The synergetic effects of some phytobiotics mix on growth, hematology and microbial loads of broiler chickens.

This study investigated the growth and health-promoting effectiveness of three medicinal plants (black cumin, fenugreek, and turmeric) on broilers. A total of 270 (Cobb 500) day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments: basal diet (), basal diet + oxytetracycline (), basal diet + black cumin and fenugreek (), basal diet + black cumin and turmeric (), basal diet + fenugreek and turmeric (), basal diet + black cumin, fenugreek and turmeric (). BWG and ADG had no differences ( ≥ 0.05) between and antibiotics-fed birds. Phytobiotic supplemented birds (, , , and ) had lower feed intake and higher FCR ( and ) than controls and ( ≤ 0.05). Comparable ( ≥ 0.05) RBC counts were observed between birds fed phytobiotics ( and ) and fed an antibiotic (), likewise, there were no ( ≥ 0.05) differences between and birds fed phytobiotics ( and ). A mixture of phytobiotics (, , and ) outperformed in lowering total coliform and E. coli bacteria in the cecum than antibiotics ( ≤ 0.05). A mixture of the three phytobiotics can replace commercial antibiotics and have a favorable effect on broiler growth and health by safeguarding human health from the negative effects of antibiotic residue in broiler products.