نوع مقاله : بهداشت خوراک دام، طیور و آبزیان
نویسندگان
1 دانش آموخته دکتری دامپزشکی، دانشکده دامپزشکی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی،تهران، ایران
2 استادیار، گروه تغذیه، دانشکده دامپزشکی، واحد بابل، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بابل، ایران
3 استادیار، گروه میکروبیولوژی، دانشکده دامپزشکی، واحد بابل، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بابل، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Abstract
Background: Growth-promoting additives for poultry are diverse. Currently, the role of medicinal plants in stimulating poultry growth is emphasized.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Echinacea purpurea and a multi-strain probiotic on improving growth performance and some vital indices of Japanese quail.
Methods: Three hundred and twentyone-day-old Japanese quail chicks were studied in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments (4 replicates and 20 chicks per replicate) from 1 to 35 days of age. The experimental treatments included: 1) Control (basal diet - without feed additives), 2) Basal diet with Echinacea, 3) Basal diet with probiotic, and 4) Basal diet with Echinacea and probiotic.
Results: The effect of experimental treatments on growth performance was significant in the first week of rearing (P<0.05). The highest growth rate and best feed conversion ratio were observed in the treatments containing Echinacea and probiotic (Group 4). The effect of experimental treatments on feed intake was not significant. Although the relative weights of carcass, heart, liver, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius were not affected by the experimental treatments, testes weight significantly increased in groups 2 and 4 at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). Blood triglyceride concentration was lower in the control group than in other experimental groups (P<0.05). The difference in cholesterol, albumin, total protein concentrations, as well as liver enzymes including alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, was not significant among the experimental groups. Villi length and surface area were higher in the probiotic-receiving groups than in other experimental groups (P<0.05). The effect of experimental treatments on the population of aerobic bacteria and lactobacilli was not significant. However, the lowest mean total coliform population was observed in Group 4 (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of 1% Echinacea purpurea leaf powder in the diet along with a multi-strain probiotic leads to improved growth performance, reduced intestinal coliforms, and increased testes growth in Japanese quail chicks.
Keywords: Probiotic, Echinacea, Quail, Growth, Testis
کلیدواژهها [English]