PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF BLOOD AND IMMUNE ORGANS OF BROILER CHICKEN FED DIETARY BLACK CUMIN POWDER (Nigella sativa) DURING DRY SEASONS

This study was designed to determine the physiological response of blood and immune organs of broiler chickens fed on various concentration of dietary black cumin powder (BCP) during the dry season. A total number of 100 unsexed one-day old Cobb broiler chicks were used and distributed to 5 treatments (control, antibiotics and without BCP, 20 g/kg BCP, 40 g/kg BCP and 60 g/kg BCP) and 4 replications (5 birds for each). Physiological responses of blood and immune organs were measured at 30 day of age. Addition of BCP to broiler ration did not significantly effects on physical properties of blood (leukocytes count, erythrocytes count, haemoglobin, hematocrit, monocytes, and eosinophils) and relative weights of thymus and bursa of fabricius, but significantly (P<0.05) increased relative weights of spleen when compared to control. It was concluded that the black cumin grinds (Nigella sativa) as a feed additive could not change the physical properties of blood, relative weights of thymus and bursa of fabricius, but it increased the relative weight of spleen at the level of 60 g/kg BCP, which could reduce adverse effects of infectious diseases in broiler chicken.