Effect of Lipia Citridora leaves powder on growth performance, carcass traits, blood metabolites and meat quality of broilers

Background: Since the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoter in poultry ration by the European Union, poultry producers have been  trying to replace them by other growth promoters like medicinal herbs. Lipia citridora is a medicinal  herb enriched by several powerful phenolic compounds and with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which lead to enhancing appetite and growth performance of broiler. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lipia citridora leaves powder (LCLP) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood metabolites, and meat quality of broilers. METHODS: The experiment was carried out with 160 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design. The chicks were allocated to four diets including basal diet and treatment diets which were supplemented with 3 levels of LCLP (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% of diet) in 16-floor pens with 10 chickens each. At the end of the experiment, 2 chicks/pen were selected and the assigned parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: All levels of LCLP improved (p<0.01) feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in all periods except for starter phase. Also, 1% LCLP improved FI (1.49%), BWG (4.20%) and FCR (2.59%) compared to control group during the whole period. Birds fed herbal additive had a significantly higher relative weight of carcass, breast, bursa of fabricius and spleen in 1% LCLP group compared with the control group. Addition of 1% of LCLP decreased (p<0.05) LDL (15.85%), cholesterol (8.73%), triglyceride (8.82%), and increased (p<0.01) white blood cells (8.04). Meat quality enhanced via an intense reduction (p<0.01) in thiobarbituric acid (50.15%) and cooking loss (14.16%). CONCLUSIONS: Our finding showed that the highest level of LCLP in this study (1%) performed the best as improved growth performance, ameliorated serum lipids, increased white blood cells and enhanced the meat quality.