Evaluation of different levels of sumac (Rhuscoriaria L.) seed powder on performance, carcass characteristics and some blood indices in broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of sumac seed''s powder on growth performance، carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Two hundred one-day-old male broilers chicks (Ross 308) in 4 treatments with 5 replicates and 10 birds in each replicate were used in this experiment. The results showed that the feed consumption of 1 percent sumac fed birds was higher than that of other birds during the starter period (0 to 21 days of age) and was higher than that of control and 0. 25 percent sumac fed birds during the whole experimental period (0 to 42 days of age) (P<0. 05). The feed conversion ratio of 1 percent sumac fed birds was higher as compared to that of control and 0. 25 sumac fed birds during the grower period (22 to 42 days of age) and as compared to other birds during whole the experimental period (P<0. 05). The 1 percent sumac fed birds had the highest proportional abdominal fat weight between the treatments (P<0. 05). At day 42 of age، 1 and 0. 5 percent sumac fed birds had the lower plasma cholesterol and VLDL-c as compared to control and 0. 25 sumac fed birds (P<0. 05).