Effect of dietary Zataria multiflora on growth performance and carcass oxidation in broiler chickens

In recent years, medicinal plants are wildly used in industry. The aim of the present study was to evaluation of effect of dietary Zataria multiflora on growth performance and carcass oxidation in broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty broiler chicks (Ross 308, one day old) were purchase and divided to four groups (each group contain 45 chickens in 3 replicates). Group 1 (control) received basal ration. Group 2 received basal ration plus 0.25% Zataria multiflora Bioss. Group 3 received basal ration plus 0.5% Zataria multiflora Bioss. Group 4 received basal ration plus 1% Zataria multiflora Bioss. Chicks were raised on floor-pen under standard conditions for 6 weeks. At day 14, 28 and 42 of age, all chicks weigh and after determining the given food to each pen, feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. After killing, the breast samples were taken and stored at refrigerated temperature for 12 days. The samples were periodically analyzed at 3-dayes intervals for lipid oxidation measurement. Final body weight of the group fed 0.25% and 0.5% Zataria multiflora Bioss were significantly higher than control group (p