Impact of Adding Aqueous Extract of Mentha Pulegium and Lemon and its Mixture to Drinking Water on some Growth Performance and Intestine Organs of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

The research was conducted to detect some of growth and gastrointestinal performance of broiler chickens fed with aqueous extract of mentha pulegium or lemon, which are alternative growth stimulants. In the study 324 day-old chicks (Ross 308) were used. There were 4 feed treatments each consisting of 3 replicates (27 chicks per iteration). The control group ( C ) was fed on basal diet without adding, while the other three groups were fed on basic ration with the addition of (0.5%) aqueous extract of mentha pulegium (AEM) and (0.5%) aqueous extract of lemon (AEL) and (0.2.5%) aqueous extract of mentha pulegium plus (0.2.5%) aqueous extract of lemon (AEM+AEL) in drinking water, respectively. Feed intake and body weight were measured every week. At the age of 35 days, four birds were slaughtered for each replicate, the relative weights of edible internal organs, intestines, relative length of intestines and abdominal fat were calculated. Results showed that from 1 to 35 days of age, body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion coefficient were higher (p < 0.05) in broiler chickens fed on the aqueous extract of mentha pulegium compared to the control. Lemon treatment and the mix has no obvious effect on productive characteristics compared to control group. The prorated weights of internal organs (edible), intestines and the prorated length of the intestines were impacted by the contents of mentha pulegium. The use of mentha pulegium and lemon alone or in combination reduces the weight of abdominal fat compared to the control group. Thus, mentha pulegium and lemon have an extensive range of investigation and future studies and need to take advantage of their potential benefits in order to develop animal production, particular the poultry industry.