Using essential oils (EOs) in animal feed is not practical due to the instability and volatility of their components. This study was designed to stabilize thyme and oregano EOs in chitosan and Canarium charcoal to mitigate their volatile and oxidative ability in poultry feed. The dietary treatments consisted of control diet (R0); control diet supplemented with chitosan film forming solution containing 0.01% of a blend of thyme and oregano EOs (RTh+Or), 0.2% charcoal without EOs (Roc), chitosan film forming solution containing 0.01% of thyme EO entrapped with charcoal (Roc+Th), chitosan film forming solution containing 0.01% of oregano EO entrapped with charcoal (ROC+Or) and chitosan film forming solution containing 0.01% of a blend of thyme and oregano EOs entrapped with charcoal (ROC+Th+Or). The results revealed that the entrapped EOs has no significant effect on feed intake. Weight gain markedly (P<0.05) increased with the blend of entrapped EOs for about 20% and 8% respectively during starter (days 1 to 21) and grower (days 22 to 49) phases compared to the control diet. The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was also recorded with the blended entrapped EOs. Feeding broilers with the EOs mixture markedly (P<0.05) increased lactic acid bacteria count compared to the pathogens counts in both the ileum and the Cæcum. The entrapped EOs markedly decreased serum content in aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and creatinin, and increased in total protein and albumin. Thyme and oregano EOs can be stabilized in chitosan and Canarium seeds charcoal for a better growth in broiler chickens.

Due to the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics and their potential side effects in human, there is a growing interest in plant feed additives in livestock production. This study was designed to assess the effects of dietary inclusion of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit powder on growth performances and serological profile of broiler chickens. A total of 192 day old Cobb 500 chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments of 48 chicks each. Negative control group (R0-) was fed basal diet without supplement, positive control group (R0+) was fed on control diet supplemented with 0.1% antibiotic, groups 3 and 4 were fed on control diet supplemented with 0.2% (0.2T) and 0.4% (0.4T) T. tetraptera fruit powder respectively. Throughout the study period, 0.2% T. tetraptera markedly (P<0.05) increased live body weight as compared to 0.4% and negative control diet. The lowest feed conversion ratio was recorded on chickens fed on antibiotic (2.02) and 0.2% T. tetraptera (2.03). Carcass yield significantly decreased (P<0.05) with 0.4% T. tetraptera fruit powder. The lowest cost of production was recorded with the lowest level (0.2%) of this phytobiotic. 5. Irrespective of the incorporation level, this phytobiotic decreased serum content of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and increased serum concentration of urea compared to the negative control diet. T. tetraptera powder at 0.2% could be used as feed additive to replace antibiotic growth promoter for a better growth performances and to produce antibiotics residues free chicken meat.