A protective effect of two herbs,Glycyrrhiza glabraandTinospora cordifolia, given as feed additives was observed against the growth inhibitory effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) and associated immunosuppression and biochemical or pathomorphological changes. The feed levels of 3 mg/kg OTA and fine powder of one of both herbs were given during a period of 32 days to female broiler chicks divided into 3 experimental and 1 control groups (14 chicks per group). The observed pathological and biochemical changes, the changes in relative organs’ weight and body weight, and the decrease of antibody titer against Newcastle disease were more pronounced in the OTA-treated chicks without herbal supplementation, and less pronounced in the chicks treated additionally withG. glabraorT. cordifoliaas was shown by the better feed performance and the higher body weight in the chicks treated with the herbs. The higher relative weight of lymphoid organs of the chicks supplemented with both herbs revealed their beneficial effects on the immune system. The hepatoprotective effect of both herbs was evident, being stronger in the chicks additionally supplemented withG. glabrashown by the pathomorphological findings and by the lower levels of aspartate transaminase (131.1 U/l) compared to chicks given only OTA (156.0 U/l). A protective effect ofT. cordifoliaon the bone marrow and kidneys was found as was shown by the lower levels of uric acid (382.9 μmol/l) compared to chicks given only OTA (466.9 μmol/l).

Chobanova, S. (2019). Eff ects of compound poultry feed with diff erent content of high-protein sunfl ower meal on growth performance of broiler chickens. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 25 (Suppl. 3), 91–94 The aim of the present experiment was to evaluate the eff ect of feeding poultry compound feed with diff erent level of highprotein sunfl ower meal on growth performance of broiler chickens. The experiment was performed with 3 groups of chickens (30 birds in group) – one control and two experimental ones. Feeding isocaloric and isoprotein diets, containing fl our of sunfl ower meal – 10% for the second group and 15% for the third group during the three growth periods, had an adverse eff ect on growth performance: at the end of the fi nisher period the reduction of live weight was by 1.6% and 4.1% for the second and third groups respectively. Feed intake per 1 kg weight gain was increased by 2.7% and 4.2% in experimental groups. It could be assumed that worse production traits resulting from increased proportion of low-cellulose high-protein sunfl ower meal in diets was due to the lower feed intake associated to excessively fi ne meal particles – 150-300 μm. The optimum size of particles in corn or sorghum based poultry compound feed, preferred by broiler chickens, was from 600 and 900 μm.