Effect of Herbal Extract on the Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Composition, Ileal Histo-Morphology and Immune Response of Broiler Chickens
Effect of Herbal Extract on the Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Composition, Ileal Histo-Morphology and Immune Response of Broiler Chickens
Majed Rafeeq1,*, Nadeem Rashid1, Muhammad Masood Tariq1, Irfan Shahzad Sheikh1, Muhammad Zahid Mustafa1, Muhammad Shafee1, Khalid Mehmood1, Rana Muhammad Bilal2 and Tauseef Asmat1
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanolic crude extracts of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and jir (Artemisia scoparia) on the performance of broiler chickens. The study used 120 unsexed Hubbard one day old broiler chicks randomly divided into three groups of 40 chicks that were each further divided into four replicates of ten chicks. Extracts were introduced at 200 mg/Kg as feed supplement to two groups of broilers and the third group was kept as control (C) and offered a basal diet. The chicks were reared in floor pens bedded with saw dust litter. Measured feed was offered twice a day and drinking water was offered ad-libitum. Growth performance parameters, hematology, serum biochemistry, immune response (ND and SRBC), intestinal histo-morphology, bacterial enumeration and cecal volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were measured. There were significant improvements in weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average daily gain (ADG) in the treatment groups supplemented with extract (P<0.05) compared to control. Similarly, intestinal histo-morphic parameters and ileal bacterial count were significantly different between treatments (P<0.05), but no significant effect (P>0.05) was found on the cecal VFA content. Hematological and serum biochemical parameter values were significantly improved in extract groups compared to control (P<0.05). The antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus and sheep RBC showed no significant difference among treatment groups (P>0.05). Supplementation of herbal extracts as feed additives at 200 mg/Kg produced better growth performance of broiler chickens with no adverse effects.
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October 2021
Vol. 53, Iss. 5, Pages 1603-2000
