Effect of Adding Different Levels of Portulaca oleracea L. Seeds and Leaves Powder to The Diet on Productive and Physiological Performance of Broiler Chickens (Ross 308)

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Poultry Field of the College of Agriculture, Basrah University for the period from 20/9/2019 to 24/10/2019 to investigate the effect of adding different levels of Portulaca oleracea L. seeds and leaves powder on some physiological characteristics of broilers. A total 216 one day old unsexed Ross-308 broiler chicks were used in this study. The chicks were randomly distributed into six treatments replicated three times (12 chicks each replicate). The experiment was designed as a completely randomized design (CRD). The first treatment was control (basal diet), P. oleracea seed powder was added as 5 & 10 g.kg-1 for the 2nd and 3rd treatments. Leaves powder was added as 5 and 10 g.kg-1 to the basal diet in treatment 4th and 5th. In the 6th treatment 5 gm of seed and 5 gm of leaves powder was added to the basal diet. The results showed that there was a significant (P <0.05) decrease in serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in all additive treatments compared to control. There was also a significant decrease (P <0.05) in Escherichia coli bacteria count, as well as a significant improvement (P <0.05) in the number of Lactobacilli bacteria in all addition treatments compared to the control group. The addition of P. oleracea seeds and leaves powder had no significant effect on some haematological indices and on the total protein concentration in the serum. The study confirms the importance of adding powder of seeds or leaves in the broiler diet because it has a positive role in improving some of the physiological and microbial blood characteristics of the broiler.

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