The study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of POLTRON herbal extract in drinking water on broiler chicken performance and immune response. 200 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 4 groups, with one control group and three treatment groups receiving 0.5%, 1%, or 1.5% POLTRON. Productive performance was evaluated at 35 days. Results showed body weight gain and final weight were highest in the 0.5% and 1% groups compared to the control. Feed intake did not differ but antibody titers against Newcastle Disease virus were higher in the 1% and 1.5% groups. The 1% concentration showed the best results and is recommended for commercial use to improve productivity and profit

1. Effect of different concentrations of herbal, medicinal
plants extracts mix POLTRON on productive
performance and immune response to the ND vaccine
of broiler chickens reared to slaughter age.
By Associate Professor Dr. Zuhair Alchalabi, PhD
College of Veterinary medicine University of Baghdad
Agro Tech International Ltd. New Zealand

2. INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ON THE
PERFORMANCE, AND IMMUNE RESPONSE OF COMMERCIAL
BROILER CHICKENS.
1. Two hundred one-day-old healthy Ross 308 chicks as hatched were obtained
from a local hatchery.
2. Subdivided into 4 groups (G1, G2, G3, and G4; 50 chicks in each group).
3. The chickens were given 0.5% (G2), 1% (G3), and 1.5% (G4) of POLTRON in
drinking water from one -day-old to the end of the experiment (35 days).
4. Group1 (G1) was left without treatment as a control.
5. Chicks were housed in separate pens (2.5×2.5m), in a traditional deep litter
house at the Animal Unit/ College of Veterinary Medicine/University of
Baghdad.
6. Chicks were exposed to 23 h lighting during the experiment period.
7. The temperature was set at 35℃ for the first 3 days and then decreased by 1℃
every 7 days until a final temperature of 25℃ was achieved.

3. 7. THE BROILER CHICKS WERE FED A COMMERCIAL DIET CONTAINING 23% CP AND 3,225 MI
KCAL/KG OF ENERGY FROM 1 TO 35 DAYS OF AGE.
8. EACH GROUP WAS EQUIPPED WITH 3 HANGING FEEDER AND 2 WATER DRINKERS. WATER
AND FEED WERE OFFERED AD LIBITUM THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD.
9. NEWCASTLE DISEASE (ND) VACCINATIONS PROGRAM WAS FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO
THE COMMERCIAL PRACTICE (AT 10 DAYS/ HITCHER B1 STRAIN AND CLONE-30 STRAIN
AT 21 DAYS IN DRINKING WATER).
10. TEN CHICKS AS HATCHED PER TREATMENT, WERE SELECTED RANDOMLY FOR BLOOD
SAMPLING VIA THE JUGULAR VEIN.
11. BLOOD WAS COLLECTED INDIVIDUALLY IN 10-ML NON-ANTICOAGULANT HEPARINIZED
TUBES, AND WE REANALYZED FOR ANTIBODY TITERS AGAINST NEWCASTLE DISEASE.
12. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED USING THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE BY DAVID S.
WALONICK, PH.D. (COPYRIGHT © 1996-2010, STATPAC INC.). ONE-WAY ANALYSIS OF
VARIANCE (ANOVA) WITH A 5% SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL WAS USED TO COMPARE (MEAN ±SE)
OF THE 4 GROUPS

4. Groups
Parameters
G4- 1.5%G3- 1%G2- 0.5%
G1-
Control
725.58±54.11
AB
778.67±76.42
AB
871.64±50.04
A
667.38±39.3
1
B
Body Weight gain (g/chick)
1
1470.97±30.01
B
1680.00±31.17
A
1616.67±30.25
A
1402.08±31.
45
B
Final Body Weight (g/chick)
2
1492.10±96.87
B
1774.30±141.51
AB
1743.60±111.40
AB
1504.30±88.
80
B
Total Feed intake (g/chick)
3
1.01±3.221.06±120.901.07±0.371.07±1.09
FCR
4
2741.00±122.00
AB
2852.50±143.00
AB
572.50±212.00
B
427.00±41.0
0
B
ND HI titers
5
8%5%5%20%
Mortality %
6
2678.60±188.96
A
2738.60±273.52
A
3162.10±205.30
A
2837.90±177
.03
A
Water consumption
(ml/chick)
7

5. ֎ The productive performance of the chicks reared in this study were evaluated at the
slaughter age of 35 days old (Table 1).
֎ The body weight gain in groups G2 (0.5%), G3 (1.0%), and G4(1.5%) were significantly (P<
0.05) higher than the control group (G1),
֎ furthermore, group G2 showed the highest body weight gain when compared to the control
or groups 3 and 4.
֎ The results showed also that final body weight in groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher
(P< 0.05) than that recorded in the control group or G4.
֎ Group G3, however, showed the highest body weight at the age of 35 day.
֎ Total feed intake in groups G2 and G3 were significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared to
G1 and G4. However, there were no significant differences between groups G4 and G1.
֎ At 35 days of age, the Feed Conversion Ratio and water consumption showed no significant
differences between the 4 groups.
֎ The antibody titer values (HI) for ND in groups 3 and 4 were significantly (P< 0.05) higher
when compared to the control groups (G1) and G2.
֎ The mortality rate in Groups G2, G3, and G4 showed the lowest values compared to the
control group.

6. The economic benefit of using in drinking water to improve the
productivity of the broiler chickens is very important. The result is clearly
demonstrated that the farmer and the producer can achieve
 high body weight at the slaughter age without extra feed consumption,
keeping in mind that FCR is the same in the traded and non-treated
groups. In another word, the farmers and the chickens
 producers can achieve high profit without increasing feed intake, while
keeping a constant FCR.
 On the other hand, using in drinking water significantly increase
flock protection against ND disease especially with 1%.
 The farmer and the producer will get extra profits from lower mortality,
and lower number of vaccination times.

7. IN CONCLUSIONS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF POLTRON AT
THE CONCENTRATIONS OF 0.5%, 1% AND 1.5%
1. SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE PRODUCTIVE
PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS AND
2. INCREASED THE ANTIBODY TITERS AGAINST ND AT THE
AGE OF 35 DAYS (SLAUGHTER AGE).
3. And increase profitability of the flock.
4. However, 1% of the product was the most superior, and it
is recommended to be used as a water supplement in
commercial chicken production.
These results need further investigation.

11. Agro Tech International Ltd. New Zealand