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This study was conducted to evaluate the potential growth and health promotion of Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) and Cinnamomum verum bark (CVB) supplementation as phytogenic growth promoters on broilers. For 34 days, 540 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to nine groups. Birds were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1, 3, or 5 g/kg RNL, 2, 4, or 6 g/kg CVB. In addition, birds were fed the basal diet complemented with antibiotic (AGP), or basal diet without feed additive as controls. All bird vaccinated for IBV, IBDV, and NDV except negative control (NC). The selected indicators were measured and analysed. Broilers given 1 g RNL were numerically heavier at 34 days and gained more to a degree comparable to the AGP group (p =.053). The addition of CVB at 2 g resulted in the best-feed conversion up to 21 d (p =.04). Throughout the study, dietary treatments had no impact on feed intake. Except for ALT, none of the immune-related parameters or serum biochemical profile differed statistically between treatments when compared to vaccinated control group. When comparing the non-vaccinated un-treated group on day 34, vaccination increased significantly antibody titres to NDV and IBDV. In conclusion, dietary RNL and CVB, especially at low doses, attempted to maximise the performance without compromising health in broiler chickens under typical conditions. Further research into the use of natural herbs under challenging conditions is required to maximise performance, maintain animal productivity, and achieve the ultimate goal of reducing antibiotic use in the poultry industry. Cinnamomum verum bark at a dose of 2 g/kg diet improved feed conversion ratio during the starter period. However, both selected herbs result unsatisfactory improvements in broiler performance at overall period under the ideal hygienic conditions. If broilers are exposed to bacterial challenges, phytogenic feed additives or even antibiotics may manifest their activity in promoting animal health and, as a result, growth performance. Low levels of hepatic enzymes at day 34 of age showed that birds' health was good. Cinnamon powder improves kidney function at day 21 by lowering serum creatinine levels with increasing dose (p <.05). Rumex nervosus leaves or Cinnamomum verum bark have hypoglycaemia activity on day 31 by lowering serum glucose levels as the dose is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) and Cinnamomum verum bark (CNB), phytogenic herbs, have received much attention in recent years for their antimicrobial properties; however, there is limited knowledge about their potential anticoccidial functions. The prophylactic effects of RNL and CNB were compared with salinomycin, a standard synthetic anticoccidial agent, in broilers experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella). One-day-old broiler chicks (n = 225) were randomly divided into nine groups. Birds were either fed a basal diet containing 1, 3, or 5 g RNL or 2, 4, or 6 g CNB/kg feed, or treated with salinomycin within the basal diet, or the infected (IUT) or non-infected (UUT) groups were fed a basal diet only. Birds infected (n = 25 bird/group) with 40,000 sporulated E. tenella oocysts/bird at d 21 except UUT. Bodweight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p <.05) lower in IUT compared to UUT. On day 7 post-infection (DPI), birds treated with RNL, CNB, or salinomycin had fewer lesions in the caeca and a lower oocyst value, and a higher oocyst reduction rate in the faeces than birds in the IUT. Although RNL was not able to reduce weight loss caused by coccidiosis, CNB at 6 g improved FCR and production efficiency index (PEI) at 7 DPI compared to the infected groups. In conclusion, RNL at 5 g and CNB at 6 g have moderate anti-coccidial activity and could be used to treat poultry coccidiosis in the field. However, more research is needed to identify active ingredients that make it effective compared to commercially available drugs. Phytogenic feed additives prevented weight loss and caecum pathology in broiler chickens at risk of coccidiosis. Rumex nervosus leaves and Cinnamomum verum bark had similar effects to the coccidiostat salinomycin at high doses. Traditional medicinal plants are potential alternatives to pharmaceutical coccidiostats to promote the health and growth of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcass characteristics, product quality, and the conversion of feed into meat with higher performance and feasibility are important determinants of the profitability and sustainability of any poultry enterprise. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effect of Rumex nervosus leaf powder (RNLP) on carcass composition, small intestine dimensions, breast color quality, and economic feasibility of Ross broiler chickens. A total of 122 broilers were randomly distributed evenly among 4 treatments (0, 1, 3, and 5 g RNLP/ kg diet, n = 5 replicates per treatment, with 6 broilers per replicate: 3 ♀ and 3 ♂). Performance and economic data were collected in each replicate during the experiment. One male bird from each replication was examined for other criteria on d 34. Results showed that broilers fed 3 g of RNLP had a higher eviscerated carcass weight and dressing percentage (P < 0.05) than the control. The RNLP-fed broilers had higher weights and thicknesses in the duodenum and jejunum of up to 5 g and in the ileum and overall small intestine of up to 3 g. Broilers fed the lowest levels of RNLP had the highest revenue and net gain and the lowest cost–benefit ratio compared with those fed the highest levels of RNLP. The results indicate that the addition of RNLP has a positive effect on carcass processing, the intestinal measurements, and profitability ratios of the broilers. The 1 g RNLP/kg feed is the recommended dose to increase productivity and economic profitability ratios per kilogram of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Recent research has demonstrated the beneficial effects associated with the addition of Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) to the diet of broiler chickens. Coccidiosis, a disease caused by Eimeria, causes great economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide due to its prevalence and associated management issues. There has been some evidence that RNL can be fed to broiler chicks to prevent infections of the protozoa Eimeria tenella; however, there is no or insufficient evidence on the effects of RNL on growth performance and meat quality of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of RNL on performance indices, carcass traits, and meat quality of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella-fed diets supplemented with RNL as a natural anticoccidial drug replacement. RNL had a positive effect on performance indices, meat quality, and some carcass traits in broilers infected with Eimeria tenella, according to the findings. Furthermore, 1 g of RNL led to a better quality of meat than other RNL doses concerning enhanced holding capacity of water, drip loss, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), springiness, and tenderness. At higher doses (3 g of RNL), there was a noticeable decrease in the meat's final pH, MFI, and springiness. This work aimed to assess the effect of using the RNL on performance indices, carcass trait, and meat quality of broiler chicken infected with Eimeria tenella compared with commercially used anticoccidials salinomycin. Moreover, we compare these selected variables between infected medicated groups and a non-infected unmedicated group (UUT) and an infected unmedicated group (IUT). A total of 150 1-day-old Ross 308 mixed-sex broilers were divided into 6 groups. Birds in groups 1, 2, and 3 were fed basic diets supplemented with 1, 3, and 5 g of RNL/kg diet, respectively. Group 4 received a basic diet with 66 mg of salinomycin. The control groups (5 and 6) were given a basic diet with no RNL or salinomycin added. All groups except the negative controls were challenged with Eimeria tenella at 21 days old. Birds in RNL groups outperformed those in the IUT group in performance indices, and they have a similar effect to the salinomycin group. Enhancement-infected birds with RNL affected some chickens' carcass traits. Drip loss, water-holding capacity, and meat tenderness were improved by RNL inclusion (1 g) in the diet. In conclusion, the meat of infected birds receiving 1 g RNL had increased quality attributes, with preferable tenderness and springiness when compared to the IUT group. RNL could therefore also be considered a promising non-conventional feed source in the future. Further research is needed to optimize the use of RNL to improve broilers production and meat quality in both infected and non-infected conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Eimeria tenella pathogens belong to the Eimeriidae family and the Apicomplexa phylum, which invades the cecal epithelium of birds, resulting in massive injury and economic loss. We evaluated the ameliorative effect of Rumex nervosus (RN) leaf powder against E. tenella-induced coccidiosis in broiler chickens. Chickens infected with E. tenella were treated with 1, 3, and 5 g/kg RN, respectively. Salinomycin sodium (Sacox®), an anti-coccidial agent, was used as a reference drug. Results have shown that RN contains Gallic acid and 13 phytochemicals, which require further investigation in vitro or in vivo to ascertain whether the anti-coccidial activity, if there, is a direct or indirect link to reduce the number of fecal oocysts in the bird. The lesion score and bloody diarrhea were also decreased after infection. Moreover, the coccidial challenge adversely affected (p < 0.05) the performance measurements in the RN- and Sacox-treated groups compared with the uninfected–unmedicated control (NC) group. Interestingly, these parameters were positively affected by natural and synthetic treatments compared with infected–unmedicated control (PC); however, the values were not significant. In conclusion, RN at the highest dose is a promising shrub with a moderate anti-coccidial activity when used to cure avian coccidiosis. Coccidiosis a huge economic burden in poultry farms where the pathogen Eimeria harms animal well-being and survival. Besides synthetic anti-coccidial drugs, natural herbs appear to be an alternative way to prevent avian coccidiosis. Rumex nervosus (RN), a phytogenic shrub, has received considerable attention in recent years due to its significant anti-microbial effects; however, limited knowledge exists about its potential anti-coccidial functions. This study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic activities of RN leaf powder in broilers infected with Eimeria tenella. Infected chickens received a commercial diet containing 1, 3, or 5 g RN powder/kg diet compared to infected broilers that treated with Sacox (PC) or compared to uninfected broilers that received a commercial diet alone (NC). Results showed that RN powder significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the lesion scores and suppressed the output of oocysts per gram (OPG) in chickens' feces. Although RN was unable to minimize the weight gain loss due to emeriosis, RN at level 1 g improved the feed conversion ratio. Therefore, RN powder, at 5 g, possesses moderate anti-coccidial effects and hence could be used to treat avian coccidiosis in field conditions; however, further studies are required to investigate, in vitro or in vivo, the anti-coccidial potential of active ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]