Effects of Feeding Three Types of Medicinal Plants on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chicks

The present study was performed to evaluate effects of feeding diets enriched with anise seeds (AS), peppermint leaves (PL), black cumin seeds (BCS) and their combination on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 160 day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into eight treatments, each with four replications. From day one to five weeks of age, eight different diets were used since two basic diets were developed that contained AS, PL, and BCS powders (0.0 or 1.0 g/kg) and their combinations. AS supplementation did not significantly affect the broiler's body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed intake (FI), or live body weight (LBW). Feeding the PL-enriched diet to broilers positively affected final LBW, FI, and BWG but had no effect the FCR compared with the control group. Broilers fed BCS-supplemented diet resulted in a significant increase in their FI and slightly improved LBW and BWG but did not improve their FCR. Feeding admixture of AS, PL and/or BCS slightly improved broiler growth performance. Dietary treatments didn't affect percentages of carcass yield, heart, immunity organs, proventriculus, jejunum, and ceca but the relative weights of liver, gizzard, pancreas, duodenum and ileum were significantly affected. Dietary supplementation with the tested medicinal plants caused erratic significant differences in blood parameters but the level of cholesterol was not affected. It can be concluded that peppermint leaves and black cumin seeds can be used as growth promoters for broilers without adverse effects on their carcass traits or immunity.