the effects of yarrow essential oil on escherichia coli and lactobacillus microflora in laying hens

Yarrow is utilized in traditional medicine to enhance digestive health, improve digestion and nutrient absorption, and promote overall physiological well-being in both humans and animals. this plant has been found to possess anti-bacterial properties, making it an alternative growth stimulant. it is a well-known fact that the presence of intestinal diseases, such as bacterial and intestinal flora imbalance can have a negative impact on nutrient intake and decrease the production performance of laying hens. to investigate the effectiveness of yarrow essential oil on gastrointestinal microflora, including escherichia coli and lactobacillus in laying hens, 80 laying hens were used in a completely randomized design. experimental treatments include 1) basic diet (control), 2) basic ration containing 0.0125 ml of emulsifier, and 3, 4 and 5) basic ration containing 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of yarrow essential oil, respectively. the duration of the experiment was 8 weeks, with 2 weeks of adaptation and 6 weeks of treatment. at the end of the research, the fecal contents of each of the cages were sampled as a mixture for each treatment in three replicates to conduct microbiological investigations. data were subjected to statistical analysis using spss version 23 software by comparison of averages with duncan s method. results showed that total coliform and e. coli counts were significantly decreased and the lowest count was at 100 mg/kg of yarrow essential oil. also, lactobacillus population was increased by all treatments, but the significantly highest treatment group was the one with 150 mg/kg of yarrow essential oil.