EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF NETTLE ROOT EXTRACT AND PUMPKIN SEED OIL ON PRODUCTION TRAITS AND INTESTINAL MICROFLORA IN BROILER CHICKENS

摘要

Herbal substances can be used as natural growth performance enhancers in poultry nutrition instead of antibiotics. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nettle root and pumpkin seed on production traits and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. A total of 120 day-old Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allocated into 4 groups: 1) CON, receiving basal diet, 2) PSO, basal diet+0.5 g/kg pumpkin oil, 3) NRE, basal diet+0.5 g/kg nettle extract and 4) NEPO, basal diet+0.5 g/kg nettle extract+0.5 g/kg pumpkin oil. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly and feed conversion ratio was calculated. On day 42, eight birds per treatment group were randomly selected for ileal bacterial counts and 12 birds for determination of carcass and organ weights. NEPO birds had the highest body weight and CON had the lowest at 21 and 42 days of age. significant increase was noticed in feed intake in NRE and NEPO birds between 22–42 days of age. Nettle root and pumpkin oil addition improved overall feed conversion ratio. Effects of dietary treatments on carcass weight, portion yield and the relative weights of the heart, spleen, liver and gizzard were insignificant except for thigh, drumstick and bursa. The lowest Escherichia coli and the highest Lactobacillus counts were observed in NEPO and NRE birds (P=0.0001). The results of present study suggest that supplementation with nettle root and pumpkin oil, particularly their combination has a positive impact on broiler chickens.