Anise seed (Pimpinella anisum L.) as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters on performance, carcass traits and immune responses in broiler chicks

To evaluate the effect of inclusion of three levels of anise seed (Pimpinella anisum L.) as an antibiotic growth promoter substitute on growth performance, carcass traits, and immune responses in broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty, 1-day-old, hatched Ross broilers received a maize-soybean meal basal diet and were allocated randomly in the following five experimental treatments for 6 weeks: basal diet-no additives, basal diet containing 1 g anise/kg diet, basal diet containing 5 g anise/kg diet, basal diet containing 10 g anise/kg diet and basal diet containing flavophospholipol at 4.5 mg/kg diet. At Day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered for determination of carcass and organ weights. At Day 28, serum antibody titers against avian influenza virus were measured by the hemagglutination inhibition test. Bodyweight of broilers fed basal diet was higher at 42 d of age than other groups but it was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Broilers receiving basal diet had higher feed intake compared to broilers receiving difference levels of anise seed (P