Effect of different sources of selenium supplementation and rosemary essential oil on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microflora population of broiler chicken

The effects of different sources of selenium supplementation and rosemary essential oil on growth performance, microflora population and intestinal morphology in broiler chicken with using of 480 male broiler chicks in a factorial arrangement (2x5) with 10 treatments and 4 replicates were investigated. Two experimental factors consisted of different sources of selenium (level of 0.3 mg/kg of diet from selenomethionine, nanoselenomethionine, selenitsodium, nano selenium bonza and without selenium) and rosemary essential oil (0 and 300 mg/kg of diet). Results showed that broilers received diet of without Se and rosemary essential oil had lower weight gain and feed intake.Broilers received diet of nano selenium bonza with rosemary essential oil had lower feed conversion ratio as compared to the other broilers (P<0.05). Broilers fed on diets of nanoselenomethionine with rosemary essential oil and nano selenium bonza with rosemary essential oil were increased villus height in jejunum (P<0.05). The crypt depth of intestinal in birds which received nanoselenium was more than the birds that consumed other sources of selenium in the diet (P<0.05). Crypt diameter nano selenium bonza with rosemary essential oil treatment was higher as compared to other treatments (P<0.01). Selenomethionine and nanoselenomethionine alone and in combination with rosemary essential oil treatments had high lactobacillus population and lactobacillus population to total microbial population ratio of ileum as compared to without Se and rosemary essential oil treatment (P<0.05). Based on the results, inclusion nanoselenium (0.3 mg/kg) supplement with rosemary essential oil (300 mg/kg) into the diet of broiler chicken can improve performance, gut morphology and microflora.