This study aims to investigate the effect of supplementing
dietary cinnamon oil (CO) into broiler chicken diets on growth performance,
carcass traits, haemato-biochemical parameters, immune function, antioxidant
status, and caecal microbial count. Three hundred one-day old broilers were
distributed randomly, with 5 replications, into 5 groups (12 birds per replicate).
Dietary treatments comprised the basal diet (control group), and the basal diet
supplemented by either 10 mg/kg avilamycin or 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg
of CO. Results indicated that birds from CO-treated groups had higher body
weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio than the control group. Also, birds
from CO supplemented groups had lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, lowdensity
lipoproteins than those from the control group; the lowest values were
recorded in the group treated with 500 mg/kg CO. Treatment with CO increased
the relative weight of spleen, thymus, bursa of Fabricius and plasma content of
IgM when compared to the control and the antibiotic-treated groups. In chickens
fed CO a significant decrease in caecal total microbial count, total yeast and
mold count, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella was noted in comparison with
the control group but was similar to animals from antibiotic-treated group.
The count of lactic acid bacteria increased in the caecum of chickens fed
CO in comparison with those from the control group; the lowest level was
observed in the antibiotic group. So, CO can be used in broiler chicken diets as
a natural alternative to antibiotic growth promoters to improve gut health and
consequently growth performance.