Effect of sagebrush (Artemisia herba-alba Asso) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on growth performances, some biochemical traits and carcass qualities for broiler chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two medicinal plants, Fenugreek and sagebrush, on the performance (growth, slaughter parameters and meat quality, biochemical and blood lipid parameters, bacteriological, virological and parasitological analyses) of broiler chickens. 300 Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used.  On the 11th day of age, they were weighed and distributed in three lots of 100 chicks at a rate of 04 replicates of 25 chicks. The chickens in the control lot (T) consumed pure water, those in the two experimental lots water, one with Fenugreek infusion (F) and the other with sagebrush infusion (A).  The experiment finished when the chickens reached 6 weeks of age, i.e. 42 days. Supplementation with Fenugreek and sagebrush infusions significantly affected final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion rate and water consumption. However, no significant difference was noted for slaughter parameters except for liver weight which was higher in the sagebrush lot. The blood biochemical parameters of the chickens in the two experimental lots were not affected. In addition, the meat of the chickens in the sagebrush and Control lots was noted to be very tender and juicier than the meat of the chickens in the Fenugreek lot. Mortality was significantly similar in the two experimental lots and the control lot.