Study of the effect of methanolic extract of Prunus Mahaleb seeds on carcass characteristics and blood parameters in broiler chickens

Abstract

This research aims to study the effect of methanolic extract of Prunus Mahaleb seeds on carcass specifications and some blood indicators in broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted using (150) one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) hybrid, distributed into five experimental groups and raised in batteries, and Ad-libitum fed. Each group included (30) birds distributed into three replicates. The methanolic extract of mahaleb seeds was added to the experimental drinking water at a rate of (0, 32, 64, 125, 250) μg/ml. The content of mahaleb of total polyphenols and flavonoids was estimated, and the carcass specifications and some blood indicators in broiler chickens were studied. The study concluded that the total polyphenols content in the mahalab seed extract is (184.2) mg Gallic acid equivalent in (1) gram extract, and the total flavonoid content is (64.47) mg Quercetin equivalent in (1) gram extract. Regarding the average live body weight, the fourth group (125) μg/ml outperformed the rest of the groups with significant differences (P≤0.05) as it reached (2520) g at the end of the experiment, followed by the fifth group (250) μg/ml with an average weight of (2400) g, while no significant differences (P>0.05) appeared between the groups regarding Eviscerated percentage, and the percentage of carcass parts. On the other hand, we find a slight improvement in the red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin for the fifth and fourth groups over the rest of the groups without significant differences (P>0.05).