Effect of olive leaves on ascites incidence, hematological parameters and growth performance in broilers reared under standard and cold temperature conditions

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2013-09, Vol.185 (1-2), p.60-69
• Main Authors: Varmaghany, S., Rahimi, S., Karimi Torshizi, M.A., Lotfollahian, H., Hassanzadeh, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ascites; Broiler performance; Olive leaf; Systolic blood pressure
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2013.07.002

The effects of dietary olive leaves supplementation on ascites indices, hematological parameters, and broiler performance were separately assessed under standard (based on Arian strain management guide) and cold temperature conditions (induced ascites) with same experimental diets. For the standard temperature conditions, 400 day-old male broilers were divided into four experimental groups: control group, and three groups with olive leaf supplementation at 5, 10, or 15g/kg diet (oleuropein content, 72.63mg/g). The experiments were performed in four replicates of 25 birds per pen. The same grouping with another 400 birds was used for the cold temperature conditions. Growth performance, physiological and biochemical parameters, and ascites indices (right ventricle [RV] and total ventricle [TV] weight and RV/TV) were evaluated. Under both temperature conditions, growth parameters were similar among all groups. Ascites-related mortality, systolic blood pressure, packed cell volume, alanine aminotransferase, erythrocyte osmotic fragility, red blood cell count, and triiodothryronine level decreased linearly with increasing olive leaf supplementation under both conditions (P