The Effects of Different Levels of Nettle Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae)Medicinal Plant in Starter and Grower Feeds on Performance,Carcass Traits, Blood Biochemical and Immunity Parameters of Broilers

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of nettle (Urtica dioica) a medi- cinal plant in starter and grower feeds on performance, carcass traits, blood biochemical and immunity pa- rameters of broilers. A completely randomized design was used with 324 broilers (Ross-308) divided in nine treatments and three replicates (with 12 birds in each replicate) 1 to 42 days. The treatment groups consisted of: (1) control group with no nettle supplementation, in other treatments the level of nettle in starter and grower feeds were, (2) 0.75% in both starter and grower, (3) 0 in starter and 0.75% in grower, (4) 0.75% in starter and 0 in grower, (5) 1.5% in starter and 0.75% in grower, (6) 0.75% in starter and 1.5% in grower, (7) 0 in starter and 1.5% in grower, (8) 1.5% in starter and 0 in grower, and (9) 1.5% in both starter and grower. The results showed that the use of different levels of nettle in starter and grower feeds had significant effects on carcass traits of broilers (P<0.05). The highest percent of breast and thigh (35.04), (26.29) were observed in groups 9 and 3, the highest percent of gizzard (3.76) was observed in group 6 and finally the highest percentage of liver (3.63) was observed in group 7. The overall results showed that the use of 1.5% of nettle medicinal plant in starter and grower feeds without having any significant effects on performance and blood biochemical and immunity parameters, showed positive effects on carcass traits of broilers.