Effects of dietary supplementation with a thymol-carvacrol blend on growth performance and intestinal health of poultry.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antibiotic resistance has intensified the search for alternatives in poultry production. Essential oils (EOs), particularly blends of carvacrol and thymol, have shown potential as natural growth promoters and antimicrobials. This study evaluated a composite carvacrol-thymol EO as an antibiotic substitute in broiler production, focusing on growth performance, serum biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota.

Materials and methods

A total of 672 Aibayi-Yijia broilers were randomly assigned to seven treatment groups: control (CK), EO1 (200 g/t feed), EO2 (600 g/t feed), EO3 (1200 g/t feed), EO1+AG (EO 200 g/t + FON 0.15 g/kg feed), EO3+AG (EO 1200 g/t + FON 0.15 g/kg feed), and AG (FON 0.15 g/kg feed). Growth performance, serum biochemistry (TP, ALB, GLB

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12832459 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature