Effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) medicinal plant on growth performance, immune responses, and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary nettle (Urtica dioica) medicinal plant supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemical and immunity parameters in female broiler chicks. A total of 300 (Ross-308) broilers were randomly allocated into one of the following dietary treatments: 1) control, basal diet; 2) basal diet with 0.5% nettle; 3) basal diet with 1 % nettle; 4) basal diet with 1.5 % nettle; 5) basal diet with 2% nettle. There were 4 replications per treatment with 15 chicks per pen. Body weight and feed consumption of broilers were measured weekly until 42 d of age, and feed conversion was calculated, accordingly. At day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered for determination of carcass and organ weights and blood samples were collected for biochemical and immune evaluation. The dietary supplementation of the nettle did not influence (P > 0.05) feed intake. Supplementing 1% nettle increased body weight of broilers at 42 days of age (P < 0.05). Also, there was no difference among 1 and 2% nettle. Feed conversion ratio of chicks fed diets containing 1% of nettle significantly improved in comparison to the control group at 0-21 and 0-42 days of age (P < 0.05). In addition, different levels of nettle had no significant difference on FCR. However, serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were significantly decreased in broilers fed 1% nettle diet (P < 0.05) compared with those fed diets without nettle herb. Furthermore, feeding diets containing different levels of nettle did not significantly affect on carcass yield in comparison to control (P > 0.05). None of the immune related parameters was statistically different among the treatments. These findings indicate that nettle supplementation at 1-2% can be used as growth promoters in broiler diets, and research to elucidate the mechanism for potentially enhanced growth in broilers is required.