REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIÊNCIA AVÍCOLA, cilt.24, sa.2, ss.1-6, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of adding
fruit of juniper berry (Juniperus communis) on performance, some
carcass characteristics, serum parameters, histopathological features
and jejunum villi lengths in broiler diets. A total of 150 male chicks
were used in the study. The chicks were housed for 42 days. One of
the experimental groups was a control group, and the diets of the 4
treatment groups included 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% dried natural
juniper berries, respectively. Addition of fruit of juniper berry to
the diets had positive effects on body weight, average daily weight
gain, feed conversion rate and slaughter weight, feed intake, hot
carcass yield and serum calcium and phosphorus levels. Juniper
berry addition in the diets also increased the length of the jejunum
villi. As a result, it can be recommended to add up to 1% of juniper
berry in broiler diet.