Effect of Alcoholic Chicory (Cichorium Intybus L.) Extract on Performance and Immune Response of Broilers

The effects of different levels of alcoholic chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) extract were investigated on performance، cellular and humoral immunity in 200 one-day chicks (Ross 308) in a completely randomized design with 5 treat ments and 4 replicates and 10 chicks per replicate. The treatment groups received 0 (control)، 0. 5، 1، 1. 5 and 2 ml/Lit of alcoholic chicory extract، (provided from Chicory roots)، in drinking water respectively، during days 3 to 42. Daily feed intake، daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured. The birds were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on days 8 and 22 of age and serum antibody levels produced in response to SRBC were measured on days 21، 28، 35 and 42. Skin response to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) injected intradermally on day 16 were measured 24 h after injection. The results indicated that consumption of 2 ml Chicory extract increased feed intake and daily weight gain (P<0. 05). Doses of 0. 5، 1 and 1. 5 ml Chicory extract increased the breast weight and 0. 5 ml increased thymus weight percentage (P<0. 05). Adding 2 ml chicory extract increased total Anti-SRBC، IgG and IgM titer in the experimental groups compared to control group (P<0. 05). Consumption of 0. 5 and 2 ml Chicory extract increased cellular immunity on PHA-P injection (P<0. 05). It is concluded that use of 2 ml chicory extract in drinking water increases performance، cellular and humoral immunity in broilers.