Vol. 9, Issue 12, Part B (2025)

Since several decades antibiotics are used as a feed supplement in the ration of farm animals because of their metaphylactic, prophylactic and growth promotion action which eventually has resulted in anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in livestock and humans. With an intention of resolving this issue, some potential replacements have been studied. Essential oils belong to those categories of supplements which have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Keeping these facts in view, this study was undertaken to investigate the influence of dietary inclusion of peppermint (PEO) and eucalyptus essential oils (EEO) on haematological parameters of the Japanese quails. For this, 180 Japanese quail chicks of 6-days old were randomly grouped into 5 treatments (3 replicates having 12 chicks each). The experimental treatments were T₀ (control), T₁ (0.2% PEO), T₂ (0.2% EEO), T₃ (0.1% each of PEO+EEO) and T₄ (0.05% each of PEO+EEO). By the end of the 5^th week, blood samples of 2 birds from each replicate were collected and their haematological parameters were determined. The study revealed that the values of TEC, TLC, PCV, haemoglobin, MCHC, basophil + eosinophil and lymphocytes were significantly (p<0.05) increased in all the essential oil supplemented groups especially T₃. The MCV, heterophils and H: L ratio was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the group T₃ (0.1% of PEO+EEO). However, MCH and monocytes did not vary significantly (p>0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that the supplementation of 0.1% of PEO and EEO in combination improved the physiological and health status of Japanese quails preventing the occurrence of pathological conditions.