Effect of Mentha mozaffarianii Jamzad, dill and mannanoligosaccharide on performance, carcass characteristics and blood hematological and biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

A total of 200 one-day-old broiler chicks were used to compare the effects of Mentha mozaffarianii Jamzad, dill (Anethum graveolens) and prebiotic (mannan-oligosaccharide) on performance, slaughter traits and blood hematological and biochemical parameters. The broilers were divided into 20 groups of 10 chicks and four groups were assigned to each treatment. The experimental treatments consisted of basal diet with no additives (control diet) and basal diet containing 1 % oregano, 1 % dill, mixture of 0.5 % oregano and 0.5 % dill or commercial level of prebiotic. At 42 days, blood samples were taken from 2 birds per replicate to measure blood cell parameters (red and white blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin) and chemical parameters (protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C). Body weight gain and feed intake were measured and two birds per replicate were slaughtered for determination of carcass traits at the end of trial. The results showed that body weight gain and feed conversion of treatments mixture of oregano and dill (2150.9 g and 1.77, respectively) and prebiotic (2169.3 g and 1.77, respectively) was better than control treatment (1922.6 g and 1.96, respectively) during the whole experimental period (P<0.05). Serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels in treatments oregano (78.62 and 106.6 mg/dL, respectively), mixture of oregano and dill 72.75 and 104.1 mg/dL, respectively) and prebiotic (80.37 and 105.5 mg/dL, respectively) were lower compared with control treatment (P<0.05). This study showed that the inclusion of mixture of oregano and dill to the broiler diet improve broiler’s performance and decrease serum lipids, which were comparative to the prebiotic supplementation.