Abstract
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) was selected as the target plant for the present study due to its high nutritional value and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The aim was to investigate the effect of adding purslane powder on flock performance and immune response against Newcastle and infectious bursal disease. Purslane seeds were purchased from a medicinal company in India and, after preparation, used as a 1% powder. The experiment was conducted using 180 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens, with the aim of investigating the effect of purslane powder on the performance and immunity system of the birds. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with three treatments, four replicates and 15 birds each. The experimental treatments comprised a negative control (basic feed without purslane powder or vaccination), a positive control (basic feed without purslane powder but vaccinated against Newcastle and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)), and a purslane group (basic feed with 1% purslane powder and vaccination). The results of the experiment demonstrated that performance indicators such as total weight at the end of the period, body weight gain, and European Production Efficiency Factor decreased with vaccination and increased significantly with the use of purslane powder in vaccinated chickens (p<0.05). Antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus in vaccinated chicks received purslane powder was more than vaccinated group without purslane, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05). The study also revealed that the antibody titer against the IBD vaccine increased in both vaccinated groups; however, the titer in the purslane group was significantly higher than in the group that received only vaccination (p<0.05). The findings of this study indicate that the supplementation of broiler feed with purslane can enhance the performance of broiler flocks, strengthen the immune response against ND and IBD vaccination, and positively impact the population of intestinal microflora.