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Abstract

Aim: Modern methods of producing poultry meat without the use of antibiotics are known, and it is possible to achieve the desired conditions, including the use of herbal preparations. In addition, it is known that metabolites of medicinal plants are inhibitors of the quorum sensing system in bacteria. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Quercus cortex extract in a reduced dose on the productivity and body state of healthy chicken broilers.

Materials and Methods: For the experiment, 120 heads of 7-day-old healthy broiler chickens were selected, and they were divided into four groups (n=30, 3 replicates of 10 birds in each group) by the analog method. The composition of diets of the experimental Groups I and II additionally included Q. cortex extract and Groups II and III included an enzyme preparation containing glucoamylase and concomitant cellulolytic enzymes. The following methods of study were used; gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry and atomic emission spectrometry, and hematological analysis.

Results: It was established that the increase in live weight of broiler chickens in experimental groups exceeded the analogous indicator in the control group by 3.1-16.6%, and feed intake within the entire experimental period increased by 2.6-15.4%, against a background of decreasing feed consumption for a weight gain of 1 kg of live weight (by 3.7-9.2%). There was an increase in iron concentration in blood of broiler chickens in Groups I and II (7.8-11.8%), in liver (23.7-92.4%, p≤0.05), and in spleen (53.9-77.7%, р≤0.05) against the background of a decrease in muscle tissue. A decreased content of monocytes and granulocytes was found, especially in experimental Group I.

Conclusion: In the experiment, it was shown for the first time that the inclusion of Q. cortex extract in an enzyme-containing diet (anti-quarantine substances) was found to increase the productivity of poultry.

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