Author/Authors :
Shirzadegan، k نويسنده 1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran , , Fallahpour، p نويسنده 2 Department of Animal Science, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran , , Nickkhah، i نويسنده 2 Department of Animal Science, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran , , Taheri، h.r نويسنده 1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran ,
Abstract :
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds (BCS) in diet on performance, liver weight and enzymes of broilers. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design. Two hundred forty day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were divided into four groups and assigned to four feeding treatments, with four replicates of 15 birds each. Group 1 was considered as a control group where they are given unsupplemented diets. Group 2, 3 and 4 were given diets supplemented with 5, 10 and 15 g/kg of BCS respectively. Birds fed diets not supple-mented with BCS showed no significant effect (P > 0.05) on live weight, feed consumption and organs weight, except to liver followed by 0 g/kg treatment (P < 0.05). Diets supplemented with BCS increased glucose and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared with control group as significantly (P < 0.05). Also, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from broilers fed diets sup-plemented with5 and 10 g/kg BCS was lower than control (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio of bird fed to 5 g/kg BCS in 42 days old was the lowest amount (P < 0.05). The highest and the lowest liver weight percent were also depending to 15 g/kg BCS and control respectively. Overall, this research showed that BCS sup-plemented at the varying levels did not have any negative or positive influences on the growth performance of broiler chickens, although it affected some of the blood parameters.
