Using some medicinal plants in broiler chicks nutrition [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of using Cymbopogon citratus leaves (CCL) and Eucalyptus globulus leaves (EGL) as feed additives on growth performance, slaughter test, digestibility coefficient, some plasma constituents, sensory evaluation (panel test) and economical efficiency. Two hundred and seventy Hubbard broilers fed on the basal diet at the first week then divided into nine groups at 1week (wk) of age. The first group was fed on the control diet, whereas groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed on the control diet supplemented with CCL at levels 0.02/0.02, 0.02/0.04, 0.04/0.04 and 0.04/0.06% (grower/finisher), respectively. And groups 6, 7, 8, and 9 were fed on the control diets supplemented with EGL at levels of 0.02/0.02, 0.02/0.04, 0.04/0.04 and 0.04/0.06% (grower/finisher), respectively. The obtained results showed that CCL or EGL addition to broiler diets significantly (P<0.05) improved live body weight (LBW) and body weight gain (BWG). Using different levels of CCL or EGL had no significant differences in feed consumption. Feed conversion (FC) was significantly improved with CCL and EGL as feed additives. Also there was no effect on mortality due to experimental treatments. Addition of CCL or EGL significantly improved digestibility coefficients (P<0.05) of DM, OM, CP, and NFE. There were no effects on digestibility coefficient of EE and CF due to the dietary treatments. Carcass and total edible parts (%) were significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing CCL levels in the broiler diets, while there were no significant differences due to the addition of EGL in the diets. The addition of CCL or EGL showed significant effect on spleen, bursa and thymus gland.

Summary in Arabic.

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