Efecto de la inclusión de una mezcla de aceites esenciales sobre los parámetros productivos y económicos en pollos broiler.

Abstract

This research work was carried out at the “Santa Inés” Farm, located at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the Technical University of Machala, in the province of El Oro, Ecuador. The established procedure in the Guide of Good Poultry Practices (GPP) was respected. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of including "Mix Oil" essential oils in the balanced diet of broiler chickens on productive and economic parameters as a replacement for growth-promoting antibiotics. The work carried out was experimental, using a completely randomized design, with five treatments and four replicates each. In each experimental unit, 10 chickens were placed, using a total of 200 mixed Cobb 500 one-day-old chickens. The first treatment, called control (T1), included a growth-promoting antibiotic (GPA), while the balanced diets of treatments T2, T3, T4, and T5 contained "Mix Oil" essential oils at different doses: 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, and 0.04%, respectively. It should be noted that the denomination used for each of the treatments that is, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, were distributed randomly for each treatment. To ensure the success of the production, factors such as ventilation, temperature, feeding, hydration, and a vaccination plan consisting of the application of intraocular vaccines against Gumboro "Intermediate Strain" and New Castle "La Sota Strain", revaccinating in subsequent days directly in the drinking water. The data obtained were recorded daily, including water consumption, food administration, and management control to offer quality of life. Weekly, cumulative food consumption and weight obtained were recorded. The variables studied were: average live weight, food consumption, water consumption, conversion index, mortality, PEF (production efficiency factor), weight per m2 (kg), average expenses per experimental unit, cost of live meat per m2, and cost of live meat per kg. Statistical evaluation was carried out using Statgraphics Centurión XV.I. ® Software, applying a one-factor analysis (ANOVA) and the Tukey HSD confidence interval (95%). Based on the results, this experimental work adds to the accumulated evidence on the beneficial effects of essential oils. Therefore, it is concluded that the inclusion of 0.01% of essential oils can be used as an effective alternative to the replacement of growth-promoting antibiotics, as there are no significant statistical differences in productive parameters. These effects are also reflected in the economic expenditure variable, showing the profitability of their use, as it leads to lower production costs.