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Given the currently increased focus of researchers on applications of medicinal herbs as a natural additives to animal and poultry feed for enhanced performance of the immune system, the present study aims to examine effects of peppermint, Aloe vera, and Vitamin E on immune response in broilers. In this experiment, three hundred one-day old male broilers (Ross 308) were used on a completely randomized design in 4 groups with 5 replicates, each consisting of 15 broilers. The experimental groups included the control group (basal diet with no additive), a group that received 10 g/kg dry peppermint leaves (added to basal diet), a group given 10 g/kg Aloe vera gel (added to basal diet), and a group treated with 100 mg/kg Vitamin E. Evaluation of antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus indicated that on day 27, the highest level of antibody titer was observed in the Vitamin E group, showing a significant difference from other groups (P<0.05) except for the group that received the dry peppermint leaves. On day 37, the highest level of antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus was found in the Vitamin E group with a significant difference compared to the herb groups (the groups that received dry peppermint leaves and Aloe vera gel) as well as the control group (P<0.05). On the other hand, on days 27 and 37, the groups that received dry peppermint leaves and Aloe vera gel showed significant increase in their antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus compared to the control group (P<0.05). The results after injection of phytohemagglutinin-P on day 40 demonstrated that broilers in the Aloe vera gel group and those belonging to the dry peppermint leaves group significantly enhanced their response to phytohemagglutinin-P solution compared to the control group and to the broilers that were given Vitamin E (P<0.05). On day 42, a significant increase was observed in total white blood cell counts of broilers in the Aloe vera gel group and the dry peppermint leaves group compared to the control broilers, although the largest number of white blood cell was found in the broilers that received Vitamin E (p<0.05). In general, our results showed that supplementation of broiler feed with either dry peppermint leaves or Aloe vera gel enhances immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trial was conducted to study the effects of the aromatic plant thyme, a commercial probiotic (Protexin) and avilamycin on broiler performance, blood biochemical parameters and also the antibody response to sheep red blood cells. A total of 750 broilers were assigned into five replicate groups for each of five dietary treatments, namely; control (C), 2.5 mg/kg avilamycin (AB), 0.1 g/kg commercial probiotic (P), 5 g/kg ground thyme (T1), and 7.5 g/kg ground thyme (T2). In general, body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were not affected by dietary treatments compared to the control birds (P>0.05). Birds fed the P supplemented treatment had the greatest serum protein levels (P<0.001) and highest albumin levels (P<0.001) when compared with control birds, while the birds fed T2 had the lowest (P<0.001). Dietary supplementation reduced (P<0.001) cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum of broilers, with the effect were more noticeable by P supplements. Moreover, blood calcium and phosphorus concentrations were higher (P<0.001) in birds fed the P-supplemented diet compared to the birds fed the control diets. This study suggests that probiotic supplementation in particular, and to an intermediate extent ground thyme supplementation in diets of broiler, resulted in chicks with favorably improved blood biochemical parameters and mineral utilization, compared to the birds fed diets supplemented with avilamycin or without any supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to estimate the requirement for digestible lysine for broilers from 35 to 49 days of age. Two hundred and forty chicks with a mean weight of 44±1 g were used in a completely randomized design, made up of male and female chicks and 6 digestible lysine levels. Experimental diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Fitted broken lines on different responses indicated break points at 0.93, 0.93 (for body weight), 0.98, and 0.92 for feed conversion ratio for male and female, respectively. The results showed that the digestible lysine requirement of male broilers for maximum breast yield percentage, plasma free lysine and antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus exceeded the range of lysine levels tested. Dietary lysine had a significant effect in increasing the plasma free lysine, albumin, total protein, immunoglobulin, antibody titer against sheep red blood cell, Newcastle disease virus and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio. In conclusion, lysine requirements of broilers for performance were lower than breast yield percentage and immune responses. Broken-line analysis showed that the concentrations of plasma free lysine were useful physiological indicators for determining the digestible lysine requirement of male and female broilers. Our results suggest that the estimated requirements based on exponential response curves were higher than estimated requirements obtained using a broken-line model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to analyze the effects of different levels of Aloe vera gel as an alternative to antibiotic, on performance and ileum morphology in broilers. Three hundred one-day old Ross 308 male broilers were used on a completely randomized design in 5 groups with 4 replicates, each consisting of 15 broilers. The groups included the control group (basal diet) and three groups with basal diet mixed with different levels of Aloe vera gel (1.5%, 2% and 2.5%). Finally, there was a group with basal diet plus 15 ppm antibiotic virginiamycin. The results obtained regarding performance of the broilers showed that Aloe vera gel groups brought about higher body weight gain and feed intake compared to the control group; however, no significant difference was observed in feed conversion ratio between the groups treated by Aloe vera gel and the control group (P>0.05). Although the antibiotic group showed better performance and heavier dressing percentage than the Aloe vera gel and the control groups, no significant difference was seen between the group treated by 2% Aloe vera gel and the antibiotic group regarding body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage (P>0.05). Among the Aloe vera gel groups, the 2% Aloe vera gel group had the largest villus height and the greatest villus height to crypt depth ratio compared to the antibiotic group (P<0.05). In general, 2% Aloe vera gel treatment may be recommended to achieve the best performance in broilers as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]