Bioactive Lipid Compounds as Eco-Friendly Agents in the Diets of Broiler Chicks for Sustainable Production and Health Status

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Phytogenics provide a variety of biologically active compounds that are advantageous in modern poultry production due to their antibacterial, antioxidative, and digestion-enhancing properties. The current study aimed to determine the effects of the bioactive lipid compounds of oregano and peppermint on the sustainability of meat production and the health of broiler chicks in hot climatic environments. The birds were fed a control diet, oregano bioactive lipid compounds (150 mg/kg), peppermint bioactive lipid compounds (150 mg/kg), and their combination for 35 days. Broilers fed diets containing 150 mg/kg of oregano and peppermint bioactive lipid compounds, either alone or in combination, improved growth performance, health status, and meat quality. ABSTRACT: Phytogenic compounds can improve feed efficiency, meat quality, and the health status of chickens under hot climatic conditions. The current study investigated the impact of the bioactive lipid compounds of oregano and peppermint and their combination on the sustainability of meat production and the health of broiler chicks in hot climatic conditions. Two hundred and fifty-six one-day-old broiler chicks were distributed into four treatment groups. The birds were fed a control diet, bioactive lipid compounds of oregano (BLCO, 150 mg/kg), bioactive lipid compounds of peppermint (BLCP, 150 mg/kg), or a combination of BLCO and BLCP at 150 mg/kg each for 35 days. Each treatment included 8 replicates, each with 8 birds. The results showed that adding BLCO and BLCP separately or in combination to broiler diets improved body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. BLCO, BLCP, or their combination increased the percentages of the dressing and gizzard and lowered the percentage of abdominal fat as compared to the control. Supplementation of BLCO, BLCP, or their combination decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, creatinine, and urea compared to control. BLCO, BLCP, or their combination reduced cook and drip loss in the meat of broilers. In conclusion, birds fed diets containing BLCO and BLCP, either independently or in combination, showed improvements in performance, blood biochemistry, and meat quality in hot climatic conditions.