Improvement of Growth performance, Biochemical Blood Profiles, and Meat Peroxidation by the Inclusion of Mustard Seed Extract in Broilers’ Drinking Water

Growth promoters are used in the broiler industry of Iraq, and herbal plants are believed to be one of the safest growth-promoting agents in modern poultry production. This study aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous mustard (Brassica juncea) seed (MS) extract on broiler production. A total of ۱۶۰ unsexed day-old Ross ۳۰۸ broiler chicks were selected and exposed to different doses of MS included in drinking water for six weeks. Afterward, MS was added to the treatment groups of T۱ (control), T۲, T۳, and T۴ in the dosage of ۰mL, ۳mL, ۵ mL, and ۷ mL per liter of drinking water, respectively. Results indicated that the birds that were given extract (T۲, T۳, T۴) for the three weeks were fed significantly more diet, compared to the control treatment group (۱۸۹.۴ g vs. ۱۵۹.۶g) (P<۰.۰۵). Accordingly, the Body Weight (BW) of these birds recorded on days ۲۸ (۱۲۳۲, ۱۲۵۲, ۱۳۰۰g) and ۳۵ (۱۸۴۰, ۱۹۰۰, ۱۹۶۰g) were significantly higher, compared to the birds in the control treatment on days ۲۸ (۱۱۴۷g) and ۳۵ (۱۶۵۷g), respectively. On days ۲۸ and ۳۵, the birds in T۲, T۳, T۴ treatment groups had significantly higher Body Weight Gain (BWG) (P<۰.۰۵), compared to the control group (G۱). Improved Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was observed in the ۵th week for the birds that were administrated MS extract (۵ and ۷mL /liter), compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۵). The total serum level of protein, phosphorus, and calcium was increased in birds in the treatment group T۴ (۷.۵ g/dL). Moreover, lower cholesterol values and higher values of alkaline phosphatase were obtained in birds in the treatment groups T۲, T ۳, and T۴ (P<۰.۰۵). On day ۳۵, higher meat peroxidation was observed in the fresh samples (after ۲۴ h of slaughtering) of birds receiving different levels of MS extract, compared to the birds in the control group. The obtained results revealed that ۵-۷ mL of MS extract can be considered a functional growth- promoter for commercial broilers, although further studies are needed to confirm MS as a growth promoter.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mustard seeds ، Growth performance ، metabolism