Effect of water supplemented with a herbal based product on the internal organs of broiler chickens

Abstract

We analyzed the effect of a herbal (phytoncides) supplement on the morphology of internal organs and intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens. The study was conducted on 60 birds divided into 3 groups (n = 20): one control and two experimental. Starting at 3 weeks of age, chickens from the experimental groups were given water with the addition of a preparation based on concentrated natural components in two doses: 1 and 2 ml/l. Group 1 was given the supplement twice for 3 and 5 days, and group 2 once for 3 days. After slaughter at the age of 40 days, the proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, liver, spleen, kidneys, bursa of Fabricius (BF), lungs, and pectoral muscles were sampled for histological analyses. Additionally, villi height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were measured. The results did not show statistically significant differences between the groups in the number of histological lesions in the organs and tissues sampled. Morphometric evaluation showed statistically significant differences between the groups (p < 0.05) for VH and CD in the duodenum and ileum.