Dietary Supplementation of Silybum marianum or Curcuma spp on Health Characteristics and Broiler chicken Performance

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of silybum marianum (SM), Curcuma spp (CP), or their mixture (PM) on intestinal microflora and broiler chicken performance. A total of 180 unsexed broiler chicken (Ross-308) were randomly assigned to 4 diets with 3 replications of set 15 chickens in each. Diets were included control or the inclusion of SM, CP, or PM (equal amount) at level of 0.5% in diets. Feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were significantly increased by diets contained CP and PM rather other diets at 42 days of age (P<0.05). In contrast, the inclusion of SM and PM in diets resulted in significantly decreases in total number of bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and coliforms bacteria in ileum rather other diets at 42 days of age (P<0.05). The inclusion of tested medicinal plants in diets led to significantly decreases in pH value in ileum and  significantly increases in intestinal weight and length rather control (P<0.05). The results of present study have shown that the inclusion of 0.5% Curcuma spp or Silybum marianum in diets boost up broiler chicken performance and reduced ileum pathogenic bacteria. The equal mixture of tested medicinal plants showed mutual effects which could help to improve intestinal health and well being of poultry.