Talking turkey: Feed additives help boost meat production, says study | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: A blend of thymol, a compound found in thyme and oregano, and formic acid helped turkeys gain more weight while using feed more efficiently, an Indian study involving a Hyderabad researcher has found. The findings suggest a possible alternative to antibiotics used to promote growth in commercial turkey farming.Published in Scientific Reports on Sept 10, the study involved Monika Madheshwaran of ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad, and researchers from institutions in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.240 birds studiedResearchers raised 240 day-old ‘Cari Virat’ turkeys from the experimental hatchery at ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, until 16 weeks. The ethics-approved trial divided birds equally by sex across six dietary groups, with five replicates per group.One group received a basal diet, another received chlortetracycline at 50 mg/kg of feed, and four received combinations of thymol at 240 or 360 mg/kg and formic acid at 2.5 or 7.5 ml/kg.The group receiving 240 mg thymol and 7.5 ml formic acid per kg, designated T5, recorded the highest live weight: 2,990.09 g, against 2,434.09 g in the basal-diet group. Its feed conversion ratio improved to 3.8 from 4.6, meaning less feed was needed per unit of weight gained.More protein, less fatAt market age, researchers sampled 10 birds per group, examining carcasses, breast and thigh meat, and organs. Laboratory analyses were conducted at the institute’s Division of Post-Harvest Technology.T4, which received 360 mg thymol and 2.5 ml formic acid per kg, recorded the highest dressing percentage at 77.9%, compared with 74.8% in controls. T4 and T5 improved breast, drumstick and thigh yields.Supplementation lowered meat pH, improved water retention and reduced fluid loss. T4 and T5 meat contained more crude protein and ash, a measure of mineral content, and less fat. Tests showed lower fat oxidation and greater antioxidant activity. An eight-member trained panel awarded higher scores for juiciness and overall acceptability.Antibiotic alternativeThe authors recommended T5 as the most practical and economically advantageous blend. The paper discusses formic acid’s role in suppressing intestinal pathogens and thymol’s antibacterial and antioxidant properties, alongside potential immune benefits.Reducing reliance on antibiotic growth promoters could address concerns about residues and antimicrobial resistance. These broader health benefits should be distinguished from the trial’s measured outcomes in growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality.