Effects of Humulus lupulus essential oils on productive performance, meat oxidative stability and ileum microbial population in broiler chickens

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Humulus lupulus essential oils as an alternative to antibiotic and antioxidant on productive performance, lipids stability of meat and ileum microbial population in broiler chickens during days 1 to 42 of age. A total of 625 day-old Arian broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments (200 and 400 mg/kg Humulus lupulusessential oils, 100 mg/kg antibiotic avilamycin, 150 mg/kg protexin probiotic and control) and five replicates of 25 birds each. Broilers that were fed dietary Humulus lupulus oil at level of 400 mg/kg and antibiotic revealed higher feed intake than broilers fed dietary Humulus lupulusoil at level of 200 mg/kg (P