DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/25.4.4292

2024, 25 (4)   p. 932-944

Asrin Abdollahi, Ahmad Karimi, Amirali Sadeghi

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of different levels of black cumin (Nigella Sativa L.) seed vs. virginiamycin and vitamin E on broilers' performance, intestinal morphology, ileal digestibility, and microbial count. A total of 420-day-old broilers (Cobb 500) were allotted to seven treatments, each replicated four times from 1 to 49 days of age. Treatments included: control, virginiamycin (200 mg/kg diet), vitamin E (150 mg/kg diet), and black cumin seed powder (5, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg of diet). Results showed that virginiamycin or black seed levels did not influence birds' body weight. Including vitamin E over the recommendation reduced body weight at 23 days of age (P ≤ 0.05). virginiamycin supplementation increased (P ≤ 0.05) feed intake from 1 to 10 days of age. In the jejunum, birds fed a diet containing vitamin E or different levels of black seed showed higher villus height and villus area. However, birds that received virginiamycin had significantly improved villus height to crypt depth ratio. Lactobacillus count increased in virginiamycin and 20 g/kg black seed groups (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, including 20 g/kg black cumin seed in broilers' diet can improve performance, intestinal morphometric indices, and Lactobacillus count.

Keywords

antibiotic, vitamin E, black cumin, gut microbiota composition, villus height

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