Effect of Lipia Citridora leaves powder on growth performance, carcass traits, blood metabolites and meat quality of broilers

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> Since the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoter in poultry ration by the European Union, poultry producers have been trying to replace them by other growth promoters like medicinal herbs. <em>Lipia citridora</em> is a medicinal herb enriched by several powerful phenolic compounds and with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which lead to enhancing appetite and growth performance of broiler. <strong>OBJECTIVES:</strong> The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of <em>Lipia citridora</em> leaves powder (LCLP) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood metabolites, and meat quality of broilers. <strong>METHODS: </strong>The experiment was carried out with 160 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design. The chicks were allocated to four diets including basal diet and treatment diets which were supplemented with 3 levels of LCLP (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% of diet) in 16-floor pens with 10 chickens each. At the end of the experiment, 2 chicks/pen were selected and the assigned parameters were evaluated. <strong>RESULTS: </strong>All levels of LCLP improved (p<0.01) feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in all periods except for starter phase. Also, 1% LCLP improved FI (1.49%), BWG (4.20%) and FCR (2.59%) compared to control group during the whole period. Birds fed herbal additive had a significantly higher relative weight of carcass, breast, bursa of fabricius and spleen in 1% LCLP group compared with the control group. Addition of 1% of LCLP decreased (p<0.05) LDL (15.85%), cholesterol (8.73%), triglyceride (8.82%), and increased (p<0.01) white blood cells (8.04). Meat quality enhanced via an intense reduction (p<0.01) in thiobarbituric acid (50.15%) and cooking loss (14.16%). <strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Our finding showed that the highest level of LCLP in this study (1%) performed the best as improved growth performance, ameliorated serum lipids, increased white blood cells and enhanced the meat quality.