Michael Gholipour; Vahid Vahedi; Zarbakht Ansari Pirsarei
Volume 22, Issue 3 , September 2020, , Pages 431-440
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of Propolis on growth performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters in broiler chickens in response to heat stress condition. A total of 160 one day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four treatment groups in ...
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This study was conducted to determine the effects of Propolis on growth performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters in broiler chickens in response to heat stress condition. A total of 160 one day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with four replicates of 10 birds each. The experimental treatments including: 1) control (basal diet), 2) the basal diet with Neomycin (200 g/ton), 3) 150 mg/kg Propolis, 4) 200 mg/kg Propolis in diet. Birds submitted to heat stress (32±2ºC from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM) from 15 to 42 d of age. The results showed that, average mortality was lower in Propolis groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). None of the feed intake data was influenced by treatments during different periods. Birds receiving diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg Propolis had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weight compared to the control group at the finisher feeding phase and whole period. In the finisher phase and whole period, the lowest (p < 0.05) fed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in chickens fed 200 mg/kg Propolis. Cholesterol and LDL level were lower in chickens fed diet with Propolis compared to control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of Propolis at a rate of 200 mg/kg to the diet could reduce the negative effects of heat stress in broiler chickens.