Effect of adding crushed Pimpinella anisum, Nigella sativa seeds and Thymus vulgaris mixture to antibiotics-free rations of vaccinated and non-vaccinated male broilers on growth performance, antibody titer and haematological profile

This research explores an experimental study conducted to investigate the effect of crushed Pimpinella anisum (PA), Nigella sativa (NS) seeds and Thymus vulgaris (TV) mixture as a feed additive on growth performance and mortality rate (MR), selected antibodies titer (Ab’s) and blood haematological profile of vaccinated and non-vaccinated Lohman male broiler chicks fed free-antibiotics ration. A total of 400 one-day-old chicks were distributed into 16 groups (4 treatment × 4 replicates × 25 chicks). The experiment lasted from 1 to 42 days of age. The statistical findings of this experiment prove that the use of medicinal plants mixture improves live body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and MR of vaccinated male broilers at 21 and 42 days of age. Antibodies titer against infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease of non-vaccinated and vaccinated male broilers were significantly improved at d 21 and 42, as a result of the addition of medicinal plant mixture to the basal ration. Concerning Newcastle disease, the use of PA, NS and TV mixture did not result in any additional improvement of Ab’s compared with the use of vaccines. The addition of medicinal plants mixture increased WBCs, RBCs, thrombocytes count and Hb concentration of vaccinated and non-vaccinated male broilers at 21 days of age. Meanwhile, heterophils, lymphocytes and monocytes of vaccinated male broilers (VMB) were significantly improved by adding medicinal plant mixture to their basal diet. Moreover, at 42 days of age the use of PA, NS seeds and TV mixture indicated significant increase in total WBCs, lymphocytes and monocytes and monocytes count of VMB and non-vaccinated male broiler (NVMB). No significant differences were noticed in RBCs and Hct as a result of feeding crushed medicinal plants mixture.