The effect of using Echinacea extract as an immune system stimulant and antioxidant on blood indicators, growth efficiency, and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens to produce a healthy product

This study aimed to discover how Echinacea powder extract (EPE), an antioxidant, affects the growth rate, body composition, and blood parameters in broilers as an alternative to antibiotics. In a completely randomized design study, 4 experimental groups received 280 broiler chicks, 5-days-old (Cobb 500). Each group was distributed into 7 replicates, each containing ten unsexed chicks. Four groups were randomly selected from the chicks; the first group (the control group) was given drinking water only. Conversely, the birds in treatments 2, 3, and 4 were supplemented with EPA in their drinking water. They received 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 cm³ EPA/liter water every 3 d weekly until the end of the trial (30 d). Our findings found significant differences in avian mass between experimental treatments during growth phases. The control group weighed 887 g, while the 3.0 cm³ EPE group weighed 850 g. The Duncan test showed a difference in FI and FCR among those favoring the EPE groups. Our results showed no significant changes in carcass features, except for spleen, gizzard, and abdominal fat, with the 3.0 cm³ EPE group having weight-higher organs and lower abdominal fat. Also, the control had higher TP, albumin, and globulin levels, while the EPE diet increased ALT and AST and decreased TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL levels. Furthermore, EPE-containing diets resulted in higher IgG concentrations, lower MDA levels, and higher SOD activity compared to the control group. According to the ANOVA analysis, the water consumption rate did not significantly differ across the trial groups. It included adding EPE with 3.0 cm³ enhanced growth performance, carcass traits, and antioxidant activity to obtain health outcomes for end users.