Authors : O. Ashayerizadeh, B. Dastar, M. Shams Shargh, A. Ashayerizadeh, E. Rahmatnejad and S.M.R. Hossaini
Abstract: This experiment was conducted for comparison, the effect of garlic powder, black cumin seeds powder and wild mint powder on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Based a randomized completely design, 320 days old Ross 308 broilers were distributed into 16 floor pens and reared for 42 days. A basal diet was formulated according to NRC recommendations for starter (0-21 days) and grower (22-42 days) periods. The basal diet was also supplemented with garlic powder, black cumin seeds powder and wild mint powder, resulting 4 dietary treatments were prepared including control group. Each dietary treatment was fed ad-libitum to 4 replicates group of 20 birds at the bigining of rearing period. There were no significant differences in feed consumption at all of treatments in rearing period (p>0.05). The birds fed the diet containing black cumin seeds powder had the highest body weight gain as compared with other treatments (p<0.05). The best Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR) was recorded with birds fed diets contained black cumin seeds powder compared with control and other groups through all growing periods (p>0.05). The lowest (p<0.05) abdominal fat percent were recorded for broilers fed the diets supplemented with garlic powder and black cumin seeds powder (p<0.05). Also, the highest carcass percent were recorded for birds fed diets supplemented with black cumin seeds powder and garlic powder (p<0.05). The percent of breast in birds received black cumin seeds powder significantly was higher than wild mint and control groups (p<0.05). The percent of thigh was not affected with feed treatments (p>0.05).
O. Ashayerizadeh, B. Dastar, M. Shams Shargh, A. Ashayerizadeh, E. Rahmatnejad and S.M.R. Hossaini, 2009. Use of Garlic (Allium sativum), Black Cumin Seeds (Nigella sativa L.) and Wild Mint (Mentha longifolia) in Broiler Chickens Diets. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 1860-1863.