Effects of black cumin, fenugreek, and sesame seeds as a mixture on performance, intestinal morphology, and blood traits of broilers under chronic heat stress conditions

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of a seed mixture (SM) (black cumin, fenugreek, and sesame) on broiler chickens’ performance, intestinal morphology, and blood traits under chronic heat stress conditions. 330-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were divided into five treatments (6 replicates and 11 birds per each) consisting of a corn-soybean supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6% SM for 45 days in a completely randomised design. 6% SM supplementation increased body weight (BW) at 45 days of age, average weight gain (AWG) at 26-45 days, and total rearing period under heat stress conditions (p < 0.05). Adding 3% SM to broiler diets increased average feed intake (AFI) at 26-45 and 1-45 days, feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 12-25, and the mortality rate decreased from 28.8% (0% SM) to 12.1% (6% SM) (p < 0.05). Adding SM had no significant effects on the relative weight of carcase segments and internal organs (p > 0.05) except for the duodenum, which increased weight and length at the level of 6% (p < 0.05). The red blood cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin were elevated in chicks inoculated with 3% and 6% SM, respectively (p < 0.05). The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) value increased following the supplementation of SM, while differential white blood cell (WBC) counts did not influence. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) activity declined in chicks that received 6% SM at 45 days of age (p < 0.05). SM supplementation decreased liver steatosis, uric acid, glucose, total protein, and lipid profile concentrations of serum (p < 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that adding SM to the broiler diets at 6% level significantly improves broiler performance, blood traits, and liver health under chronic heat-stress conditions.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Adding a 6% seed mixture to the broiler’s diet during the finisher phase improved weight, reduced mortality rate, better morphometric parameters, increased haemoglobin levels, and healthier liver function.

• Including a 3% seed mixture in the diet increased average feed intake throughout the rearing period and boosted FCR between 12 and 25 days and red blood cell count.

• Seed mixture supplementation led to an increase in mean corpuscular volume levels and a decrease in uric acid, glucose, total protein, and serum lipid profile concentration.

Keywords:

• Fenugreek
• sesame
• black cumin
• heat stress
• broiler
• performance

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Gold Fish for providing the premix concentrate.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Data availability

To access all the data, request it through the link provided below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gI1IKqztaVqU33W9NmjhYrAp37IlmVaa/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108496959837745938947&rtpof=true&sd=true