Effect of Graded Levels of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seeds on the Growth Performance, Hematological Parameters, and Intestinal Histomorphology of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of fenugreek seeds (FS) as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, one-day-old Ross (n = 160) straight-run broilers were fed FS at 0 g, 2.5 g, 5 g, and 10 g/kg of diet during the starter (from 1 to 21 days) and finisher phase (from 22 to 35 days) with four replicates of ten birds each. In the second experiment, one-day-old Ross (n = 144) male broilers were fed 0 g, 5 g, and 10 g FS per kilogram of diet during the starter (from 1 to 21 days) and finisher phase (from 22 to 42 days) with six replicates of eight birds each. In addition to growth performance, hematological parameters and intestinal histomorphology were measured in the second experiment. FS linearly reduced the body weight gain (BWG) (p < 0.001), feed intake (FI) (p < 0.05), and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) during the starter phase in both experiments. However, no significant effects on BWG, FI, and FCR were observed during the finisher phase. Moreover, the overall BWG and FI were linearly reduced (p < 0.05) with the increasing levels of FS, but BWG and FI were similar in the 5 g/kg FS group and control group. The inclusion of FS had a linear increase in white blood cell (WBC), heterophil, and lymphocyte count (p < 0.005) and the decrease in hematocrit % (p = 0.004) and total bilirubin (p = 0.001). The villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio of jejunum and ileum were significantly lower in 5 g FS and 10 g FS treatments (p < 0.001) compared to the control. The result indicates that the dietary inclusion of FS reduces the early growth performance, increases the WBC counts, and negatively affects the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.

Effect of Dietary Fenugreek Seeds and Synbiotic on the Physiological Anatomical, Immunological Attributes and Antioxidant Status in Stressed Chickens

“…As compared with T1, similar result was recently reported by Paneru et al [45] who found that was no changing in PCV value, H/L counts in broiler chickens at 6 weeks fed diet containing 5 g/kg FSP.…”

Haematological parameters of laying hens under different group size

“…The research by Paneru et al (2022) demonstrates that fenugreek seed supplementation in broiler chickens had negative effects on early growth performance, haematological parameters and intestinal morphology. In turn, the results of the Paredes López et al (2018) study shows that Creole laying hens, reared in an extensive system, exhibited distinct blood biochemical profiles and higher levels of albumin, triglycerides and cholesterol compared to Hy‐Line Brown hens.…”

Modulation of Immune Response and Cecal Microbiota by Dietary Fenugreek Seeds in Broilers

“…This study employed previously described methods for animal husbandry, diet formulation, and the experimental design [ 24 ]. Briefly, one-day-old, male broiler chicks (Ross 708, Hot Springs, AR, USA, n = 144) were randomly allocated into 18 floor pens with fresh pine wood shavings.…”

“…The dietary treatments consisted of three groups: a control group fed with basal diet without fenugreek seeds (CON), a basal diet with 5 g/kg fenugreek seeds (FS5), and a basal diet with 10 g/kg fenugreek seeds (FS10) during the starter (0 to 21 days) and grower–finisher (22 to 42 days) periods. The formulations for the starter and grower–finisher diets were published previously [ 24 ]. We added fenugreek seeds (Deep Foods Inc., Union City, NJ, USA) to the starter and finisher diets after grinding them to medium texture in a grinding grain mill (Thomas Scientific, Swedesboro, NJ, USA) with a 1 mm sieve.…”

“…Moreover, our previous research has explored the potential of fenugreek seeds to influence broiler growth, blood profiles, and gut health. Dietary fenugreek seeds at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg linearly decreased the body weight gain of the birds during the starter phase, but this effect was only temporary and reversed during the finisher phase (22–42 days) [ 24 ].…”