The effect of celery (Apium graveolens) seed powder in the diet on growth, immune function, antioxidant status and gut microbial balance in broiler chickens.

The current experiment is planned to ascertain the influences of celery seed powder (CSP) as an antibiotic substitute in broiler feed on intestinal microbial load, growth rates, carcass traits, and blood indices. In a fully randomized scheme experiment, 240 one-day-old broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were separated into 4 experimental groups, each of which had 6 replicates, each of which had 10 unsexed chicks. The first group served as the control, while the treatment groups—CSP1, CSP2, and CSP3 received the basal diet supplemented with 1, 2, and 3 g/kg of CSP, respectively. The findings indicated that feed intake, body weight gain, and live body weight were not significantly impacted by CSP supplementation. However, as CSP levels rose, the feed conversion ratio rose. Except for larger liver and spleen weights in the CSP-supplemented groups, there were no discernible changes in carcass characteristics. Abdominal fat decreased considerably in CSP1 and CSP2. Elevated creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were found in CSP3 by blood biochemical examination. Supplementing with CSP resulted in elevated triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in lipid profiles. The CSP1 group showed a considerable increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and immunoglobulin levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, however, increased in CSP2. All levels of CSP showed a notable decrease in harmful bacteria (Salmonella and E. Coli) and an increase in good bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bacillus). Overall, supplementation with 1 g/kg CSP was most beneficial, improving immune response, reducing abdominal fat, and enhancing gut microbial balance.