evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with alliacin (alcoholic extracts of garlic, onion and leek) on performance of broiler chickens (ross-308)

The use of growth stimulants in the poultry industry leads to an increase in the weight of broilers. recently, the use of medicinal plants and their extracts in controlling poultry diseases and stimulating growth has received much attention due to its cost-effectiveness and minimal side effects. alliacin is an herbal compound containing the alcoholic extracts of garlic, onion and leek. to evaluate the effect of alliacin on broiler performance, alliacin was added to a ratio of 1, 2 and 4 ml per l of drinking water in different experimental groups and weekly weight gain, end-of-period weight, feed conversion ratio and villi height and crypt depth of duodenum and jejunum were evaluated. the results of this study revealed that the groups receiving alliacin weighed more than the control group during the rearing period. the mean weight gain in the group receiving alliacin at 2 ml/l of drinking water was 240 g more than the control group. also, the best feed conversion ratio (1.52 and 1.55) was belonged to the alliacin group at 2 and 4 ml per l of drinking water, respectively. histomorphometric evaluation of duodenum and jejunum showed that the groups receiving alliacin had higher villi height and crypt depth than the control group, however, this difference was not significant. it could be concluded that dietary supplementation with alliacin could improve weight gain, feed conversion ratio (2 ml per l of water), villi height and crypt depth in duodenum and jejunum.