Effect of adding different levels of lemon grass leaves (Cymbopogon citratus) to the diet or its extract into drinking water on some blood parameters for broiler chickens (Ross 308)

Abstract

Abstract This experiment was conducted at the poultry farm of the college of Agriculture, University of Al-Qasim Green for the period from 18/9/2019 to 23/10/2019. The study was aimed to the effect of adding different levels of lemongrass leaves (Cymbopogon citratus) to the diet or its extract to drinking water on some blood parameters for broiler chickens (Ross 308). In the experiment, 225 unsexed broiler chicks (Ross), which obtained from Al-Anwar hatchery, it the were randomly distributed on 15 pen, with 5 experimental treatments,45 birds for each treatment. Each treatment included three replicates per 15 birds. The treatments of the experiment were as follows: First treatment: control group free from any addition. The second treatment: a basic feed added to 10 g of lemon grass / kg feed, the third treatment: a basic feed added with 20 g of lemon grass / kg feed, The fourth treatment: adding 100 ml of the aqueous extract of the lemongrass / liter of drinking water, and the fifth treatment: adding 200 ml of the aqueous extract of the lemongrass liter of drinking water. The experiment included studying the following characteristics: the number of red blood cells, the number of white blood cells, the percentage of Haematocrit (%), the concentration of haemoglobin (%), the percentage of lymphocytes (%), the percentage of Heterophil cells (%) and the percentage of H / L cells. The results indicated register the third, fourth and fifth treatment (adding 20 g / kg of feed leaves of lemon and 100 and 200 ml / liter of drinking water from the aqueous extract of the leaves of lemongrass) recorded an increase in the number of red blood cells, the percentage of Haematocrit and the concentration of haemoglobin at the 35 days age and in a significant (p≤ 0.05) compared to the first treatment (control). The treatment of adding lemongrass leaves, either with feed or drinking water, showed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the numbers of white blood cells, the percentage of lymphocytes (%) and a decrease in the percentage of Heterophil cells (%) and the percentage of H / L cells compared to the first treatment (control). It is concluded from the present experiment that adding of the lemon grass leaves or their aqueous extract to drinking water at levels of 20 g / kg fodder, 100 ml of aqueous extract of lemon leaves and 200 ml of the aqueous extract of lemon grass leaves to the diet can lead to improving some blood parameters for broiler chickens. Keywords: lemon grass, blood parameters, broiler chickens. *Research paper from MSc thesis for the first author.