Majid Goodarzi

Effect of dietary supplementation with onion (Allium cepa L.) on performance, carcass traits and intestinal microflora composition in broiler chickens

Abstract Objective To examine the effect of onion ( Allium cepa L.) as an antibiotic growth promoter substitute on growth performance, carcass traits, and microflora composition in broiler chickens. Methods A total of 192 one-day old mixed sex broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed and randomly allocated to four treatment groups, each with 4 replicate pens of 12 chicks. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet (control), antibiotic (15 mg virginiamycin/kg), and control+10 or 30 g fresh onions bulb/kg diet. Body weights of broilers were determined at Day 1, 21, and 42, feed intake was determined at the same periods, and feed conversion ratio was calculated accordingly. At Day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered for determination of carcass and organ weights. The populations of Lactobacilli spp. and Escherichia coli were enumerated in ileum by conventional microbiological techniques using selective agar media. Results Dietary supplementation of 30 g/kg onion increased final body weight of broilers at 42 d of age compared to that of the other treatments ( P P Lactobacilli spp. population in birds supplemented with onion at the level of 30 g/kg significantly was higher than other groups at 42 d of age ( P Escherichia coli loads were detected in broilers fed diets containing 15 mg virginiamycin/kg. The Escherichia coli loads significantly decreased in broilers fed diets containing 10 or 30 g onion/kg ( P Conclusion In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that supplementing broiler diet with 30 g onion/kg could induce favorable influences on performance and ileum microflora composition.

Efficiency of ethanolic extract of peppermint (Mentha piperita) as an antibiotic growth promoter substitution on performance, and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens

Abstract Objective This trial was conducted to examine the effect of usage different levels of ethanolic extract of peppermint ( Mentha piperita ) in drinking water in comparison with an antibiotic growth promoter (Virginiamycin) on the growth performance, and carcass traits of broiler chicks. Methods Birds were assigned to 5 treatments: control feed, antibiotic group receiving 5 mg/kg virginiamycin, and 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 % ethanolic extract of peppermint supplemented to drinking water. Body weights of broilers were determined at d 1, 21 and 42, feed intake was determined at the same periods, and feed conversion ratio was calculated accordingly. At day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered for the determination of carcass traits. Results Performance indices were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments at day 42. Carcass yield increased in broilers supplemented with 0.3 % peppermint extract in drinking water, also, abdominal fat pad decreased in broilers supplemented with 0.3 % peppermint in drinking water ( P >0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, the results of this study showed that addition of 0.3 % ethanolic extract of peppermint to drinking water seem to have a positive influence on broiler performance productive via more carcass yield and decrease abdominal fat deposition.