Effect of dietary supplementation of silymarin on performance and behavioral responses of broiler chickens under lead-induced oxidative stress

This study aimed at investigating the effect of silymarin on performance and behavioral responses in lead- induced oxidative stress chickens. Broiler Ross ۳۰۸ chicks (n=۲۴۰) were allotted to ۲۴ pens (۱۰ birds in each pens) in a completely randomized design with a ۲×۳ factorial arrangements and ۴ replicates. The experimental diets containing silymarin at ۳ levels (۰, ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰ ppm) and ۲ levels of lead (۰, ۲۰۰ ppm) were fed for ۶ weeks. Lead decreased (P<۰.۰۵) the body weight gain (BWG) and impaired (P<۰.۰۱) the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Inclusion of silymarin in the lead-contaminated diet inhibited the inhibitory effects of dietary lead (P<۰.۰۵) on growth performance. Blood lead levels of broilers feeding on the diet containing ۲۰۰ ppm lead were higher (P<۰.۰۱) than the control, and silymarin supplemented chickens (P<۰.۰۱). Moreover, supplementation of lead alone decreased active position (P<۰.۰۵) and feeding (P<۰.۰۱), while supplementation of silymarin significantly increased (P<۰.۰۵) the proportion of spent activity in total behavioral budget. Lead at ۲۰۰ ppm significantly increased aggression behavior and supplementation of silymarin in lead-contaminated diet significantly decreased aggression behavior (P<۰.۰۱). In conclusion, results showed that addition of silymarin improved the growth performance and changed the behavioral responses of broiler chickens that were experiencing lead- induced oxidative stress.

کلیدواژه ها:

Oxidative stress ، growth performance ، behavioral responses ، broiler chicken ، lead