Effect of coriander ( Coriandrum sativum L.) seed powder as feed additives on performance and some blood parameters of broiler chickens

Background: Modern intensive poultry production has achieved phenomenal improvement in order to produce high quality chickens by the removal of antibiotics as growth promoters from poultry diets. Instead, numerous additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, enzymes, and phytogenics, are extensively used in poultry feed.

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seed powder as a growth promoter on feed intake (FI), live body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield, and blood profile in broiler chickens.

Method: A total of 240 (Ross 308) one-day-old broiler chicks of mixed sexes were allocated randomly into four treatment groups, with 60 chicks per group. Each treatment group had three replicates (20 chicks per replicate), according to a completely randomized design for 45 days. The chicks were fed diets containing 0% (T1) as control, 1.5% (T2), 2.5% (T3), and 3.5% (T4) of coriander seed powder. The FI, live body weight, and weight gain were monitored and measured on a weekly basis. Blood samples were collected on day 45 of the trial for the determination of the percentage of white blood cells and to assess the blood profile.

Results: It was revealed that the growth performance was not significantly affected (p > 0.05). However, the dressing percentage without the skin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) at level 1.5%, while the heart weight was significantly augmented (p < 0.05) at 2.5%, when compared to the control group. Furthermore, the serum triglyceride was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) at 1.5%, while the high-density lipoprotein was significantly increased (p < 0.001) at level 1.5% when compared with the control and 3.5% groups. Moreover, the glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase were significantly increased at 3.5% when compared with the control and 1.5% groups, with p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively. The basophil and eosinophil cells count were significantly increased at 2.5% (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), respectively, while the lymphocyte cell was significantly increased at 1.5% (p < 0.01). Nevertheless, the heterophil cell and H/L were significantly reduced at 1.5% (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the inclusion of coriander seed powder at 1.5% had a positive impact on the dressing percentage without skin, biochemical blood profile, and immune response.

Keywords: Blood parameter; Broiler chicken; Coriander; Performance.