The Effect of Eugenol from Clove Oil on Bacterial Count and Nutrient Utilization in Broiler

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of eugenol levels in feed on bacterial populations and nutrient utilization in broiler. Eugenol used was extracted from clove leaves bough from farmers' gardens in Central Sulawesi. Bacterial tests and observations were carried out at the Health Laboratory Central Sulawesi Province, while the testing of nutrient utilization was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tadulako University. In the first experiment, there were 3 types of bacteria tested, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Lactobacillus sp. by using several concentrations of eugenol, namely: 0%; 0.25%; 0.5%; 0.75%; 1.00%; 1.25%; 1.50%; 1.75%; 2.00%; 2.25%; 2.50%. While the second experiment was carried out by using 24 broiler chickens aged 6 weeks with a body weight ranged of 1.90 ± 0.08 kg. In this experiment, eugenol was added to the basal ration with 6 treatments, namely: E0 = basal ration + 0g eugenol; E1 = basal ration + eugenol 5g/kg ration; E2 = basal ration + eugenol 10g/kg ration; E3 = basal ration + eugenol 15g/kg ration; E4 = basal ration + eugenol. 20g/kg ration; E5 = basal ration + eugenol. 25g/kg ration. The variables observed were bacterial population and nutrient utilization values. The results showed that bacterial counts significantly decreased (P>0.01) with increasing concentration of eugenol in feed. Furthermore, the population of Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp at 2% eugenol and Lactobacillus sp in 1.75% eugenol decreased to zero, meaning all of these bacteria died. The treatment that gave the highest nutrient utilization was the use of eugenol essential oil 15g / kg ration. It is then concluded 15g/kg clove oil in broiler feed showed the optimum nutrient utilization.