Abstract
Present experiment was performed to study the effects of Echinacea purpurea (EP) and Nigella sativa (NS) on broiler performance, carcass and meat quality. Four treatment combinations were prepared: C control group without any feed or water additive; E drinking water intermittently supplemented with fermented juice of EP; N feed supplemented with grounded seeds of NS, and EN drinking water intermittently supplemented with EP and feed supplemented with NS. No significant treatment effect was observed on weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and abdominal fat percentage. Carcass yield in C and N groups was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in E. Significantly (P<0.05) higher breast percentage in group N was observed. Crude protein contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in meat samples of C and EN groups. Grill losses were significantly (P<0.05) lower in E and cooking losses were significantly (P<0.05) higher in N treated birds. No significant treatment effect was observed on meat colour, electrical conductivity and shear force value.
Highlights
A number of experiments conducted to find alternative to antibiotics revealed that no single alternative exists with the effects comparable to antibiotics (Nasir and ECHINACEA PURPUREA AND NIGELLA SATIVA FOR BROILERSGrashorn, 2006)
Phytogenic compounds are the groups of feed additives that have been reported to possess a potential for growth enhancement of livestock species due to presence of a number of pharmacologically active substances
Weights of the dead and culled birds were used for calculation of corrected feed conversion ratio (FCR - kg feed consumed per kg of liveweight gain)
Summary
A number of experiments conducted to find alternative to antibiotics revealed that no single alternative exists with the effects comparable to antibiotics (Nasir and ECHINACEA PURPUREA AND NIGELLA SATIVA FOR BROILERSGrashorn, 2006). Phytogenic compounds are the groups of feed additives that have been reported to possess a potential for growth enhancement of livestock species due to presence of a number of pharmacologically active substances. They are supposed to enhance feed intake, activate digestive enzymes and stimulate immune function (Lee et al, 2003). Family Asteraceae (EP) and Nigella sativa, family Ranunculaceae (NS) belong to the class of phytogenic immunostimulants that help in establishment and strengthening of para-immunity (Akhtar et al, 2003; Nasir and Grashorn, 2006, 2009). Echinacea is a popular herbal immune-stimulator in North America and Europe, while NS has been used traditionally in Mediterranean and South Asian countries for its beneficial effects on immune system and as natural remedy, both in humans and animals
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