EFFECT OF USING FENUGREEK SEEDS POWDER AS A FEED ADDITIVE IN BROILER CHICKS DIET ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SOME METABOLIC RESPONSES

Abstract

This work was carried out to research the impact on growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, some blood constituents and economic efficiency of the use of different levels of fenugreek seed powder (FSP) in growing Sasso chicks diet as a natural feed additive. A total of 120 unsexed Sasso broiler chicks, aged one day were divided into four care groups. There were three replicas of 10 birds each in each group. The 1st group was fed a control diet, while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were fed a control diet plus 0.5 %, 1.0 % and 1.5% powder of fenugreek seeds. In order to estimate certain biochemical parameters, a digestibility trail was carried out and blood samples were taken. Economic efficiency was measured for the different levels of fenugreek seeds used in the diet of Sasso broiler chicks. The obtained results showed that the use of 1% fenugreek seed powder in the diet of Sasso broiler chicks significantly enhanced live body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion, crude protein digestibility, dressing percentage, blood serum total protein and cholesterol. Moreover, birds fed a diet supplemented by 1.0% fenugreek seed powder, the highest values of economic efficiency and relative economic efficiency were reported.