Effect of Different Levels of Nano-selenium on Performance, Blood Parameters, Immunity and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

We determined the effects of dietary supplementation oThe aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that nanoseleniuminclusion in broilers’ diets can improve productivity and metabolic functions of broilers.Feed and water were provided ad libitum. A total of 180 one-day old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to six groups based on a completely randomized design, each with three replicates of 10 birds. One of the groups served as the control (CON) and was given a basal diet without further dietary supplementation, whereas the other five groups were offered the same starterandgrower diets further supplemented with dietary nano-selenium (NS) at 0.1 mg/kg of feed (NS1), 0.2 mg/kg of feed (NS2), 0.3 mg/kg of feed (NS3), 0.4 mg/kg of feed (NS4), and 0.5 mg/kg of feed (NS5). Nano-selenium dietary supplementation significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio in starter (1st-21st day), grower (22nd-42nd day) and whole (1st-42nd) periods of experiment (P 0.05). At the same time, energy and protein utilization was more efficient in NS supplemented groups than the control (P 0.05). Breast and drumsticks percentages had higher values in the NS supplemented birds than the control (P 0.05), while abdominal fat percentage had lower values in the NS supplemented birds than the control (P 0.05).Significant differences in relative weight of testes were observed between treatments (P 0.05). Glucose and total protein concentrations in blood plasma were not significantly different among the experimental groups (P 0.05). While, albumin levels in blood were decreased and anti-Newcastle disease hemagglutinationinhibition titer was increased after the dietary supplementation with the nano-selenium (P 0.05). As conclusion, the current study demonstrated that the supplementation of nano-selenium in broiler diets could improve growth performance, carcass components and immune function, without negative effects on internal organs, and other carcass parameters and gastrointestinal parts.f different doses of Miswak (Salvadora persica) steam and leaf powder on the performance, blood parameters, cecal flora, and carcass traits of broilers. Four hundred and eight one-day old Ross 308 broiler chicks were provided one of the following experimental diets over 42 days: a basal diet without any additives, or a basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% Miswak powder. Four replicates of 17 birds were allocated to each treatment. Neither broiler performance (body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) during starter (d 1-21), finisher (d 22-42), and the overall period (d 1-42) of the study, nor blood parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) were influenced by experimental treatments (P 0.05). Chicks fed diets containing 0.4% Miswak had higher (P 0.05) cecal Lactobacillus than the control group at day 42. Furthermore, 0.6% and 0.8% Miswak reduced the number of cecal E coli compared to the control diet (P 0.05). There were no significant differences in carcass yield and the relative weights of thigh, breast, and abdominal fat at day 42 (P 0.05). In conclusion, we found that supplementation with Miswak powder had no beneficial effects on performance and blood parameters of broilers, but could improve cecal bacteria counts at levels greater than 0.4%.