, and final weight body thanthose fed 0.5% RP. Broilers fed the 0.5% RP plus 200 mg/kg VitE dietpresented higher weight gain (p<0.05) in than those in the controlgroup (0% RP and 0 mg VitE). Jejunum length and weight, colonlength and width, and right cecum weight were also negatively affected(p<0.05) by the 1.0% RP diet when compared with the 0.5% RP diet.We suggest that the dietary supplementation of 0.5% RP plus 200mg/kg of vitE improves broiler performance and does not have significantadverse effects on gross gut morphometry. Dietary VitE may play apotential protective role against the negative effects of high levels of RP.