EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF ‌POMERGRANATE PEEL POWDER (Punica grantum) ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKS

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different levels of pomegranate peel powder (Punica grantum ) supplemented diet on productive performance, protein profile, and carcass characters of broiler chicks. A total of 180 unsexed broiler chicks ( Arbor Acres ) at the age of seven-day-old chicks were randomly divided into five treatments (36 chicks each) divided into six replicates (each replicate of six chicks). The first group was fed the basal diet (control); while the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 1.50 % pomegranate peel powder, respectively. Data revealed that treatment groups with supplemented different levels of pomegranate peel powder had greater productive performance, compared to the control group. All treatments with different levels of pomegranate peel powder increased total protein, globulin, RBCs, Hb, PCV, and WBCs ,while decreasing abdominal fat, AST, and ALT compared to the control group (within normal range). In conclusion, it can be considered that pomegranate peel powder supplementation in the diet improved the growth performance and physiological status of the broilers without any adverse effects on the blood parameters of broiler chicks. The results showed that treating the broilers by diets supplemented with different levels of pomegranate peel powder resulted in a significant increase (P=0.002) in blood hemoglobin concentration (Hb) when compared with the control group. Thus, the percentage of differences compared with the control mean was 139.16, 129.34, 138.83, and 128.16% for treated groups, respectively. At the end of the treatment period, the results in Table (6) showed that broiler’s PCV values were significantly affected (P=0.001) by different levels of pomegranate peel powder when compared with the control group. Thus, the percentage of differences compare to the control mean were 119.48, 116.37, 113.89 and 116.45 % for different levels of treated groups, respectively. The