Energy-sparing effect of oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) essential oil and its mixtures in broilers: Improved feed efficiency via optimized intestinal health

作者：Xiaotong Li, Sihuan Wang, Libo Zhang, Desheng Li, Huiying Li, Qiyue Zhang, Changmin Jin, Jiali Wang, Jun Wang, Jie Han, Fengxia Liu, Shunshun Jin, Lizhi Jin, Donghui Shi · 发表于：Poultry Science · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.psj.2025.106341 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Animal Nutrition and Physiology、Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health、Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity

The study aimed to investigate the energy-saving effects of oregano essential oil and its compounds in low-metabolizable-energy diets for broilers. A total of 600 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers of similar body weight were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, each consisting of six replicates with 20 birds per replicate, over a 42-day trial period. The control group (Ctrl) received a basal diet, whereas the low-energy group (LC) was fed a diet with ME reduced by 210 kJ/kg relative to the Ctrl group. Three supplemented groups were formulated based on the LC diet: LCO (LC + 200 mg/kg oregano essential oil, OEO), LCT (LC + 200 mg/kg oregano-clove essential oil composite, OEC), and LCM (LC + 1000 mg/kg oregano essential oil-lauric acid composite, OEL). Results revealed that reducing dietary metabolizable energy (ME) increased the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) throughout the trial period. However, supplementation with essential oils on the low-energy diet significantly decreased F/G, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, increased secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels in the duodenum and ileum, and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in the intestinal mucosa (P < 0.05). Morphologically, essential oils improved intestinal structure by increasing villus height, decreasing crypt depth, and elevating the villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio (VH:CD). Furthermore, OEC and OEL treatments promoted intestinal health by increasing fecal Lactobacillus counts while reducing Escherich...