Evaluation of The Growth Promoting, Economic Impact and Possible Ameliorative Effect of Hawthorn (Crataegus Spp) against Salinomycin Toxicity in Broiler Chicks

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth promoting, economic impact and possible ameliorative effect of Hawthorn (HT) (crataegus spp) against salinomycin (SM) toxicity in broiler chicks. Therefore, 32 seven day old unsexed Ross broiler chicks were completely randomized design divided into four Groups (3 of them are treatable. Control group, SM-intoxicated group (100 mg/kg feed), HT-treated group (10 g/kg feed) and SM+HT-combination group (SM 100 mg/kg feed plus HT 10 g/kg feed). Results revealed that HT promotes a significant improvement in final body weight (FBW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) while, a decreased final body weight in SM-intoxicated group was recorded. Co-administration of HT with SM did not significantly improve growth performance parameters in comparing with SM-intoxicated group except for feed conversion rate. Total variable costs were increased in HT-treated and SM-intoxicated groups. Total return, net profit, benefit cost ratio and economic efficiency were improved in HT-treated group compared with other groups. Regarding to biochemical analysis, there was significant elevation of serum activity of CK-MB, AST, ALT and in the concentration of cardiac and muscular NO and MDA in SM-intoxicated group and SM+HT-combination group. GSH didn’t significantly change in cardiac tissue, but it was reduced in in muscle tissue of SM+ HT-combination group as compared to control group. Our findings concluded that HT could be used as an acceptable growth promoting agent with a satisfying economic impact. Unfortunately, HT fails to ameliorate the deleterious effect of SM in the cardiac and skeletal muscles of broiler chicks.