Effects of sun-dried garlic and psyllium seed on growth performance, carcass characteristics and serum biochemicals of broiler chicks fed tallow-containing diets

One hundred and eighty 1-d-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned four dietary treatments. The first treatment group was fed a basal diet containing soya oil (Control-SO) but the other treatments were fed tallow-containing basal diets supplemented with no medicinal plants (Control-T), 10 g/kg sun-dried garlic (SDG) or 10 g/kg psyllium seeds (PS). Growth performance in starter, grower and finisher periods, serum at 28-, 35- and 42-d-old and carcass characteristics at 42-d-old chicks were measured. Growth performance was unaffected by addition of 10 g/kg SDG or PS to diets (P > 0.10). Gizzard weight decreased in PS-containing diet rather than Control-T (P< 0.05). Pancreas weight increased in PS-containing diet and jejunum weight decreased in SDG-containing and liver weight decreased in Control-T diet rather than Control-SO diet (P< 0.05). Serum biochemicals were not different among dietary treatments. Tallow-containing diets rather than diets containing SO showed an increase in serum total cholesterol by 23.6% on average.