The effects of adding purslane powder (Portulace oleracea L.) with vitamin E and L-carnitine in low protein diet on immunity and blood parameters in broilers under cold stress.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of vitamin E (VtiE) and L-carnitine (L-Car) supplements with purslane powder (PP) in reduced-protein diet to immune response, hematological indices and some serum indices in broiler chickens reared at cold stress . 576 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to six treatments, with six replicates per treatment and 16 birds per replicate. The experimental treatments were as follows: 1) normal-protein diet (negative control; NC), 2) a reduced- protein diet (20 g kg-1 lower protein) as a control diet (C), 3) C + 2 g kg-1 of PP, 4) C + PP diet supplemented with 250 mg kg-1 VitE, 5) C + PP diet supplemented with 150 mg kg-1 of L-Car and, 6) C + PP diet supplemented with 250 mg kg-1 VitE + 150 mg kg-1 L-Car. Results showed that diets supplemented with PP + VtiE and PP + L-Car showed decreased the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (P<0.05) at 42 days. Antibody titers against Sheep red blood cells and Newcastle disease virus were significantly increased (P<0.05) at 41 and 27 days by VtiE and L-Car, respectively. While triglycerides and cholesterol were significantly reduced by them (P<0.05). It could be concluded that addition of VtiE and L-Car alone in combination with purslane in low protein diets by create beneficial synergistic effects, it can improve immune system and health in broilers reared at cold stress.