Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cress seeds supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics and behavior of broilers. A total of sixty-one- month day old cockerels were utilized for this study, obtained from a local commercial farm. They were randomly distributed to four groups (n=15, each) with three replicates within group. In the first group, birds were fed on basal diet without addition of cress seeds (CS) which was assigned as control. In second, third and fourth groups birds were fed on basal diet with supplementation of different concentrations of cress seeds (0.5 (T1), 1(T2) and 1.5 (T3) % respectively). The treatment was continued for 5 weeks period. The obtained results showed that supplementation with cress seeds at concentration of 1% has positive effect on broiler body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, production efficiency factor, broiler index and ingestive and sitting behavior. The relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard and heart were significantly affected by dietary inclusion of CS into broiler diets. Serum total protein and globulin were significantly (P

Key words: cress seed, broilers, performance, behavior, carcass traits, blood parameters