ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of bile salts on the growth performance, carcase estimates, immunity and antioxidant measurements, some blood biochemical parameters, intestine enzyme activities and microbiology of broiler chickens. One hundred twenty 1 day old of Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 5 replicates of 6 chicks each for 42 days. The first group was the basal diet only and served as control. The second, third and fourth groups were fed the basal diet plus 0.5, 1 and 1.5ml bile salts/kg diet, respectively. Body weight and daily body weight gain were linearly (p<.01) increased with increasing bile salt levels compared to control. Addition of bile salts to broiler diets significantly (p<.01) decreased feed intake and improved feed conversion than control. The addition of 1.0ml bile salts to broiler chicks’ diets increased plasma proteins concentrations, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase compared with the control group. The cholesterol and triglyceride levels, liver enzymes and intestinal enzymes (amylase, protease and lipase) activities were significantly (p<.05 or 0.01) increased in bile salt groups. While, malondialdehyde was significantly (p<.01) decreased in all treated groups compared to control. Total bacteria, total fungi, Escherichia coli and Salmonella were decreased in broiler chicks fed diet supplemented with bile salts. It could be concluded that bile salts especially levels (0.5 and 1.0 ml/kg diet) have a positive impact on growth performance and carcass traits, blood biochemical measurements, intestinal enzymes activities, digestibility of nutrients and microorganism’s content of broiler chicks. HIGHLIGHTS
Addition bile salt to broiler diets improved growth rate and feed conversion.
Addition bile salt to broiler diets improved nutrients digestion.
The addition of 1.0 ml bile salts in broiler diets increased total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase.
Total fungi, Escherichia coli and Salmonella were decreased in chicks fed diet supplemented with bile salts