In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Research Institute of Animal Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

The effects of three herbal plant powders (thyme, cinnamon and turmeric) on growth performance and ascites were studied in broilers. Eight hundred one-day-old Arian broiler chicks were randomly allocated into eight treatment groups with four replications and 25 chicks per cage. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Energy and high protein diets were used to increase the speed of growth and inducing ascites in broiler chickens. Experimental treatment groups were: control treatments, consisting of two diets with different nutrient densities (high density and low density) and two base diets were supplemented with herbal powders at a rate of 5 g/Kg of the diet in a factorial arrangement. Feed intake, BW gain and feed conversion ratio of the broilers were measured. Parameters related to ascites (thyroid hormones, hematocrit value, erythrocyte osmotic fragility and right ventricle-to-total ventricle ratio (RV/TV) were measured. Results showed that there were no influences on broilers’ growth performance. On the other hand, hematocrit value, T4, T3/T4 and RV/TV were significantly decreased by using herbal plants compared with the control, but no significant changes were observed on erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) among the treatments. The results of this study suggested that herbal plants have beneficial effects in reducing ascites in broilers.

Keywords

محیطی اصلی، م.، حسینی، ع.، میمندی‌پور، ا. و مهدوی، ع.، 1389. گیاهان دارویی در تغذیه دام و طیور. انتشارات الهادی، قم، 317 صفحه.
- Anguo, C., Jinxin, X., Caimei, Y. and Qihua, H., 2008. Effect of cinnamon extract on growth performance and excreta urease activity and nitrogen loss in broilers. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, https://elibrary.asabe.org/abstract.asp.
- Brzezinska-Slebodzinska, E., 2003. Species differences in the susceptibility of erythrocytes exposed to free radicals in vivo. Veterinary Research Communication, 27: 211-217.
- Buffenstein, R., McCarron, H.C.K. and Dawson, T.J., 2001. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility of red (Macropus rufus) and grey (Macropus fuliginosus and Macropus giganteus) kangaroos and free-ranging sheep of the arid region of Australia. Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 171: 41-47.
- Cross, D.E., McDevitt, R.M., Hillman, K. and Acamovic, T., 2007. The effect of herbs and their associated essential oils on performance, dietary digestibility and gut microflora in chickens from 7 to 28 days of age. British Poultry Science, 48: 496-506.
- Decuypere, E., Vega, C., Bartha, T., Zoons, J. and Albers, G.A.A., 1994. Increased sensitivity to triiodothyronine of broiler lines with a high susceptibility to ascites. British Poultry Science, 35: 287-297.
- Emadi, M. and Kermanshahi, H., 2006. Effect of turmeric rhizome powder on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. International Journal of Poultry Science,
5: 1069-1072.
- Enkvetchakul, B., Bottje, W., Anthony, N., Moore, R. and Huff, W., 1993. Compromised antioxidant status associated with ascites in broilers. Poultry Science, 72: 2272-2280.
- Ertas, O.N., Guler, T., Ciftci, M., Dalkilic, B. and Yılmaz, O., 2005. The effect of a dietary supplement coriander seeds on the fatty acid composition of breast muscle in Japanese quail. Revue de Medecine Veterinaire, 156(10): 514-518.
- Giannenas, I.A., Florou-Paneri, P., Papazahariadou, M., Christaki, E., Botsoglou, N.A. and Spais, A.B., 2003. Effect of dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil on performance of broilers after experimental infection with Eimeria tenella. Archives of Animal Nutrition, 57: 99-106.
- Guo, J.L., Zheng, Q.H., YIN, Q.Q., Cheng, W. and Jiang, Y.B., 2007. Study on mechanism of scites syndrome of broilers. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Science, 2: 62-65.
- Halliwell, B., Aeschbach, R., Loliger, J. and Aruoma, O.I., 1995. The characterization of antioxidants. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 33: 601-617.
- Hassanzadeh, M., Buys, N., Dewil, E., Rahimi, G. and Decuypers, E., 1997. The prophylactic effect of vitamin Csupplementation on broiler ascites incidence and plasma thyroid hormone concentration. Avian Pathology, 26: 33-44.
- Huchzermeyer, F.W., De Ruyck, A.M.C. and Van Ark, H., 1988. Broiler pulmonary hypertension syndrome. iii. Commercial broiler strains differ in their susceptibility. The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 55: 5-9.
- Joe, B., Vijaykumar, M. and Lokesh, B.R., 2004. Biological properties of curcumin-cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 44: 97-111.
- Julian, R.J., 1993. Ascites in poultry. Avian Pathology, 22: 419-454.
- Kosar, M., Dorman, H.J.D. and Hiltunen, R., 2005. Effect of an acid treatment on phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics of extracts from selected Lamiaceae species. Food Chemistry, 91: 525-533.
- Maxwell, M.H. and Robertson, G.W., 1997.
World broiler ascites survey. Poultry International, 30: 44-57.
- Mehet, C., Ulku, G., Abdurrauf, Y., Okkes, Y. and Bestami, D., 2009. Effects of dietary antibiotic and cinnamon oil supplementation on antioxidative enzyme activities, cholesterol levels and fatty acid composition of serum and meat in broiler chickens. Acta Veterinaria, 79: 33-40.
- Namagirilakshmi, S., Selvaraj, P., Nanjappan, K., Jayachandran, S. and Visha, P., 2010. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) as an alternative to in-feed antibiotic on the gut health of broiler chickens. Veterinary and Animal Science, 6(3): 148-150.
- Ocak, N., Erener, G., Burak, A.K.F., Sungu, M., Altop, A. and Ozmen, A., 2008. Performance of broilers fed diets supplemented with dry peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) or thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) leaves as growth promoter source. Journal of Animal Science, 53: 169-175.
- Olkowski, A.A. and Classen, H.L., 1998. Progressive bradycardia, a possible factor in the pathogenesis of ascites in fast growing broiler chickens raised at low altitude. British Poultry Science, 39:139-146.
- Preuss, H.G., Rchard, B., Polansky, M.M. and Anderson, R., 2006. Whole cinnamon and aqueous extracts ameliorate sucrose-induced blood pressure elevations in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Journal of the American Collage Nutrition, 25(2): 144-150.
- Roch, G., Boulianne, M. and De Roth, L., 2000. Effect of vitamin E and selenium on incidence of ascites, growth performance and blood parameters in cold-stressed broilers. Poultry Science, 79(Suppl. 1): 41.
- Sieo, C.C., Abdullah, N., Tan, W.S. and Ho, Y.W., 2005. Influence of beta-glucanase producing Lactobasillus strains on intestinal characteristics and feed passage rate of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 84: 734-741.
- Soni, K.B., Lahiri, M. and Chakradeo, P., 1997. Protective effect of food additives on aflatoxin induced mutagenicity and hepatocarcinogenecity. Cancer Letters, 115(2): 129-133.
- Xiang, R.P., Sun, W.D., Wang, J.Y. and Wang, X.L., 2002. Effect of vitamin C on pulmonary hypertension and muscularization of pulmonary arterioles in broiler. British Poultry Science, 43:705-712.
- Yang, Y.P.A. and Choct, M., 2009. Dietary modulation of gut microflora in broiler chickens. A review of the role of six kinds of alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. World’s Poultry Science,
65: 97-114.