Effects of Abelmoschus manihot L. Medicus in Organic Diets on Organ Weight, Hematological Parameters and Liver Characteristics in Organic Broilers

This study investigated the effects of <i>Abelmoschus manihot</i> L. Medicus (AM) leaf and stem powder in organic diets on relative organ weight, hematological parameters, and liver characteristics in organic broiler chickens. A total of 16,000 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: a control group fed a basal organic diet and a treatment group fed a basal diet supplemented with 1% AM powder. Each treatment had 8,000 broiler chickens. At the end of the experiment (45 days of age), 6 birds per treatment were randomly selected and euthanized for sample collection. Results indicated that birds fed organic diets containing 1% AM powder had greater (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05) relative liver, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius weights than those fed a basal organic diet. Feeding organic diets supplemented with 1% AM powder decreased (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05) neutrophil count and increased (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05) lymphocyte count than feeding organic basal diets. However, no significant differences were observed in liver characteristics including liver color, hemorrhage scores, and fatty liver scores. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 1% AM powder improves liver and immune organ development and hematological parameters without adverse effects on liver health.