The effects of citric acid and two medicinal plants fennel and fenugreek on growth performance, Humoral immunity, serum protein and intestinal microbial population in broilers

    This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of citric acid and medicinal plants on growth performance, humeral immunity, serum proteins and intestinal microbial population in broilers. A total number of 225 Ross 308 (one-day old) broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 3 chicks each. Treatments including: 1- basal diet (without any additives), 2- basal diet +  medicinal plants in equal mounts (0.5%), 3- basal diet +medicinal plants in equal mounts (0.5%) + 0.5% citric acid, 4- basal diet + 0.5 % fenugreek + 0.5 % citric acid, 5- basal diet + 0.5% fennel + 0.5% citric acid. Feed intake was significantly higher in treatment 5 compared to control and FCR was significantly higher in treatment 5 and 2 compared to treatment 3 and 4 (P< 0.05). Total serum protein levels were higher in treatment 2 than in treatment 1 (P< 0.05). Albumin / globulin ratio was significantly higher in treatment 3 and 4 compared to other treatments. The results indicated that the overall use of fennel and fenugreek plants and citric acid had satisfactory effects on growth and performance of broiler chickens.