Drinking water supplementation of licorice and aloe vera extracts in broiler chickens

This study was carried out to determine the effect of supplementation of licorice and aloe vera extracts in drinking water on carcass characteristics, some serum parameters, and broiler chicken performance. A total of 150 unsexed 1-day-old broiler chicken (Ross 308) was randomly divided to 5 treatments with 3 replications of set 10 chickens in each. Treatments were included of control (T1) and the inclusion of 0.2 and 0.4% of A. vera (T2 and T3, respectively) and the inclusion of 0.2 and 0.4% licorice (T4 and T5, respectively) extracts in drinking water. The results indicated that T3 and T5 caused a significantly increases in feed intake at 21 and 42 days of age and feed conversion ratio at 21 days of age (P<0.05). The greatest body weight gain was found by T3 at 42 days of age (P<0.05). The highest relative thighs weight was obtained by T5 at 21 days of age (P<0.05). All treatments led to significantly reduction in relative abdominal fat weights at 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). The plasma level of high density lipoprotein was significantly increased by T3 and T5 at 21 days of age (P<0.05). The lowest level of alanine aminotransferase was attained by T5 rather other treatments at 21 days of age (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in most measured parameters at 42 days of age. The results have indicated that the inclusion of licorice and A. vera extracts at the levels of 0.4% in drinking water have positive effects on broiler chicken performance. The used medicinal plant extracts reduce abdominal fat accumulation. Moreover, the potential of licorice and A. vera extracts as feed additive was approved in the current study and can safety use in broiler chicken production.

کلیدواژه ها:

Aloe vera ، Licorice ، Broiler performance