The Effect of Plant Extracts Added to Drinking Water on Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

In this study, effect of plant extracts added tobroiler chickens drinking water on performance were investigated. For thispurpose, 100 broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 4 treatment groups.Each treatment group consisted of 5 replicates, each containing 5 animals.Three days a week, the "commerical product" (CardiomaxÒ) with94%plant extract and 6% organic acit (lactic, acetic and formic acid) was addedto drinking water of treatments groups at rates of 0%, 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%respectively. The difference between treatment groups in terms of live weightcharacteristics on days 14, 21 and 28 of broiler chickens was statisticallysignificant (p <0.05). Live weight gain was significantly determined on days14th and 28th (p <0.05). Feed conversion ratios werealso found to be statistically significant between treatment groups between 1-5weeks (p <0.05). There were no significant differences in carcass characteristicsand average feed consumption per animal (p> 0.05).