ISSN 2756-3375
African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Efficiency of different levels of Satureja hortensis L. (Savory) in comparison with an antibiotic growth promoter
Gholamreza Ghalamkari1*, Majid Toghyani1, Ehsan Tavalaeian1, Nasir Landy3, Zahra Ghalamkari4 and Hadi Radnezhad2
1Department of Animal Science, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2Department of Environmental Science, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
3Young Researchers Club, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
4Science Faculty, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
Accepted 22 October, 2019
Abstract
This study was conducted to examine the effects of different levels of Satureja hortensis L. (Savory) in comparison with an antibiotic growth promoter (flavophospholipol) on performance, carcass characteristics, immune responses and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chicks. In this study, 240 one-day-old mixed sex broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed and randomly allocated to the 4 treatment groups, each with 4 replicates and with 15 broilers in each replicate. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet (control), antibiotic group receiving 4.5 mg/kg flavophospholipol, and 5 and 10 g/kg savory powder added to the basal diet. Performance parameters were measured in the growth periods. At day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered for the determination of carcass traits. Antibody titers against newcastle, influenza viruses and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were determined. At day 42, biochemical parameters such as albumin, protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of cholesterol were determined. The results show that supplementing 5 g/kg savory improved body weight of broilers at days 14, 28 and 42 but differences did not show statistical significance. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) index were not markedly affected by dietary treatments. Internal organ weights and carcass characteristics were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments at day 42. The use of 5 g/kg savory powder led to the highest antibody titers against SRBC as compared to other groups (P<0.05). The serum biochemical parameters were not affected by dietary treatments. The results suggest that dietary inclusion of 5 g/kg savory can be applied as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics for broiler diets.
Key words: Broiler, growth performance, immunity, Satureja hortensis L., biochemical parameters.