The Effect of Different Levels of Tanacetum balasmita Medicinal Plant Powder and Extract on Performance, Carcass Traits and Blood Parameters of Broiler Chic

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dried aerial parts powder and extract of Tanacetum balasmita (TB) medicinal plant on performance, carcass traits and blood parameters of broilers. Two hundred eighty Ross-308 broilers from 10 to 42 days of age were used in a completely randomized design in 5 treatments and 4 replicates (14 birds per replicate). The treatment groups consisted of a control group (1) with no dried aerial parts powder or extract of TB and experimental groups 2 and 3 contained 0.5% and 1% of TB whereas experimental groups 4 and 5 contained 0.1% and 0.2% of TB ex-tract, respectively. Using different levels and forms of TB significantly affected the performance, carcass traits and blood parameters of broilers (P < 0.05). By increasing the level of TB powder to 1% the weight gain decreased and feed conversion increased, the best feed conversion related to group with 0.2% of TB, whereas the amount of daily feed intake was not affected. The highest liver percentage was resulted with 1% of Tanacetum balasmita powder. The level of blood glucose significantly decreased with 0.2% of TB extract. The lowest percentage of heterophile, the highest percentage of lymphocyte and the lowest ratio of heterophile to lymphocyte were observed with 0.2% of TB extract. The overall results showed that the use 1% of dried aerial parts powder of TB has adverse effects on broiler performance, while 0.2% of TB extract compared with control group, has positive effects on performance and blood parameters.