Growth performance, Carcass Characteristics , Economic Efficiency and blood Biochemical of broiler chicks fed different levels of Wild Mint (Mentha longifolia) and Sage (Salvia officinalis) plants

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the performance of broilers fed diets supplemented with dry wild mint (Mentha longifolia) and sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves and which are among the alternative growth promoters. A total number of 315 unsexed broilers seven-day old (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to seven treatments with three replicates. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet as control (T1), 10 (T2), 20 (T3) and 30 (T4) g/kg wild mint, 10 (T5), 20 (T6) and 30 (T7) g/kg sage added to the basal diet. The results showed birds fed on diet with 20 g/kg wild mint leaf powder significantly had (P≤0.05) the best body weight and FCR as compared to the group fed on 20 and 30 g/kg of sage without any significant effects compared with the other groups. Birds fed on control groups consumed higher (P≤0.05) feed intake compared with the other treatments. Supplemented broiler diets with 20 g/kg wild mint significantly increased slaughter, carcass, gizzard, liver, leg, giblet and total giblet weight compared with chicks fed on diet supplemented with either 20 or 30 g/kg sage without any significant with the rest group. Not significant affected were observed on heart, head, gut and lung weight due to the treatments. Birds fed in diet supplemented with 20 g/kg wild mint had the highest values of net revenue and economic efficiency compared with the control group . Blood biochemical parameters including serum protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, and glucose concentrations were not statistically (P>0.05) influenced among all treatments.