Effects of different levels of Scandix pecten-veneris L. on growth performance, immune response, blood parameters and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of needle shepherd (Scandix pecten-veneris L.) on broiler performance, immune system, blood parameters and carcass characteristics. In this research, two hundred and forty one-day-old female chickens (Ross 308) in a completely randomized design were allocated to one of four treatments (four replicates of 15 birds per treatment): control, and the control diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% needle shepherd. Results indicated that, the growth performance was affected significantly by treatments, as the average weight and feed conversion ratio in the treatment of 1.5% was significantly higher and lower than that of the control, respectively (P