Effects of Ajwain (<i>Trachyspermum ammi</i>) and Thyme (<i>Thymus vulgaris</i>) Oils on Nutrients Digestibility, Blood Parameters and Growth Performance of Brown Swiss Neonatal Calves

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation of ajwain (<em>Trachyspermum ammi</em>) and thyme (<em>Thymus vulgaris</em>) essential oils(EO)on nutrients digestibility, blood parameters and growth performanceof neonatal dairy calves during eight weeks. Sixty suckling dairy calves with an initial body weight (43.2±3.8 kg) were randomly allocated to five treatments including CO, control without essential oils (EO) supplementation; AJW-L, ajwain (AJW) oil mixed in milk at 1 mL/d per calf; AJW-H, AJW oil mixed in milk at 2 mL/d; THY-L, thyme (THY) oil mixed in milk at 1 mL/d and THY-H, THY oil mixed in milk at 2 mL/d. The experiment consisted of 7 d adaptation and 60 d sampling and data recording period. Experimental diets had no significant effects (P>0.05) on feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. Dietary supplementation of both AJW and THY linearly improved (P