The effect of thyme extract (Thymus vulgaris) on feed intake, weight gain,feed conversion rate and blood serum lipids concentration of broiler chickens

    In order to investigate the effect of thymeextract (Thymus vulgaris) on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and blood serum lipids concentration of broiler chickens, a total of 200 day-old broiler chicks were purchased and 20 chicks were bled for determination maternal antibody and remaining chicks divided into 4 equal groups. Chickens of group 1, 2 and 3 received 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2%  of solution including thymeextract respectively in drinking water for all the period of the experiment. Chickens of group 4 were kept as control group and did not receive solution including thymeextract. In order to determine the total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) cholesterol, and triglyceride using the kit package, blood samples were collected from 15 chicks of each group at the end of experiment. Mean feed intake, weight gains, feed conversion of 4 groups were determined at 21, and 42 days. The results of present study showed that thyme extract consumption caused a decrease in triglyceride as compared with control group but increased total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. Thyme extract consumption could improve feed conversion ratio during the first 21days of period of experiment but there was not any significant differences between groups during the second 21days and all period of experiment.