Carcass Characteristics, Meat Antioxidative State, and Gut Microbiota of Broilers Fed With a Mixture of Bitter Melon and Basil Leaves Powder

Abstract

The impact of a mixture of bitter melon leaf and basil leaf powder (BBLPB) on the carcass characteristics, meat antioxidant state, and gut microbiota of broilers was investigated. Three hundred one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were allocated to five diets: diet 1 (negative control), diet 2 (positive control; 0.1% blend of probiotic, prebiotic, and acidifier (BPPA) supplementation), diets 3 (0.25% BBLPB), 4 (0.5% BBLPB), and 5 (0.75% BBLPB) randomly. The 0.25% BBLPB supplementation improved (P < 0.05) slaughtered weight, dressed weight, dressing %, and growth rate of broilers, while organ weights remained unchanged (P > 0.05). Slaughtered weight recorded in diets 2 and 3 was higher (P