Effect of Different Dietary Levels of Sargassum muticum Powder and/or Extract on Broilers Performance and Blood Biochemistry.

Abstract

A total number of 270 chicks were used to determine the effect of using dietary Sargassum muticum and artificial antioxidants as broiler's feed supplements for enhancing growth efficiency: blood chemistry and lipid oxidation of broiler's meat Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances (TBARS). All chicks were brooded together at the first 2 days. On the third day, 15 chicks of each replicate (45 for each group)were randomly distributed into 6 experimental treatments:T1:(Control+) received (23% crude protein) and (19% crude protein). T2: (control-): a starter diet (20% crude protein) and grower & finisher diet (16% crude protein).; T3:T2 + Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) 150 ppmin drinking water; T4: T2 + 0.5% Sargassum powder (50 g/kg feed); T5:T2 + 10 mL Sargassum extract/kg feed in drinking water. The results showed that highest (P≤0.05) final body weight (2515.78 g) was recorded withT4 group (T2 + 0.5% Sargassum powder (50 g/kg feed). Also, The group fed T4 diet recorded the highest (P≤0.05) total body weight gain (TG) (2445.02g), and the lowest total feed intake (6373.94g) when compared with control. The best ratio of feed conversion was recorded with birds fed T4 diet followed by those fed T5 and T6 being 2.7; 2.74 and 2.79, respectively. It can be concluded that the addition of dietary 0.5 % Sargassum powder/kg feed or Sargassum extract up to 15 mL Sargassum extract/kg feed.in drinking water to broiler diets has a positive effect on growth performance, lipid metabolism, immune status, blood chemistry and carcass shelf life.