Effect of Curcumin (Curcuma longa) and Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Hematology Values of Broilers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplemented curcumin (Curcuma longa) and red ginger (Zingiber officinale) on hematological values of broilers. Three hundred twenty one-day-old broilers were randomly distributed into 8 treatment groups with 4 replicates (pens) of 10 chicks each. The treatment diets were control groups (T01=basal diet and T02=basal diet + bacitracin), and treatment diets supplemented with curcumin (C1, C2, and C3), and supplanted with ginger (Z1, Z2 and Z3). Results showed that PVCs and hemoglobin level of the chickens fed treatment diets increased significantly (P<0.05) compare to the control diets, and the erythrocytes of the chickens fed diet supplemented with ginger increased significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control in period I (21 days of age) but no significant differences in Period II (34 days of age). Furthermore, treatment diets had no effect on erythrocyte indices of MCHC and MCV (P>0.05). However, dietary inclusion of the addition of ginger significantly decreased MCH in period I (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in period II. Furthermore, the treatment diets had significantly lower leucocytes and heterophils/lymphocytes ratios (P<0.05) than the control diets, but no significant differences were investigated in the percentage of differential leucocytes of eosinophils and basophils. In conclusion, the use of curcumin and ginger up to the level of 1.5% indicated the potentcy of improving the general health status of broilers. They have been able to improve the hematological values, and reduce the stress level of the chickens.