Effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) supplement on performance of Ross 308 broiler chicks

摘要

Groups of day old 25 birds each were fed 42 days with basal diets of corn and soybean meal as controls and basal diet with 200 or 400gr/ton Glycyrrhiza glabra licorice powder. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratios were determined weekly. At day 42, four chicks from each group were slaughtered for carcass evaluation. Blood cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and Newcastle antibody were measured. Digesta was used to determine Escherichia coli and lactobacillus populations. Comparedwith controls, findings suggested that body weight, feed to gain ratios, liver weight, blood and antibody titers may have been affected by the supplement of licorice powder (p<0.05). However, there were no effects on drumstick and breast meat percentages. Glycyrrhiza glabra licorice powder supplement in basal diet may have reduced intestinal Escherichia coli but increased lactobacillus compared with controls (p<0.05).