Modulation of broilers’ productivity and blood biochemical parameters by Citrus elements dietary supplementation

AbstractThe present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a commercial lemon extract AB), dried sweet orange peel, dried lemon peel and avilamycin on broilers’ live weightand carcass traits, and to investigate their effects on some blood biochemical parameters andintestinal morphometry.A total number of 650 one day-old unsexed Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assignedto 5 floor pens with 130 each and subjected to one of five different experimental diets: nonsupplemented basal diet (control), basal diet with 100 mg/kg of avilamycin, basal diet with250 mg/kg of a commercial lemon extract (Nor-Spice AB), basal diet with 250 mg/kg ofdried sweet orange peel and basal diet with 250 mg/kg of dried lemon peel. The commercialbasedfeed additive improved significantly (P u003c0.01) the live weight and carcass yield ofbroilers. Plasma glucose was very significantly (Pu003c0.0001) decreased in all supplementedgroups, whereas plasma cholesterol was significantly (P u003c0.05) increased in the group fedon avilamycin. Both lemon extract and lemon peel induced a significant increase in plasmatriglycerides. Only avilamycin induced a significant decrease in the intestinal length.Keywords: Citrus, avilamycin, carcass yield, biochemical components