The effects of using of Mallow (Malva neglecta L.), Nettle (Urticaceae dioica L.), summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and Peppermint (Menta piperita L.) medicinal plants on performance, carcass traits, blood biochemical parameters and immunity cells of broilers

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of four medicinal plants mallow (Malva neglecta L.), nettle (Urticaceae dioica L.), summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and peppermint (Menta piperita L.) on performance, carcass characteristics and biochemical and hematological parameters of broilers. Two hundred and eighty broiler chicks (Ross 308) in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates and 14 chicks in each replicate were used. Treatments were control (no use of medicinal plants) and groups with 2% of mallow, nettle, summer savory and peppermint. Experimental results showed that the amount of daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio in treatments receiving 2% of the medicinal plants had no significant difference with control group. Treatments had no affects on carcass composition. Hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, heterophils, lymphocytes, and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio were not affected by treatments. However, the highest count of red blood cells was related to summer savory which it had significant difference compared to others (P