Drinking water supplementation of licorice and aloe vera extracts in broiler chickens

Abstract

This study was carriedout to determine the effect of supplementation of licorice and aloe veraextracts in drinking water on carcass characteristics, some serum parameters,and broiler chicken performance. A total of 150 unsexed 1-day-old broilerchicken (Ross 308) was randomly divided to 5 treatments with 3 replications ofset 10 chickens in each. Treatments were included of control (T1) and theinclusion of 0.2 and 0.4% of A. vera (T2 and T3, respectively) and theinclusion of 0.2 and 0.4% licorice (T4 and T5, respectively) extracts indrinking water. The results indicated that T3 and T5 caused a significantlyincreases in feed intake at 21 and 42 days of age and feed conversion ratio at21 days of age (P<0.05). The greatest body weight gain was found by T3 at 42days of age (P<0.05). The highest relative thighs weight was obtained by T5at 21 days of age (P<0.05). All treatments led to significantly reduction inrelative abdominal fat weights at 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). The plasmalevel of high density lipoprotein was significantly increased by T3 and T5 at21 days of age (P<0.05). The lowest level of alanine aminotransferase wasattained by T5 rather other treatments at 21 days of age (P<0.05). Nosignificant differences were observed in most measured parameters at 42 days ofage. The results have indicated that the inclusion of licorice and A. veraextracts at the levels of 0.4% in drinking water have positive effects onbroiler chicken performance. The used medicinal plant extracts reduce abdominalfat accumulation. Moreover, the potential of licorice and A. vera extracts asfeed additive was approved in the current study and can safety use in broilerchicken production.