Comparative effects of using black seed (Nigella sativa), cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum), probiotic or prebiotic on growth performance, blood haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chicks

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition 2014-06, Vol.98 (3), p.538-546
• Main Authors: Alimohamadi, K, Taherpour, K, Ghasemi, H. A, Fatahnia, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abdominal fat; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; blood; blood parameters; body weight; broiler chickens; broilers performance; bursa of Fabricius; carcass characteristics; carcass traits; Chickens - blood; Chickens - growth & development; cholesterol; cumin; Cuminum; Cuminum cyminum; Diet; erythrocyte count; experimental diets; feed conversion; feed intake; growth performance; hematology; hemoglobin; Male; Nigella sativa; Orthomyxoviridae; prebiotic; Prebiotics; probiotic; Probiotics; Seeds; spice additives; stocking rate
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12115

A 42‐day trial was conducted to compare the effects of the following seven experimental diets, which varied in black seed, cumin seed, probiotic or prebiotic concentrations, on the broiler chicks: control (no additives), diet BS₁ (4 g/kg black seed), diet BS₂ (8 g/kg black seed), diet CS₁ (4 g/kg cumin seed), diet CS₂ (8 g/kg cumin seed), diet Pro (1 g/kg probiotic Primalac®) and diet Pre (2 g/kg prebiotic Fermacto®). A total of 420 1‐day‐old male broiler chicks, initially weighing an average of 43 g, were distributed into 28 floor pens at a stocking density of 15 birds per pen. At 28 day of age, the body weight in the birds fed diets BS₂, CS₂ and Pro was significantly higher than in the control group, but final body weight was not affected. Additionally, the birds fed diets BS₂, Pro and Pre exhibited better feed conversion ratio than control birds from 0 to 42 day of age. Diets BS₂, CS₂ and Pro also statistically increased the relative weight of thymus and bursa of Fabricius, whereas only diet Pro decreased the abdominal fat percentage compared with control diet. Regarding the haematological parameters, feeding diet BS₂ yielded a significant increase in red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit percentage compared with control diet. Serum total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the birds fed diets BS₂, Pro and Pre were also significantly lower than in the birds fed the control diet. Without exception, no diets affected feed intake, internal organs weights, carcass characteristics, antibody titres against Newcastle and influenza viruses and leucocyte subsets. In general, current study showed promising results regarding the use of spice additives as growth and health promoters, especially at higher levels of their incorporation in the diets, which were comparable to the probiotic‐ or prebiotic‐containing diets.