The Effect of Echinacea purpurea Extract on Carcass Quality, Blood Biochemical Parameters, and Immune System in an Animal Model
Gholamreza Akbari
1
(
Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Department of Animal Science, Karaj, Iran
)
Abolfazl Zarei*
2
(
Department of Animal Science, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
)
Nima Eila
3
(
Department of Animal Science, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
)
Keywords: Echinacea purpurea, immune system, carcass, broiler chickens,
Abstract :
This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of adding different levels of Echinacea purpurea extract to the diet on carcass quality, blood biochemical parameters, and the immune system of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were assigned in a completely randomized design to 4 experimental treatments with 5 replicates and 12 chicks per replicate. The experimental treatments included: 1) Control (without additive), 2) Control + 10 mg/kg Echinacea extract, 3) Control diet + 20 mg/kg Echinacea extract, and 4) Control + 30 mg/kg Echinacea extract. The results of the experiment showed that the carcass percentage in the treatment containing 30 mg/kg extract significantly increased compared to the control (P<0.01). The amount of total protein and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the treatment containing 30 mg/kg extract had a significant difference compared to the control (P<0.05). Also, adding 20 and 30 mg/kg extract to the diet significantly increased the weight of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius compared to the control (P<0.01). Based on the results of this experiment, 30 mg/kg extract in the diet of broiler chickens had a better effect on carcass quality, blood lipid reduction, and the immune system.
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