Background and Aim: In recent decades, the use of various feed supplements is the current trend in poultry farming, among which phytogenics serve as alternatives to feed antibiotics. This study aimed to examine the effect of feeding various doses of milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum) on the morphological and biochemical parameters of the blood in broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: Experiments were carried out in an industrial poultry farm on broiler chickens of the Hubbard ISA F15 cross for 40 days. One control group and five experimental groups of day-old chickens were formed. The number of birds in each group was 50. Broilers of all groups received complete feed, and the experimental groups received an additional milk thistle extract at doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg of body weight. Milk thistle medicinal plant extract was obtained using water-ethanol extraction followed by low-temperature vacuum drying. For the assessment of blood analyses, samples were collected from the wing vein of six chickens per group. Using unified methods recommended by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, the content of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, total protein, protein fractions, triglycerides, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, and the concentration of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the blood serum were determined. Results: It was found that the introduction of milk thistle extract into the diet of broiler chickens with the aforementioned doses increased the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells in the blood, as well as a decrease in the level of albumin and an increase in the content of γ-globulins in its serum. Conclusion: The authors assume that the introduction of milk thistle extract into a complete feed for broiler chickens increased the anabolic processes in their bodies, accompanied by increased use of proteins of the albumin fraction as the main material for organogenesis.

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The paper demonstrates the results on the effect of new specimen Vetom 20.76 on concentration of leukocytes in the blood of geese on the basis of the predatory fungus Artusbotus oligospora. In order to achieve the goal of the experiment, one control group and six experimental groups were arranged on the principle of paired analogues. Each group contained 10 geese aged 1 month. The geese from the experimental groups received Vetom 20.76 in different doses in the morning with water once a day: the geese of the 1st experimental group - dose of 0.5 ppm/kg of live weight during 15 days; 2nd experimental group - 1 ppm/kg of live weight during 15 days; 3rd experimental group - 2 ppm/kg of live weight during 15 days, 4th experimental group - 0.5 ppm/kg live weight during 30 days, 5th experimental group - 1 ppm/kg live weight during 30 days and 6th - 2 ppm/kg live weight during 30 days. The geese of control group didn’t receive the specimen. The concentration of leukocytes in the blood of experimental geese increases in the period of specimen application as well as in the period of its aftereffect. If Vetom 20.76 is prescribed for 15 days, the effect of leukopoiesis stimulation finishes on the 30th day. If the specimen is applied during 30 days, the leukocytes in the blood continue to increase up to the 60th day. This long-term application of Vetom 20.76 dosed 0.5ppm/kg increases leucocytes within the physiological norm. Application of higher doses (1 and 2 ppm/kg) the leukocyte concentration conforms to the physiological norm