{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:16:04Z","timestamp":1787030164425,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,23]],"date-time":"2022-04-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1650672000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"USDA-NIFA-CBG","award":["2017-38821-26403"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2017-38821-26403"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000199","name":"United States Department of Agriculture","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2019-69012-29905"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2019-69012-29905"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000199","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of fenugreek seeds (FS) as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, one-day-old Ross (n = 160) straight-run broilers were fed FS at 0 g, 2.5 g, 5 g, and 10 g\/kg of diet during the starter (from 1 to 21 days) and finisher phase (from 22 to 35 days) with four replicates of ten birds each. In the second experiment, one-day-old Ross (n = 144) male broilers were fed 0 g, 5 g, and 10 g FS per kilogram of diet during the starter (from 1 to 21 days) and finisher phase (from 22 to 42 days) with six replicates of eight birds each. In addition to growth performance, hematological parameters and intestinal histomorphology were measured in the second experiment. FS linearly reduced the body weight gain (BWG) (p &lt; 0.001), feed intake (FI) (p &lt; 0.05), and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p &lt; 0.05) during the starter phase in both experiments. However, no significant effects on BWG, FI, and FCR were observed during the finisher phase. Moreover, the overall BWG and FI were linearly reduced (p &lt; 0.05) with the increasing levels of FS, but BWG and FI were similar in the 5 g\/kg FS group and control group. The inclusion of FS had a linear increase in white blood cell (WBC), heterophil, and lymphocyte count (p &lt; 0.005) and the decrease in hematocrit % (p = 0.004) and total bilirubin (p = 0.001). The villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio of jejunum and ileum were significantly lower in 5 g FS and 10 g FS treatments (p &lt; 0.001) compared to the control. The result indicates that the dietary inclusion of FS reduces the early growth performance, increases the WBC counts, and negatively affects the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci9050207","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,24]],"date-time":"2022-04-24T02:22:02Z","timestamp":1650766922000},"page":"207","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Effect of Graded Levels of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seeds on the Growth Performance, Hematological Parameters, and Intestinal Histomorphology of Broiler Chickens"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Deependra","family":"Paneru","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR 71601, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2416-2747","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Guillermo","family":"Tellez-Isaias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicholas","family":"Romano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR 71601, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gautami","family":"Lohakare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Little Rock Central High School, 1500 S Park St, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Walter G.","family":"Bottje","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5645-3007","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jayant","family":"Lohakare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR 71601, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2014.00282","article-title":"Antibiotics in Canadian Poultry Productions and Anticipated Alternatives","volume":"5","author":"Diarra","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2466","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2007-00249","article-title":"History of the Use of Antibiotic as Growth Promoters in European Poultry Feeds","volume":"86","author":"Castanon","year":"2007","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.1080\/1040841X.2017.1373062","article-title":"Alternatives to Antibiotics in Poultry Feed: Molecular Perspectives","volume":"44","author":"Suresh","year":"2018","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1433","DOI":"10.1080\/10942912.2016.1212874","article-title":"Antimicrobial Drug Residues in Poultry Products and Implications on Public Health: A Review","volume":"20","author":"Mund","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Prop."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2885.2011.01287.x","article-title":"Pharmacokinetics of Veterinary Drugs in Laying Hens and Residues in Eggs: A Review of the Literature: Drug Residues in Eggs","volume":"34","author":"Goetting","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"877","DOI":"10.1007\/s00216-009-2969-4","article-title":"Antibiotics in Food: Legislation and Validation of Analytical Methodologies","volume":"395","author":"Granados","year":"2009","journal-title":"Anal. Bioanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"618","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/82.4.618","article-title":"Antibiotic Residues in Poultry Tissues and Eggs: Human Health Concerns?","volume":"82","author":"Donoghue","year":"2003","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1017\/S1466252316000207","article-title":"Alternatives to Antibiotics for Maximizing Growth Performance and Feed Efficiency in Poultry: A Review","volume":"18","author":"Gadde","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anim. Health Res. Rev."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2014.00217","article-title":"Antibiotic Alternatives: The Substitution of Antibiotics in Animal Husbandry?","volume":"5","author":"Cheng","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1485","DOI":"10.1089\/jmf.2011.0002","article-title":"The Potential of Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-graecum) as a Functional Food and Nutraceutical and Its Effects on Glycemia and Lipidemia","volume":"14","author":"Roberts","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Med. Food"},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"1473","article-title":"Effect of Fenugreek Seed Husk on the Rheology and Quality Characteristics of Muffins","volume":"3","author":"Srivastava","year":"2012","journal-title":"Food Nutr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lwt.2010.08.013","article-title":"Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Husk and Endosperm of Fenugreek Seeds","volume":"44","author":"Shyamala","year":"2011","journal-title":"LWT-Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4172\/2157-7110.1000181","article-title":"A Review on the Functional Properties, Nutritional Content, Medicinal Utilization and Potential Application of Fenugreek","volume":"3","author":"Meghwal","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Food Process Technol."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"20","article-title":"Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek","volume":"8","author":"Basch","year":"2003","journal-title":"Altern. Med. Rev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"300","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sjbs.2015.09.015","article-title":"Fenugreek a Multipurpose Crop: Potentialities and Improvements","volume":"23","author":"Ahmad","year":"2016","journal-title":"Saudi J. Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104616","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2021.104616","article-title":"Combined Effects of Fenugreek Seeds and Probiotics on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Carcass Criteria, and Serum Hormones in Growing Rabbits","volume":"251","author":"Elkhateeb","year":"2021","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.30704\/http-www-jivs-net.815835","article-title":"Evaluation of Dietary Supplementation of Fenugreek Seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) as a Growth Promoter in Broiler Diet and Its Impacts on Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Cost Effectiveness","volume":"5","author":"Yeasmin","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Istanb. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1248","DOI":"10.56093\/ijans.v85i11.53302","article-title":"Effect of Dandelion Leaves and Fenugreek Seeds with or without Enzyme Addition on Performance and Blood Biochemistry of Broiler Chicken and Evaluation of Their In Vitro Antibacterial Activity","volume":"85","author":"Qureshi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Indian J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"387","article-title":"Health Characteristics and Performance of Broiler Chicks in Response to Trigonella foenum-graecum and Foeniculum vulgare","volume":"4","author":"Saki","year":"2014","journal-title":"Iran. J. Appl. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"1","article-title":"Effects of Different Levels of Dietary Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and Their Combination on Productive Traits, Selected Blood Constituents, Microbiota and Immunity of Broilers","volume":"16","author":"Laudadio","year":"2020","journal-title":"Anim. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.3329\/ralf.v3i2.29356","article-title":"Use of Dietary Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seed for the Production of Safe Broiler Lean Meat","volume":"3","author":"Toaha","year":"2016","journal-title":"Res. Agric. Livest. Fish."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.4038\/tar.v24i3.8014","article-title":"Effects of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seed Powder on Growth Performance, Visceral Organ Weight, Serum Cholesterol Levels and the Nitrogen Retention of Broiler Chicken","volume":"24","author":"Weerasingha","year":"2013","journal-title":"Trop. Agric. Res."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104318","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2020.104318","article-title":"Impact of Dietary Fenugreek, Mung Bean, and Garden Cress on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Measurements, and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens","volume":"242","author":"Ebeid","year":"2020","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.3923\/ijps.2010.278.282","article-title":"Effect of Using Fenugreek, Parsley and Sweet Basil Seeds as Feed Additives on the Performance of Broiler Chickens","volume":"9","author":"Abbas","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int. J. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"25","article-title":"Utilization of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) as Growth Promoter for Broiler Chickens","volume":"2","author":"Alloui","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Worlds Poult. Res."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"1007","article-title":"Effect of Seed Powder of a Herbal Legume Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.) on Growth Performance, Body Components, Digestive Parts, and Blood Parameters of Broiler Chicks","volume":"45","author":"Duru","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pak. J. Zool."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2016.08.003","article-title":"Toxicological Properties of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)","volume":"96","author":"Ouzir","year":"2016","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1017\/S0043933917000459","article-title":"Beneficial Uses of Dandelion Herb (Taraxacum officinale) in Poultry Nutrition","volume":"73","author":"Qureshi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Worlds Poult. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"849","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dld.2007.06.001","article-title":"Endotoxin- and d-Galactosamine-Induced Liver Injury Improved by the Administration of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Blueberry","volume":"39","author":"Osman","year":"2007","journal-title":"Dig. Liver Dis."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2006","DOI":"10.3382\/ps\/pew504","article-title":"Developmental Morphology Study on the Stomach of African Ostrich Chicks","volume":"96","author":"Wang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2011-01675","article-title":"Productive Performance and Histological Features of Intestinal Mucosa of Broiler Chickens Fed Different Dietary Protein Levels","volume":"91","author":"Laudadio","year":"2012","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"442","DOI":"10.1590\/S0102-09352008000200025","article-title":"Performance and Morphology of Intestinal Mucosa of Broilers Fed Mannan-Oligosaccharides and Enzymes","volume":"60","author":"Oliveira","year":"2008","journal-title":"Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"476","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/85.3.476","article-title":"Effect of Antibiotic Growth Promoters on Broiler Performance, Intestinal Growth Parameters, and Quantitative Morphology","volume":"85","author":"Miles","year":"2006","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1030","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/82.6.1030","article-title":"Effects of Dietary Fructooligosaccharide on Digestive Enzyme Activities, Intestinal Microflora and Morphology of Male Broilers","volume":"82","author":"Xu","year":"2003","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/9\/5\/207\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T22:59:31Z","timestamp":1760137171000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/9\/5\/207"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,23]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci9050207"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci9050207","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-7381","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,23]]}}}