The current study was conducted to survey the influences of addition of alfalfa meal (AM), rice bran (RB) and wood shaving (WS) in wheat-based diets [contain soluble non starch polysaccharides (NSP)] on performance carcass characteristic and serum lipids of broilers from 11 to 42 d of age. Seven hundreds 10-d-old male Ross 308 chicks were placed into 35 pens and allocated to seven wheat-soybean meal-based dietary treatments which were a control (CT) diet (without any fiber source) and six fiber-included diets consisting of three sources of fiber (AM, RB and WS) and two levels of fiber inclusion (3 and 6%) in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. According to the results, the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), corrected-FCR (C-FCR) and crop, proventriculus, gizzard (relative full weights) and heart, abdominal fat, liver, breast and thigh (relative weights) and serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) were affected by different types of fibers (P<0.05). The inclusion of insoluble fibers in wheat-based diet improved ADG and FCR in broilers, so that, the highest amount of ADG and the lowest amount of C-FCR was related to 3% WS contained diet (P<0.05). The highest amount of gizzard weight was depended to 6% WS contained diet (P<0.05) and the lowest breast and thigh weight were also related to RB diets (P<0.05), but the aforementioned treatments had no effect on the different intestine sections weight (P>0.05). In general, the inclusion of 3 to 6% insoluble fibers, except for 6% WS, in wheat-based diet improved growth performance in broiler chickens. Manuscript profile

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds (BCS) in diet on performance, liver weight and enzymes of broilers.The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design. Two hundred forty day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were divided into four groups and assigned to four feeding treatments, with four replicates of 15 birds each. Group 1 was considered as a control group where they are given unsupplemented diets. Group 2, 3 and 4 were given diets supplemented with 5, 10 and 15 g/kg of BCS respectively.Birds fed diets not supplemented withBCS showed no significant effect (P>0.05) on live weight, feed consumption and organs weight, except to liver followed by 0 g/kg treatment (P<0.05). Diets supplemented with BCS increased glucose and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared with control group as significantly (P<0.05). Also, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) andlow-density lipoprotein (LDL) from broilers fed diets supplemented with5 and 10 g/kg BCS was lower than control (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of bird fed to 5 g/kg BCS in 42 days old was the lowest amount (P<0.05). The highest and the lowest liver weight percent were also depending to 15 g/kg BCS and control respectively. Overall, this research showed that BCS supplemented at the varying levels did not have any negative or positive influences on the growth performance of broiler chickens, although it affected some of the blood parameters. Manuscript profile

The objective of this paper was to study the responses on productive performance, carcass characteristics and plasma constituents of modern broiler chicks to administration of cinnamon powder (CP) in the diet. Commercial breeds (Ross 308) of broiler chicks examined from 1 to 42 days of age. This experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and four replicates (15 chickens per pen) involving: 1) control diet (basal diet); 2) basic diet plus CP 0.25%; 3) basic diet plus CP 0.50%; 4) basic diet plus CP 0.75% and 5) basic diet plus CP 1.0%. The addiction of CP to the diets of broiler chicks had no significant effects (P>0.05) on cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoproteins (LDL), abdominal fat, gizzard and heart weights and on breast protein percentage. However, the administration of CP had significant effects (P<0.05) on final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), liver weight, glucose level, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and breast fat percentage of broiler chicks. The highest (P<0.05) FCR and body weight gains were observed with diet 3 at the end of the experiment. In general, the addiction of CP to the diet of broiler chicks improved body weight and decreased the TBA, glucose, LDL and weight of some inner organs. Taking into account the results mentioned before, the use of CP can be proposed as an ingredient for broiler diets. Manuscript profile

The present study evaluated effects of 0.0%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% L-threonine in diet on performance and gastrointestinal tract development in broiler chickens during summer. From 0 to 42 days old, body weight gain was greater in 0.75% L-threonine fed birds than in 0.0% and 0.5% L-threonine fed birds (P<0.05). Moreover, in jejunum and ileum both the 0.75% and 1.0% L-threonine intake caused longer villus height as compared to 0.0% and 0.5% L-threonine (P<0.05), but no other morphological parameters were affected by L-threonine supplementation (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed between the treatments for feed intake and feed conversion ratio during the starter, grower or whole experimental period (P>0.05). During the growth period, 0.75% L-threonine fed birds had the highest body weight gain (P<0.05). Carcass traits were not affected by treatments (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of 0.75% L-threonine improved the intestinal morphology and body weight gain of broilers under hot conditions. As well as, the higher levels of L-threonine (1.0) percent in diet can will increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum. Manuscript profile