Effect of inclusion of Shirazi thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss) aqueous extract in drinking water on performance and immune responses of broilers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Former Graduate Student, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan

2 Associated Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of0 (control), 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 ml/L of Shirazi thyme aqueous extract in drinking water on performance and immune response in broilers. Two hundred one- day- old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to five treatments with four replicates and 10 birds per cage in a completely randomized design. Daily feed intake, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured. The birds were chalenged by sheep red blood cell (SRBC) on days 8 and 22 of age and serum antibody levels produced in response to SRBC were measured on days 21, 28, 35 and 42. Skin response to Phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) injection was assessed intradermally on day 16. The Shirazi thyme aqueous extract had no effect on feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass traits. The consumption of 2 ml/L Shirazi thyme aqueous extract in drinking water increased total Anti-SRBC and IgM titers on day 21; 1 and 1.5 ml/L increased IgM titer on day 28; 0.5, 1.5 and 2 ml/L increased total Anti-SRBC and IgG titers on day 35 and 1.5 and 2 ml/L increased IgG titer on day 42 (P<0.05). Cell immunity in response to PHA-P injection was not affected by treatment groups. It can be concluded that Zataria multifora Boiss have no effects on performance and cell immunity but improve humoral immunity in broilers.

Keywords


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