A master’s thesis defense was held at the College of Agriculture, University of Kerbala, in the Department of Animal Production by the student Thamer Kadhem Mohammed, entitled:
“The Effect of Adding Fenugreek and Thyme Powder at Different Levels to the Diet on Some Productive, Physiological, and Immunological Traits of Broiler Chickens.”
The thesis consisted of several main chapters and addressed two primary themes:
- Studying the effect of adding fenugreek and thyme powder separately to broiler diets on productive, physiological, and immunological traits.
- Evaluating the impact of a mixture of fenugreek and thyme powders at different levels on the same traits in broiler chickens.
The study aimed to:
Highlight the biological impact of fenugreek and thyme extracts as natural feed additives in improving the productive and physiological performance of broilers, in addition to enhancing the immune system and reducing harmful bacterial effects.
Key findings of the study:
• The results showed a significant improvement in body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio upon adding fenugreek and thyme powder.
• Treatments recorded a significant reduction in the logarithmic counts of E. coli bacteria and an increase in beneficial aerobic bacteria, leading to notable enhancement of digestive function.
• There was a significant improvement in the relative weights and lengths of the small intestine, along with increased villus height and crypt depth, thereby enlarging the surface area for nutrient absorption.
Main recommendations of the thesis:
- The potential use of thyme powder as an immune booster in broiler chickens.
- Recommending the addition of fenugreek powder to the diet for its role in increasing appetite and stimulating digestive enzymes.
- The need for future studies to assess the economic return of adding these natural substances to poultry diets.
The defense was attended by a number of faculty members and postgraduate students. The thesis topic garnered attention due to its important practical implications in the poultry production sector.
