Litter Quality and External Carcass Defects in Broiler Chicken Influenced by Supplementation of Drinking Water with Savory (Satureja Khuzistanica) Essential Oils

Satureja khuzistanica is an endemic plant distributed in southern part of Iran. It is well-known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant and therapeutic virtues. This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of supplementation of drinking water with Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO) on litter quality and external carcass defects using 420 one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks. Seven experimental treatments consisting supplementation of drinking water with 0 (control-), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g/ L SkEO or 3.0 g/ L polysorbate 80 (control+) were examined in three replicates of 20 birds each up to day 28 of age. Water intake significantly reduced in a dose-dependent linear fashion in the birds received SkEO-treated water compared to the control birds (P<0.05). Litter moisture, pH and caking percent were significantly decreased by inclusion of SkEO in drinking water of the birds (P<0.05). SkEO-supplemented water decreased the incidence of severe (lesions with score 3 and 4) foot pad lesions, hock burns and breast blisters at the day 42 of age (P<0.05). It was concluded that supplementation of drinking water with SkEO could improve litter quality and reduce external carcass defects in broiler chicken mainly through reduced litter moisture and litter microbial load.