The effect of medicinal plants on broilers immunological profile and productive performances
Author: Ducu Sandu Stef 1*, Lavinia Stef 1, Daniela Mot 1, Cecilia Pop 2 and Mindru G. Hegedus 1
Received 18 September 2011, accepted 5 January 2012.
Abstract
It was previously reported that medicinal plants have an antimicrobial activity against many bacterial pathogens. We have conducted an in vivo experiment to study the effect of some medicinal herbs and microelements and in particular to investigate the effect of those on the immune level and productive performance. The study was carried out on 210 broilers (ROSS 308) divided in seven experimental groups, respectively 30 chickens for each experimental lot (LE), during six weeks. The differences between experimental groups were made by the addition of medicinal plants and microelements supplement. The chicken broilers from the experimental groups had received feed with 2.0% incorporated from savory (Satureja hortenis) – LE 1, Sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) – LE 2 and Willowherb (Epilobium montanum) – LE 3. The experimental groups 4-6 received a mixture of plants (Savory, Sea-buckthorn and Willowherb) and trace elements during daily feeding. The control group (C 7) received normal feed with no supplements. In order to test the immunomodulator we have measured the following: Serical properdine (17.10-20.67 mg/100ml serum); Lysozyme (9.65-13.60 µg/cm3 serum) and Phagocytic index (20.90–26.10). This work shows that microelements and medicinal plants improve the immune response of broilers.