Effect of dietary supplementation of Prunus Mahaleb fruit powder on carcass characteristics of broiler chickens

Abstract

The experiment was carried out on (270) chicks of the hybrid broiler chicken (Ross 308), and aimed to study the effect of adding different levels of mahaleb fruit powder (Prunus Mahaleb) on carcass indicators and some internal organs and intestines in broiler chickens. The chicks were randomly distributed into three experimental groups with three replicates for each group, as follows: the control group T1 without any addition, the second group T2 had mahaleb fruit powder added to the feed mixture at a rate of (2%), and the third group T3 had it added at a rate of (4%). The results showed that adding mahaleb fruit powder to the feed mixture for broiler chickens at a rate of (2%) at the age of (26) days led to a significant increase in the relative wing weight (P<0.05). While adding it at a rate of (4%) at the age of (46) days led to a significant increase in the relative spleen weight and the length of the large intestine (P<0.05). On the other hand, the addition of 2% and 4% mahlab powder did not show any significant differences (P>0.05) in the relative weights of thigh, liver, gizzard, and navel of Fabricius, as well as the length of the small intestine at 26 and 46 days of age of the experimental birds