University of Guilan Animal Production Research 2252-0872 3 4 2015 02 20 Effect of silybum marianum seed on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens Effect of silybum marianum seed on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens 11 21 18 FA N. Rashidi Graduated MSc student of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan M. Bujarpoor Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan M. Chaji Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan A. Aghaei Lecturer, Department of Animal Science, Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan Journal Article 2015 05 05 This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of<em>silybum marianum </em>seed on performance and carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Research was performed in a completely randomize design with 5 treatments, 4 replicate and 12 broilers in each replicate for 42 days. The treatments consist of the control diet, and 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed. To evaluate the different part of carcass and blood parameters, at the end of experiment two bird of each replicate were bleed and then slaughtered. The results of exprement showed that the highest feed intake in the starter and finisher period respectively observed in the 1(357.71) and 1.5 (1701.9) % of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed, and the lowest was in the control diet (312.08) and 0.5 (1426.6) % of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed. The highest weight gain was in the 1.5 % of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed (801.27) and the lowest was in the control diet (687.40). The highest relative weight of gizzard and intestine were in the 0.5 and 2 % of silybum marianum seed (3.18 and 7.65 respectively) (<em>P</em><0.05) but had no effect on the other carcass characteristics (<em>P</em>>0.05). The lowest cholesterol (91), triglyceride (62.75) and VLDL (12.55) and the highest level of HDL (44.50) observed in the 1.5 % of silybum marianum seed. So use of the 1.5 % of silybum marianum seed had positive effects on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of<em>silybum marianum </em>seed on performance and carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Research was performed in a completely randomize design with 5 treatments, 4 replicate and 12 broilers in each replicate for 42 days. The treatments consist of the control diet, and 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed. To evaluate the different part of carcass and blood parameters, at the end of experiment two bird of each replicate were bleed and then slaughtered. The results of exprement showed that the highest feed intake in the starter and finisher period respectively observed in the 1(357.71) and 1.5 (1701.9) % of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed, and the lowest was in the control diet (312.08) and 0.5 (1426.6) % of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed. The highest weight gain was in the 1.5 % of <em>silybum marianum</em> seed (801.27) and the lowest was in the control diet (687.40). The highest relative weight of gizzard and intestine were in the 0.5 and 2 % of silybum marianum seed (3.18 and 7.65 respectively) (<em>P</em><0.05) but had no effect on the other carcass characteristics (<em>P</em>>0.05). The lowest cholesterol (91), triglyceride (62.75) and VLDL (12.55) and the highest level of HDL (44.50) observed in the 1.5 % of silybum marianum seed. So use of the 1.5 % of silybum marianum seed had positive effects on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens. https://ar.guilan.ac.ir/article_18_465185653ecccc67c071745a855992d0.pdf