The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of feeding of herbal neonatal chick care against iron-induced toxicity. A total of 130 day old male broiler chicks (Vencobb strain) were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 was maintained on basal diet, group 2 and 3 on herbal neonatal chick care (NNCC) @ 6 and 8 g/chick/day, respectively for 2 days after hatching and later continued with basal diet for 6 wks. Group 4 was given FeSO4 @ 0.5% of feed for 6 wks. Group 5 and 6 were given NNCC as in groups 2 and 3, and later continued with the FeSO4 as in group 4 up to 6 wks. The concentration of serum creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, and the activity of CPK was significantly (P<0.05) increased in group 4, while there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the concentration of HDL cholesterol. The histopathology of kidney and heart revealed lesions of mild to marked severity in different combinations. It is concluded that the neonatal feeding of herbal NNCC offered protection against iron-induced toxicity.
Loading....