Effects of Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa) and Coconut Meals (Cocos nucifera) on Broiler Performance and Cecal Microbiota

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with black cumin seed meal (BCSM) and coconut meal (CM) on the performance and cecal microbiota of Cobb 500 hybrid broilers. The study was conducted on 600 chicks on the first day of hatching; the chicks were randomly distributed equally into 12 equal-sized floor pens. Four dietary treatments (C, T1, T2 and T3) were replicated three times (50 chicks/replicate): C was the control group; T1 was supplemented with 10% BCSM; T2 was supplemented with 10% CM; T3 was supplemented with 5% BCSM and 5% CM. At slaughter age on day 35, our findings showed that treatment T2 increased significantly body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to C, T1 and T3. In addition, the hot carcass dressing percentages in treatments T1, T2, and T3 were significantly higher than that of the C group. The results of relative normalized comparative gene expression of Clostridioides difficile, Roseburia and Streptococcus were not significantly changed in all treatments (p > 0.05). Treatment T1 resulted in a significant decrease in gene expression of the entire microbiota, while treatment T2 resulted in a significant increase in gene expression of all microbes, leading to an enriched and diverse microbial community. It can be concluded that supplementation with 10% BCSM is beneficial in inhibiting pathogenic microbes during early post-hatch days. In contrast, CM may promote and enhance the diversity of microbial communities during broiler growth. The inclusion of non-conventional feed ingredients in poultry diets may improve growth performance and may reduce the cost of broiler feed.

Effect of Different Methods of Using Black Seed (Nigella sativa L.) to the Diet and Drinking Water on Qualitative Egg Traits of Laying Hens Eggs

“…Flavonoids may be, which has a similar structure to steroid hormones, that stimulate the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormones, the most important of which are FSH (Follicle Stiulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone), which works to increase the stimulation of egg production [17]. Zaazaa et al [18] indicated that black seed contains protein of good quality, by containing essential amino acids, the most important of which is methionine, which plays a big role in increasing the size of eggs.…”

The Effect Medicinal Plants on Performance, Carcass Parameters and Meat Quality in Broiler Chickens

“…Also, Yesuf et al, 2023, demonestrated adding of some medicinal planst such as black cumin, fenugreek and turmerik in Cobb 500 broiler chickens diet have a significant effect on feed convertion ratio, body weight gain, and final body weights (P<0.05). Another researcher reported that, fed of broiler chickens with diets which were supplemented with different levels of cumin meal and çopra or cocount mel significantly improwed body weigh and feed conversion ratio (Zaazaa et al, 2023) (P<0.05). Our study results are inconsistent with some study results and it seems that, this difference is due to the level of medical and aromatic plants used in feed or their particle size.…”

Health Benefits of Cumin in Foods: A Review

“…The nutritional value and sensory quality of foods are signifi cantly aff ected by food oxidation due to the formation of ketones, quinones, phenols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and anhydrides that cause unpleasant taste [26]. Cumin seeds contain important valuable functional nutrients like protein, minerals, dietary fi ber, and phytochemicals [27]. Black cumin (Nigella sativa) also contains high nutritional value, minerals, protein, and soluble sugar content [20].…”