Effect of dietary supplementation of hemp (Cannabis sativa) and dill seed (Anethum graveolens) on performance, serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the effect of different doses of hemp seed alone or in combination with dill seed against antibiotic growth promoter on performance, serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens over a period of 42 days. Total 192 broiler chicks were grouped randomly into six treatments and fed with basal diet (BD) along with different levels of seeds, viz., T 1 (BD), T 2 (BD + 0.2% HS), T 3 (BD + 0.2% HS + 0.3 DS), T 4 (BD + 0.3% HS) and T 5 (BD + 0.3% HS + 0.3 DS) and T 6 (BD + 0.025% Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate-BMD). The performance traits like feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass traits like cut-up parts, giblet and abdominal fat yield remained unaffected due to dietary treatments for overall trial period; however, the average feed intake in early phase (0-3 weeks) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in treatment birds than both controls (T1 & T6). Serum protein concentration remained unchanged, whereas significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum lipids like triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol concentration was noticed due to dietary inclusion of seeds. Serum enzymes like AST and ALT concentrations depleted significantly (p < 0.05) treated groups, except at higher seed doses (T5); however, alkaline phosphatase levels were unaffected. Coliform count in caecum and jejunum reduced linearly (p < 0.01) due to seed inclusion, whereas dose-dependent proliferation of lactobacilli was evident (p < 0.01) in caecum and jejunum of treated birds. No effect was observed on the villus height and crypt depth of the jejunal mucosa. To conclude, dietary supplementation of hemp and dill seed could not affect the growth performance and carcass traits; however, it positively altered the serum lipid profile of the birds and improved gut health as well, thereby enhanced overall performance of broiler chickens. K E Y W O R D S broiler, dill, hemp

Effects of Inclusion of Different Doses of Persicaria odorata Leaf Meal (POLM) in Broiler Chicken Feed on Biochemical and Haematological Blood Indicators and Liver Histomorphological Changes

“…Herbs have shown positive effects on the performance and biological health of broiler chickens [ 9 , 10 ], can improve haematological blood indicators and serum biochemical attributes [ 11 , 12 , 13 ], and have also been reported to regulate the kidney and liver functions [ 14 , 15 ]. Among such herbs, Persicaria odorata , of the family Polygonaceae, is of important significance.…”

Hemp in Veterinary Medicine: From Feed to Drug

“…With regard to the nutraceutical properties of Cannabis derivatives, several effects have been postulated as a consequence of their addition to basal feed, such as a reduction in the rate of tibia deformation (in broilers and hens), a better serum lipidic profile, a protective effect on the development of liver diseases, an antimicrobial activity, the promotion of an antioxidative systemic status, and an anti-inflammatory activity (13,14,20,22,34). All these effects need however to be confirmed by further studies.…”

“…Another beneficial effect of the use of hempseeds in the alimentation of broilers is an ameliorated serum lipidic profile with an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) values and a reduction in triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and total cholesterol amounts (13). A better serum lipidic profile was also observed in hens (34).…”

“…Some authors speculated that hempseeds and hemp oil could have a protective effect on the development of liver diseases in hens and chickens by virtue of a reduction of hepatic enzymes observed following their inclusion in the diet (20,34). Differently, the inclusion of hempseed oil in the diet of goats produced a significant increase in serum total lipids compared to animals fed with a control feed; however, alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase values did not differ from that observed in the control group, indicating the probable absence of the deleterious effect of hemp oil on liver health (31).…”

“…The antimicrobial activity of cannabis derivatives has also been investigated. Essential oils derived from Cannabis has shown in vitro antimicrobial properties on several bacteria (34,35), with an observed favorable effect on microbial colonization of poultry gut following the addition of hempseeds (alone or in combination with dill seeds) to the basal feed: the count of the pathogen E. coli was reduced and that of Lactobacillus increased compared to the control group. However, in another study, the administration of hempseed expellers to chickens did not reveal differences in the counts of microorganisms such as E. coli, Lactobacillus, and Enterococci spp.…”