AUTHOR=Mahasneh Zeinab M. H. , Abuajamieh Mohannad , Abdelqader Anas , Al-Qaisi Mohmmad , Abedal-Majed Mohamed A. , Al-Tamimi Hosam , Zakaria Hana , Al-Fataftah Abdur-Rahman A. 

TITLE=The effects of Artemisia Sieberi, Achillea Fragrantissima, and Olea Europaea leaves on the performance and physiological parameters in heat-stressed broiler chickens

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1410580

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2024.1410580

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=High temperatures have detrimental effects on the performance and physiology of broiler chickens.Medicinal plants have various biological activities and may enhance the heat resistance of chickens during heat waves. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential roles of using specific local medicinal plants to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress (HS) in broilers. In this study, 180-dayold chicks were used to investigate the effects of HS and dietary indigenous medicinal plants on growth performance, antioxidant biomarkers, and intestinal health. The chicks were assigned to six groups (18 pens with 10 chicks per pen) with three replicates each. The first group; chicks were kept under thermoneutral conditions (CON) and fed a basal diet. The other five groups were exposed to recurrent heat stress and fed a basal diet (T1, HS group) or supplemented with Artemisia Sieberi (1.25 g/kg of feed; T2), Achillea Fragrantissima (15 g/kg of feed; T3), Olea europaea (10 g/kg of feed; T4), and all the previous additives (all-in-one) combined together at the same above dose levels (T5). At 21 days of age, the chicks from each group were exposed to two phases of heat stress: phase one from day 21 to 34 (34 ± 1 °C) followed by phase two from day 35 to 39 (37 ± 1 °C). Results indicate that HS increased rectal temperature and respiration rate significantly in broiler chickens. Feed intake and body weight gain were improved in all supplemented groups, while the feed conversion ratio was decreased in response to the dietary inclusion of medicinal plants. Additionally, glutathione peroxidase and immunoglobulin G levels were increased in T3, T4 and T5 groups compared to the other groups. HS induced significant up-regulated in the mRNA levels of heat shock protein 70 and interleukin-8, while the mRNA of occludin was decreased. The T3, T4, and T5 showed significantly decreased the expression of hepatic HSP-70 and ileum IL-8 genes, and increased ileum mRNA occludin levels relative to the CON and T1 groups. In conclusion, supplementation with these plants enhances growth performance and maintains intestinal health sustaining the productivity of broiler chickens under HS conditions.