Thesis:

Investigating the anti-inflammatory and Growth-promoting effects of Curcumin on Broiler chicken performance

Turmeric, and specifically its curcumin, has been considered as a nutrient of natural origin since long ago in human and veterinary medicine. This important substance is used in terms of growth stimulant, anti-inflammatory, improving eggshell quality and many other applications. In order to investigate the effect of curcumin as a growth stimulant and anti-inflammatory on broiler performance, in this study, 60 broiler chickens of 308 heads were selected from a poultry farm in Sabzevar city. These 60 chickens were divided into 4 equal groups and were fed with concentrations of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 0% curcumin from the beginning of the period to the age of 28 days. Various factors including: weekly weight gain, final slaughter weight, blood factors such as protein and fat and conversion factor were measured during the study and after slaughter. The average weights of carcass, feathers and skin, thigh, breast, wing, neck, chicken feet, liver, gizzard, lung, fat, gizzard and foregut were measured. According to the results, the highest weekly weight gain and final weight were observed in the group that received 1% curcumin. Also, the highest carcass yield in terms of internal organ weight was observed in this group. Regarding blood indices, there was a significant difference between the different groups in terms of LDL, HDL and cholesterol (the highest cholesterol and HDL were observed in the fourth group and the lowest in cholesterol and HDL in the second group, and the highest LDL was observed in the third group and the lowest in the fourth group). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in the other 4 indices studied (the highest blood sugar was observed in the first group and the lowest in the third group. Also, the highest triglyceride was in the fourth group and the lowest triglyceride was in the second group. The highest LDH was observed in the fourth group and the lowest in the first group. The lowest protein was measured in the second group and the highest in the third group). According to this and similar research, the beneficial effects of curcumin on poultry, especially in terms of weight gain and its favorable effect on growth, are undeniable, but further studies are needed regarding other blood factors, especially HDL, LDL, and LDH.

Keywords: Turmeric- Curcumin- Broiler Chicken- Sabzevar