Effect of Black Pepper in Broiler Chick Diet on Growth, Carcass Characteristics, Hematology, and Serum Biochemistry

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of dietary black pepper (Piper nigrum) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, haematological indices and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens. Ninety-six Cobb 500 broilers aged 28 days were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments containing 0, 3, 6 or 9 g/kg of black pepper, with three replicates of eight birds per treatment. The feeding trial lasted 28 days, from 28 to 56 days of age. Growth performance was assessed alongside carcass and organ characteristics and blood indices. Birds receiving 3 g/kg recorded the highest average daily weight gain (79.1 g/bird/day), gain-to-feed ratio (0.47) and carcass dressing percentage (80.2%). This treatment also recorded greater gizzard weight (58.7 g), intestinal weight (82.3 g) and intestinal length (250.0 cm) than the other groups. Red blood cell count was highest at 3 g/kg (2.35 × 10¹²/L), while packed cell volume (24.2%) and haemoglobin concentration (9.95 g/dL) were also numerically highest in this group. Aspartate aminotransferase concentrations were higher at 6 and 9 g/kg, whereas alkaline phosphatase was highest at 9 g/kg. Serum creatinine concentration was also highest at 9 g/kg. Overall, 3 g/kg black pepper was associated with the most favourable growth and carcass outcomes among the tested levels, whereas higher inclusion levels were associated with less favourable performance and changes in selected serum biochemical parameters.