Synergistic effects of garlic powder and probiotics on production and growth performance parameters in broiler challenged with coccidia.

BACKGROUND

Coccidial intestinal infection induces significant economic losses in the production of birds. It also constitutes a major hazard of drug residues to meat consumers if the coccidia is controlled using anticoccidial drugs.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the impact of dietary garlic as a natural alternative with or without probiotics compared to the anticoccidial drug against Eimeria infection of broilers.

METHODS

Growth rate, carcass dressing, blood metabolites, meat quality, intestinal histomorphology, oocyst shedding, and gene expression were assessed. A total of 150 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were divided into five groups: NC, negative control; PC, positive control; AC, anticoccidial drug; GR, garlic; GR-P, garlic plus probiotics. The coccidia challenge was conducted for all experimental groups except NC.

RESULTS

PC birds showed a significantly lower weight gain and worse feed conversion ratio compared to the NC birds. The GR-P and AC groups revealed comparable results regarding WG and were significantly higher than the GR and PC groups. In comparison to the PC, AC, and GR-P groups, the GR group exhibited significantly decreased cecal lesion score, mortality rate, and oocyst shedding. GR-P improved carcass traits compared to other groups. GR-P and GR-P showed the highest scores for appearance, juiciness, tenderness, and the overall acceptability of breast meat. GR-P, GR, and AC reduced breast meat PH, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), fat, and ash compared to PC. AC, GR, and GR-P significantly increased jejunal and cecal villus length and crypt depth. Improvements in blood parameters were seen in the AC, GR, and GR-P groups rather than in the PC group. The coccidia challenge significantly induced changes in gene expression levels, while the three additives mainly reversed their expression.

CONCLUSION

The present study reported a promising role of garlic-probiotics dietary supplements in broiler chickens' growth performance during coccidiosis due to their antioxidant, anticoccidial, and antimicrobial activities.