EFFECT OF PROPOLIS ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE AND MEAT QUALITY IN EXPERIMENTALLY ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTED BROILERS

ABSTRACT   The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of propolis on performance, immune response and meat quality broiler chickens infected with E. coli. A total 120 day old chicks were divided randomly into 4 equal experimental groups. The 1st group (G1) fed a basal diet coli (1x108 CFU) at 5 days age. 2nd (G2) supplemented (400mg/kg diet) 3rd (G3) diet). 4th (G4) served as control. Propolis groups showed significantly increased body weight, decreased mortality, reisolation frequency from internal organs early recovery infection. improved phagocytic activity in both Total leukocytic count significant increase lymphocytes concurrent decrease heterophils. Newcastle disease vaccine antibody production treated have higher breast muscles protein concentration lower fat content. Also, it reduction bacterial load examined samples comparison non