Essential oil of oregano (Lippia berlandieri Schauer) in quality variables of chicken carcass

Mexican oregano oil (AO; Lippia berlandieri Schauer) is an extract natural source. The aim of this work was the evaluation of the effect on the variables of slaughter, cutting and dissected of the carcass of broiler chickens fed with diets added with AO. One hundred sixty two (162) 1 d old broiler chickens (Ross) were used; they were placed in cages (30 x 33 x 44 cm) with two chicks each (nine cages per treatment) and randomly assigned with a factorial arrangement 3(2); AOC, oregano oil based on Carvacrol (60.0 %), and AOT, oregano oil based on Thymol (40.0 %). Both AO were tested at levels of 0, 400, and 800 mg L-1. Treatment 800-00 increased (p < 0.05) body weight (2.25 kg), 800-800 hot carcass weight and cold, while that the viscera content was decreased (p < 0.05); leg and back were higher (p < 0.05) at 400-400, hip and wings at 800-400. The treatment 0-400 increased the thigh; the breast was not affected statistically, but 400-0 had the highest value (35.82 %). The dissected of pieces was altered by the levels of AO (p < 0.05), mainly lean leg (11.53 %; 400-400), thigh (9.45 %; 800-800), hip (4.12 %; 800-0), back (3.1 %; 800-400) and wings (5.04 %; 800-800). The results suggest that AO can be used in fed for broilers due it improves the characteristics of the carcass.