Oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) to feed laying hens and its effects on animal health

Abstract Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of oregano essential oil added to the feed of commercial laying hens. This research was focused on the analysis of biochemical changes linked to hepatic function, and protein and lipid metabolism. It was used 240 laying hens (59 weeks-old) distributed in a completely randomized design of six treatments (five repetitions with eight birds each). The experiments were constituted by a control treatment (CT) with the inclusion of zinc bacitracin and five treatments of oregano essential oil (OEO: 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg.kg-1), respectively. Afte...