Supplementary Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Essential Oil for Broilers: Performance, Intestinal Morphology, and Fecal Nutrient Composition

This experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of selected natural feed additives (thyme extract, organic acid, probiotic, and prebiotic) on performance, intestinal morphology, and composition of fecal nutrients with two crude protein levels diet (10% reduced crude protein level and the recommended level) in broilers. In this experiment, 388 Ross-308 strain broilers from 1 to 42 days in three experimental periods including starter (1 to 10 days), grower (11 to 24 days), and finisher (25 to 42 days) were used in a completely randomized design (8 treatments, 4 replicates, and 12 chickens in 5 x 2 factorial arrangements). According to the results, use of feed additives along with both levels of crude protein had significant effects on performance, intestinal morphology, and fecal nutrient levels (P < 0.05). A 10% decrease in crude protein level of diet caused to decrease in daily weight gain and an increase in feed conversion ratio in the starting period (P < 0.05). Decreased dietary crude protein levels in growing and finishing period had insignificant effects on chicken's performance (P > 0.05). During the experiment period, the use of feed additives on diets with lower than normal crude protein levels had no effect on the average feed intake, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of chickens (P > 0.05). Lower crude protein level changed the intestinal morphology (P < 0.05). The use of feed additives had significant effects on the nutrient content of feces (P < 0.05). Overall, results showed that a 10% reduction in crude protein level of diet compared to normal crude protein levels changed the intestinal morphology and nutrient content of feces while having adverse effects on the performance of chickens.