The Effect of Cinnamon Powder and Cinnamon Extract on Performance, Blood Parameters and Microbial Population of Broiler Chicks

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of cinnamon (Satureja hortensis L.) powder (SP) and cinnamon extract (SE) on the performance, blood parameters and microbial population of broilers. One hundred fifty Ross 308 strain day old broiler in a completely randomized design with five treatments (three replicates per treatment and each replicate had 10 chicks) were categorized. Treatments included group 1: no additive (control), group 2: 1.5% cinnamon powder in feed, group 3: 3% cinnamon powder in feed, group 4: 200 ppm cinnamon extract in drinking water, group 5: 300 ppm cinnamon extract in drinking water. for six weeks. Data analysis was performed using SAS software and mean comparison was conducted by Duncan method. The results determined that using different levels of cinnamon has significant effects on feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio blood parameters (P<0.05) but the glucose concentration in the experimental treatment was not significantly different (P>0.05). The results also determined that amount of Lactobacilli and Escherichia Coli was significantly influenced by experimental treatments (P<0.05).