EFFECT OF EGYPTIAN CORN SILK POWDER SUPPLEMENTATION TO DIET ON SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS, LIVE BODY WEIGHT AND LIVER HISTOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKENS FED SLAUGHTER-HOUSES BY-PRODUCT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of corn silk powder addition to   chicks diets containing poultry slaughter houses by- products (SH). A total number of 120 chicks were divided into five experimental groups of 24 chicks each in three replicates of 8 chicks. The first group was fed the basal control diet, the second and third groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 3 and 6% of SH, while the fourth group was fed the basal diet supplied with 6% SH plus 1.5% corn silk powder (CSP) and the fifth group was fed the basal diet with 1.5% corn silk powder. Live body weight and some blood parameters were recorded. Liver sections were examined to detect any histopathological signs of hepatic damage. Results showed that malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in CSP treatment groups compared with the control un - supplemented group. The level of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) were significantly increased in the SH–fed   chicken especially for those fed the 6% SH– supplemented diet, but the SP addition improved these parameters. Blood urea and creatinine were not significantly affected by different treatments. Live body weight and body weight gain were significantly increased as a result of CSP addition to diets. Dietary inclusion of 6% SH by-products caused deleterious effects on liver histology including disruption in the arrangement of hepatocytes, dilation of the portal vein accompanied by the presence of many necrotic and cirrhotic areas, but CSP addition to chicken diet enhances liver histological structure. It is concluded that CSP addition to broiler chicks diet could improve the productive performance of chicks and protect their organs from the deleterious effect of by – products SH contamination.