Effects of Pomegranate Juice Inclusion in Drinking Water on GrowthPerformance, Carcass Quality, Intestinal Microbiota and PhysiologicalParameters of Broiler Chickens

This study evaluates broiler productivity, carcass characteristics, blood biochemicals, intestinal microbiota, antioxidant status, and immune function associated with pomegranate juice (PJ) supplementation in drinking water.Three hundred, one-day-old Cobb-500 chicks were randomly and equally distributed into five treatment groups (four replicates 15 birds each).The treatments were a negative control group receiving no-treatment; a group supplemented with 500 mg/L lincomycin (a conventional antibiotic) served as a positive control; and three groups receiving drinking water supplemented with 10, 20, or 30mL/L of PJ, respectively.The experimental period lasted until the birds reached five weeks of age.The findings outlined that the highest level of PJ addition (30mL/L) significantly improved birds' growth and carcass characteristics compared to the negative and positive control groups.PJ supplementation also significantly reduced (P<0.05)intestinal populations of Salmonella as well as Escherichia coli, comparable to the effects of lincomycin.Moreover, high PJ inclusion notably enhanced (P<0.05)blood biochemical and hematological parameters as well as antioxidant biomarkers.In conclusion, supplementing broiler drinking water with 30mL/L of PJ proved to be a potent natural alternative to conventional antibiotics, offering antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits while supporting growth, physiological health, and immune function.