الفهرس 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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Abstract
The current work was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding Echinacea purpurea leaves powder, Spiriulina platensis powder and nucleotides either single or in a combination on growth performance parameters, carcass traits and economical efficiency of broilers. In addition, blood biochemical parameters, intestinal histomorphology, gene expression, immunity and antioxidant status were also detected.
A total number of 216 unsxed one-day old broiler chicks (Ross-308) obtained from local commercial source and randomly distributed into 8 equal groups each of three replicates (9 chicks/ replicate) with average intial weight (39.87±1.31g). In the first group, birds were fed ad-libitum on starter, grower and finisher basal control diets (D1). This group assigned as a control which the other treated groups was compared. Chicks in the second group fed on diets (D2) supplemented with 1% echinacea leaves powder, while birds in the third group fed diets (D3) containing 1% spirulina powder. Broilers in the fourth group fed diet (D4) supplemented with 0.05% nucleotides powder, while broilers in the fifth group fed starter, grower and finisher diets (D5) containing mixture of 0.5% echinacea leaves powder and 0.5% spirulina powder. Ross broilers in the sixth group fed starter, grower and finisher diets (D6) supplemented with mixture of 0.5% spirulina powder and 0.05% nucleotides powder, while birds in the seventh group fed diets containing mixture of 0.5% echinacea leaves powder and 0.05% nucleotides powder (D7). Chicks in group 8 fed starter, grower and finisher diets (D8) containing a combination of 0.5% echinacea leaves powder, 0.5% spirulina powder and 0.05% nucleotides powder.
The basal control starter, grower and finisher diets were formulated in a mash form according to nutrition specification of Ross broilers (2019). Birds were fed according to three phases program (starter, grower and finisher) for 35 days experimental period. Growth performance, carcass traits, serum biochemical, immune parameters, intestinal histomorphology, gene expression and economical feed efficiency were assessed.
The following results were obtained:
1. The highest significant (P<0.05) body weight (2199.10±77.93g) and body weight gain (2159.40±77.75g) were observed in eighth group fed diet supplemented with a combination of 0.5% echinacea, 0.5% spirulina & 0.05% nucleotides, followed by third group fed diet supplemented with 1.0% Spirulina platensis (2089.40±39.89g), while seventh group recorded the lowest significant (P<0.05) body weight (1795.70±52.51g) and body weight gain (1755.40±52.35g). Dietary Echinacea purpurea leaves improved body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of broilers in the second group. Nucleotides supplementation in the fourth group numerically increased body weight (2044.90±38.44g) and body weight gain (2005.40±38.19g), while addition of nucleotides and spirulina in the six group had no significant effect on body weight and weight gain.
2. Birds in the third group received diets containing 1.0% Spirulinal platensis recorded highest value of feed consumption (3129.80±77.14g) among all treated groups, while the lowest value was recorded in group 7 fed diet supplemented with a combination of Echinacea and nucleotides (2764.80±55.85g).
3. Feed conversion ratios of broilers improved significantly (P<0.05) in all treated groups with best value in group 8 (1.41±0.04), followed by second and fourth groups (1.44±0.05) and (1.45±0.02), respectively in comparison with control (1.66±0.06).
4. No significant differences in carcass traits including hot carcass, eviscerated carcass, dressed carcass percentages and relative weight of liver among all treated groups and control.
5. Addition of 1.0% Spirulina platensis to broiler diets significantly (P<0.05) increased serum total protein, globulin and HDL, while significantly (P<0.05) decreased level of serum cholesterol and LDL with no significant effect on the serum triglycerides.
6. Supplementation of Echinacea purpurea leaves had no significant effect on serum total protein, albumin and globulin, while decreased serum cholesterol and LDL. A combination of echinacea with spirulina significantly decreased cholesterol level. Dietary inclusion of 0.05% nucleotides significantly (P<0.05) decreased serum cholesterol and LDL level while increased triglycerides. A combination of 0.5% spirulina with 0.05% nucleotides significantly increased serum cholesterol level while a combination of 0.5% echinacea+ 0.5%spirulina +0.05%nucleotides had no significant effect on serum biochemical parameters.
7. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased, while serum GPX and super oxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes were increased in all treated groups in comparison with control.
8. The relative weights of bursa significantly (P<0.05) increased in all treated groups compared to control where best value was recorded in broilers of fourth and eighth groups (0.17±0.02%).
9. Addition of Echinacea purpurea, spiriulina platensis or nucleotides single or in a combination to broiler diets had a significant (P<0.05) differences in total differential leucocytic count among treated groups. Spirulina platensis single or with Echinacea purpurea or nucleotides increased WBCs, while Echinacea purpurea 1.0% had no significant effect on WBCs, lymphocytes%, heterophils% or monocyte%. Addition of nucleotides single or in a combination with 0.5% spirulina recorded the highest WBCs and heterophils%.
10. All birds in all the experimental groups showed up regulation of immune related gene (IL-10) except broilers in group 7 which down regulated (IL-10). The growth related gene (IGF) up regulated in birds of fourth, sixth and eighth groups.
11. Addition of Echinacea purpurea, Spiriulina platensis or nucleotides to broiler diets improved intestinal histomrphology, while birds in the seventh group received diet supplemented with echinacea and nucleotides revealed degeneration and necrosis of small intestine.
12. The highest EFE was recorded in the third group fed diet supplemented with 1.0% Spiriulina platensis (65.77%) followed by fourth group received diet containing nucleotides (64.85%), while the worst value recorded in seventh group supplemented with echinacea and nucleotides (37.08%).