Effect of milk thistle with artichoke or gingko leaves extract on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers

Abstract

The results showed that the milk thistle with artichoke extract (T1) and the milk thistle with ginkgo leaves extract (T2) significantly decreased the FCR from day 35 to day 42 compared with control group (C) (P<0.05). Moreover, the mortality rate tended to decrease in groups T1 and T2 compared with the control group from day 14 to day 21. However, the growth performance that is shown from the body weight gain (BWG), the feed intake (FI) and the average daily gain (ADG) which tended to increase but still not different from the control group (C). Carcass characteristics were studied by sampling 2 birds at 42 days from each replicate, then slaughtered and weighing the organs. Carcass and organs weight of the chickens in the treatment groups (T1 and T2) were not differed from those in the control group (C). Therefore, supplementing this substance in broilers should help to adjust the FCR values and improve growth performance.