Dietary supplementation of Cannabis sativa residues in broiler chickens affects performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology, blood biochemistry profile and oxidative stability

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 103; no. 10; p. 104117
• Main Authors: Sopian, Yusup, Sartsook, Apinya, Arjin, Chaiwat, Lumsangkul, Chompunut, Sringarm, Korawan, Sivapirunthep, Panneepa, Chaosap, Chanporn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01-10-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Animals; Blood Chemical Analysis - veterinary; Cannabidiol; Cannabis - chemistry; Chickens - anatomy & histology; Chickens - blood; Chickens - growth & development; Chickens - physiology; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; feed conversion ratio; Intestines - anatomy & histology; Intestines - drug effects; Male; malondialdehyde; Random Allocation; total bilirubin; villus height; villus height; Cannabidiol; total bilirubin; malondialdehyde; feed conversion ratio
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104117

Public interest in the cannabis plant has increased after its legalization in many countries. Cannabis sativa residues (CR) are a part of the plant waste in the cannabis industry. The CR contain medicinal properties that could be used as a feed additive in poultry production. The trial was conducted to investigate the effects of CR on growth performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology, and blood biochemistry profile of broiler chickens. In a completely randomized design, 256 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 8 replicates and 8 birds per replicate. These 4 dietary treatments included a basal diet with 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% CR for 40 d. The results showed that 2% CR supplementation reduced feed intake (FI) in the starter phase (d 3–23, P < 0.05). The birds in the CR groups had lower FI in the finishing phase (d 24–40, P < 0.01) and the whole raising period (d 3–40, P < 0.01) than the control. However, the body weight and carcass yield were not different (P > 0.05). In addition, the CR diet had no adverse effects on the blood biochemistry profile, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, globulin, albumin, and direct bilirubin (P > 0.05). In addition, total bilirubin and malondialdehyde were better in the plasma of CR-supplemented birds than in the control groups (P < 0.05). The observations on intestinal morphology showed that CR supplementation improved the ratio between villus height and crypt depth in the ileum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CR supplementation can improve intestinal morphology and oxidative stability of broiler chickens. This suggests that CR could potentially be used as an alternative feed additive in broiler production.