Effects of normal and nanoencapsulated form of chicory and lavender essential oils on performance, carcass characteristics and response to sheep red blood cell injection in broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using normal and nanoencapsulated of lavender and chicory essential oils on performance, carcass characteristics and humoral immunity of broilers. A total of 1050 one-day-old chickens (mixed male and female in equal proportions) of Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with 7 treatments, 5 replicates and 30 chickens per replicate. Experimental treatments include: 1) basal diet without additives (control), 2 and 3) basal diet containing 100 g / ton of chicory and lavender essential oil, respectively, 4 and 5) basal diet containing 100 g / ton of chicory and lavender nanoencapsulated essential oil, respectively. 6) The basal diet contained 100 grams per ton of chicory essential oil and 100 grams per ton of lavender essential oil and 7) The basal diet contained 100 grams per ton of chicory nanoencapsulated essential oil and 100 grams per ton of lavender nanoencapsulated essential oil. At 42 days of age, highest body weight, production index, carcass percentage, relative breast weight and antibody titer in response to injection of sheep red blood cells, immunoglobulin G and M, as well as the lowest feed intake and feed conversion ratio were observed in the group fed with chicory and lavender nanoencapsulated essential oils (P<0.05). Based on the results, the simultaneous addition of 100 g / ton of chicory and lavender nanoencapsulated essential oils in the diet of broilers is recommended.