Effect of Echinacea purpurea and garlic on growth performance, immune response, biochemical and hematological parameters in broiler chicks

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Echinacea purpurea and garlic on growth performance, immune response, biochemical and hematological parameters in broiler chick.

A total of (180) chickens were divided into 3 main groups A,B and C.

First group as control group received only commercial basal diet, second group was fed on commercial basal diet plus Echinacea purpurea as 5 mg/kg feed and the third group was fed on commercial basal diet plus garlic powder as1 g/kg feed.

All the other conditions were the same for all the groups.

At21th days of age, each group was subdivided into two groups as group A : subgroups G1 and G2, group B: subgroups G3 and G4 and group C : subgroups G5 and G6.

Groups G2,G4 and G6were challenged with 0.5 ml E.

coli O78 (4 x 106CFU) by intraperitoneal route.

Performance, immunity system and some blood parameters were measured.

As well as clinical signs, postmortem and mortality were recorded.

Experimentally infected and treated chickens with Echinacea purpurea and garlic powder displayed less symptoms with the mortality rate of 16.66 % (5 / 30) in comparison to infected non treated group with mortality rate of 40 % (12 / 30).

The postmortem lesions were reduced to greater extent as compared to infected untreated birds.

There were significant differences in Echinacea purpurea and garlic treated groups with control in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio from performance, heterophils / lymphocytes ratio, lymphocyte stimulation index, albumin and protein differentiation from immune system, and triglyceride from biochemical parameters.

Cholesterol level was lower in garlic and Echinacea purpurea groups.

According to the results, Echinacea purpurea and garlic can be used as a good alternative for commercial antibiotics, growthpromoter and immune stimulant feed additives.