Effect of feeding nigella seed meal on the immune Response and some blood constituents of gimizah Chicks [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Four hundred , unsexed one day - old Gimizah chicks were used to evaluate the effects of feeding Nigella seed meal (NSM) instead of Soybean meal (SBM) on the performance, some blood constituents and immunity response . The chicks were divided randomly into four equal groups (100 chicks each) . Each group were divided into four replicates (25 chicks each) . The first group was served as control, Nigella seed meal was used instead of SBM on the basis ofprotein units with the levels of 10 , 30 and 50% for the second, third and fourth group, respectively. Accordingly, eight experimental diets were formulated to contain about 19.2% crude protein ( CP ) and 3075 Kcal ME I kg feed during the grower period (1- 4 weeks) and 17.2% CP with 3125 Kcal MEl kg feed during the finisher period ( 5-12 Weeks) . Feed and water were offered Ml.LililiYm and birds were kept under similar conditions during the whole experimental period . Live body weight, body gain, feed consumption and feed conversion were recorded weekly. At the end of the experimental period ( 12 weeks ) , three birds form each replicate were randomly slaughtered, and blood samples were taken to determine white blood cell number( WBC) , plasma total protein , albumin and globulin . Bursa of fabricia and spleen were also separated and weighted. The results indicated that replacement of NSM instead of SBM by 10 and 30% in Gimizah chick diets improved gross performance, increased WBCs, plasma total protein, albumin and globulin levels and Bursa of fabricia's weight compared to other treatments. In conclusion, feeding growing chickens NSM as a protein source instead of SBM up to 30% improved immunity response and metabolic traits without any detrimental effect on growth performanc

Summary in Arabic.

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