Abstract:
The usage of antibiotics as growth promoter was banned, so, the researchers
included essential oils in the poultry diets as alternatives to antibiotics, in order to
enhance productivity by improvement of digestibility, nutrients absorption.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum )used as culinary spice, this is experiment
was conducted to establish the effects of fenugreek essential oil on the
performance and some carcass traits of broiler chicks.
A total of 64 , day– old chicks were randomly divided into three experimental
groups, each group was further subdivided into three replicates of seven chicks per
each. Chicks were fed on two levels of fenugreek essential oil (FEO)
(0.0, 2.0% and 3.0 %) for a period of six weeks. Diets were iso- nitrogenous and
iso- caloric (3100kCal/kg diet), experimental parameters covered growth
performance, giblets percentage and serum analysis.
The results showed that group of chicks fed on 2% FEO recorded significantly the
highest values for feed intake and body weight gain compared to control group and
without any significant affect on feed conversion ratio (FCR). Also result revealed
no significant difference for non-carcass components between tested groups.
The results indicated that there were no significant differences among treated
groups in internal organs, commercial cuts and their separable tissues and the
subjective of meat quality parameters. The results of serum metabolites showed
that inclusion of FEO at different levels significantly reduced the total protein,
cholesterol and uric acid. However, the treatments did not affect significantly on
electrolytes and enzymes (SGOT and SGPI) activities compared to control group.
A according to the results obtained from this study, FEO can be used as a good
alternative natural growth promoter in broiler diets.
