Evaluation the effect of black cumin (Nigella Sativa L.) supplementation in diet on performance and some blood parameters in broiler chickens

In order to evaluation the effect of Nigella Sativa supplementation on performance, immune response and some of blood parameters, a total of 192 one day old Ross 308 broilers were used in a completely randomize design with four treatments, four replicates and 12 observations in each replicate. Treatments included the increasing levels of zero (control), 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 percent Nigella sativa. In grower and whole period of experiment, the weight of birds received 0.4 and 0.8 percent of Nigella sativa was higher than control group birds (P<0.05). The supplementation of Nigella sativa in diet has not effect on feed intake and feed conversion ratio in starter, grower and total rearing periods. The weights of bursa and thymus in birds received 0.4 and 0.8 percent of Nigella sativa werehigher than control group birds (P<0.05). The weight of liver in birds belong to 0.4 percent of Nigella sativawas higher than control group (P<0.05). Addition of Nigella sativa in dietreduced the glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL and increased the HDL in blood serum. The use of Nigella sativa in dietary of birds caused the higher total white blood cells and lower heterophil: lymphocyte ratio. The birds which received 0.4 and 0.8 percent of Nigella sativa had the higher total antioxidant capacity than control group in blood plasma. In conclusion, the use of Nigella sativa up to 0.8 percent in diet, in addition to improvement the performance, increased the immune system activity and total antioxidant capacity in Ross 308 broiler chickens.