Abstract:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of fenugreek seeds as natural feed additive in broiler diets. A total of 160 unsexed one-day Ross chicks were used in this study, the broiler chicks were divided randomly into four experimental groups, each experimental group included 40 chicks in four replicates (10chicks/replicate). The first experimental group represent the control and fed basal diet, while the other groups (from 2 to 4 received the basal diets) supplemented with fenugreek at 0.5% ,1.0% and 1.5% of diet respectively. The experimental groups were nearly equal in the live body weight at the start of the experiment. The experiment was extended up to 6 weeks of age. The results showed that the:-Live body weight at 6 weeks old, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were significantly improved for chicks fed diets supplemented at o.5% or 1.5% as compared to control diet. -Higher values were obtained in average feed consumption for the groups fed with 1.5% while the lower values were recorded in groups fed diets with 0.5% and 1.0% during whole experimental period. Significant improvements in efficiency of energy utilization values in average feed consumption were recorded for the groups fed diets with o.5 and 1.5% during the experiment period.
