ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of Boswellia serrata, (BS) on growth performance, carcase traits, antioxidant and immune responses, digestive enzymes and caecum microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly allotted into four treatment groups, each of five replicates. The 1st group was fed on a basal diet only and served as control. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were fed the basal diet plus 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g BS/Kg diet, respectively. Body weight (BW) at 42 days old and daily body weight gain (DBWG) during (1–42 days) was linearly (<0.0001) enhanced with high BS levels compare with the control. The addition of BS to diets linearly and quadratic decreased feed intake, improved feed conversion ratio and digestion coefficients for diet ingredients, and most carcase traits compared to the control. The different levels of BS in chicks’ diets linearly increased globulin, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and digestive enzymes (amylase and lipase). While, the total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were linearly and quadratic reduced in all experimental groups than the control. Total bacteria, total fungi and E. coli were linearly reduced in broiler chicks fed the diet supplemented with BS compared with control. It could be concluded that adding BS to broiler diets positively promoted performance, carcase traits, blood measurements, digestive enzymes, immunity organs, antioxidant parameters and caecal microorganisms. HIGHLIGHTS
Phytobiotics have a beneficial influence on poultry.
Boswella serrata contains a lot of active ingredients.
It is expected to affect performance and health positively