Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility

<p>The present study evaluated the effects of fennel seed meal (FSM) on performance, carcass characteristics, lengths of digestive tract parts (cm), intestinal enzyme activity, intestinal microbiology, blood parameters, and economic efficiency in broiler chickens. One hundred 44 unsexed, 1 d o...

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Main Authors: M. E. Ghonime, F. Abdelazeem, R. A. M. Ali, M. M. Hamed, W. A. Hassan, L. A. Almutairi, M. A. Alqahtani, S. H. Almasoudi, M. Alagawany
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-08-01
Series:Archives Animal Breeding
Online Access:https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/68/531/2025/aab-68-531-2025.pdf
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author M. E. Ghonime
F. Abdelazeem
R. A. M. Ali
M. M. Hamed
W. A. Hassan
L. A. Almutairi
M. A. Alqahtani
S. H. Almasoudi
M. Alagawany
author_facet M. E. Ghonime
F. Abdelazeem
R. A. M. Ali
M. M. Hamed
W. A. Hassan
L. A. Almutairi
M. A. Alqahtani
S. H. Almasoudi
M. Alagawany
author_sort M. E. Ghonime
collection DOAJ
description <p>The present study evaluated the effects of fennel seed meal (FSM) on performance, carcass characteristics, lengths of digestive tract parts (cm), intestinal enzyme activity, intestinal microbiology, blood parameters, and economic efficiency in broiler chickens. One hundred 44 unsexed, 1 d old broiler chicks (Ross) were divided into four groups, each with 36 chicks, at random and into four replicates, each with 9 chicks. The first group was fed the basal diet (control group), while the second, third, and fourth groups (T1–3) were fed a diet with 5 %, 10 %, and 20 % fennel seed meal, respectively. Dietary treatments significantly affected all performance parameters at 5 weeks of age. Total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol, and triglycerides significantly affected the results, while the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin–globulin ratios did not change substantially. The results revealed no significant difference in the activity of amylase, trypsin, and lipase (U dL<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) between the treatments. The chymotrypsin enzyme experienced a notable impact. There was a significant increase in the total digestive tract, small intestine, and cecum length (cm) in birds fed FSM compared to the control group. Moreover, including FSM in broiler diets increased lactic acid bacteria and reduced coliforms and clostridia. Net return and economic efficiency were increased with increasing FSM levels in broiler diets. It is concluded that FSM can be used in up to 20 % of broiler chicken diets to reduce feed costs without adverse effects on broilers' growth performance and public health.</p>
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Archives Animal Breeding
spelling doaj-art-3bea60f98eec4584b1a9e42a61977e862025-08-20T03:41:36ZengCopernicus PublicationsArchives Animal Breeding0003-94382363-98222025-08-016853153910.5194/aab-68-531-2025Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibilityM. E. Ghonime0F. Abdelazeem1R. A. M. Ali2M. M. Hamed3W. A. Hassan4L. A. Almutairi5M. A. Alqahtani6S. H. Almasoudi7M. Alagawany8Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Aswan, EgyptDepartment of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, EgyptDepartment of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Beni Sweif University, EgyptDepartment of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, EgyptDepartment of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Aswan, EgyptDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61413 Abha, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi ArabiaPoultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt<p>The present study evaluated the effects of fennel seed meal (FSM) on performance, carcass characteristics, lengths of digestive tract parts (cm), intestinal enzyme activity, intestinal microbiology, blood parameters, and economic efficiency in broiler chickens. One hundred 44 unsexed, 1 d old broiler chicks (Ross) were divided into four groups, each with 36 chicks, at random and into four replicates, each with 9 chicks. The first group was fed the basal diet (control group), while the second, third, and fourth groups (T1–3) were fed a diet with 5 %, 10 %, and 20 % fennel seed meal, respectively. Dietary treatments significantly affected all performance parameters at 5 weeks of age. Total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol, and triglycerides significantly affected the results, while the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin–globulin ratios did not change substantially. The results revealed no significant difference in the activity of amylase, trypsin, and lipase (U dL<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) between the treatments. The chymotrypsin enzyme experienced a notable impact. There was a significant increase in the total digestive tract, small intestine, and cecum length (cm) in birds fed FSM compared to the control group. Moreover, including FSM in broiler diets increased lactic acid bacteria and reduced coliforms and clostridia. Net return and economic efficiency were increased with increasing FSM levels in broiler diets. It is concluded that FSM can be used in up to 20 % of broiler chicken diets to reduce feed costs without adverse effects on broilers' growth performance and public health.</p>https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/68/531/2025/aab-68-531-2025.pdf
spellingShingle M. E. Ghonime
F. Abdelazeem
R. A. M. Ali
M. M. Hamed
W. A. Hassan
L. A. Almutairi
M. A. Alqahtani
S. H. Almasoudi
M. Alagawany
Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility
Archives Animal Breeding
title Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility
title_full Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility
title_fullStr Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility
title_short Evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens' diets: impacts on performance, carcass traits, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota, blood metabolites, and economic feasibility
title_sort evaluation of fennel seed meal in broiler chickens diets impacts on performance carcass traits digestive enzymes intestinal microbiota blood metabolites and economic feasibility
url https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/68/531/2025/aab-68-531-2025.pdf
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