Evaluation the effects of mint, parsley, dill, coriander, garlic and basil on broiler performance, blood factors, immune system, intestinal morphology and taste of meat

Antibiotics have a positive effect on broilers performance; however they may have negative effects such as microbial resistance in humans and animals. Medicinal plants are one of the alternatives to antibiotics as growth stimulators. A research was conducted to compare the effects of medicinal plants: mint، basil، parsley، dill، coriander، garlic (1. 5% in feed) with antibiotic virginiamycin (15ppm in feed) on broiler performance، blood factors، immune system، intestinal morphology and organoleptic tastes of broiler meat. For this purpose an experiment with a total of 480 d- old male broiler chicks (ROSS 308) were divided into eight treatments with three replicates of 20 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The highest body weight and the lowest feed intake were related to virginiamycin (p<0. 05). There was no difference in feed conversion ratio among treatments (p>0. 05). LDL and cholesterol levels were lowest in the group fed with garlic (p<0. 05). Lower blood uric acid levels were associated with parsley (p<0. 05). Relative weights of lymphoid organs (spleen and bursa Fabricious) as two immune indexes were compared among different groups which was not affected by treatments (p>0. 05). Antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in secondary response was higher in garlic and dill groups (p<0. 05). Antibody responses to Newcastle disease vaccine (LaSota) was not affected by treatments (p>0. 05). The lowest and highest heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was obtained in garlic group and control group (p<0. 05)، respectively. Villi height was not changed significantly in any segment of intestine (p<0. 05). Ratio of villous height to crypt depth and villous height to basal width was significant (p<0. 05). It is concluded that coriander and mint have significant effects in odor، color، texture and overall acceptance of broiler meat (p<0. 05)، so these plants can be used as feed additives in poultry diets.