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Abstract ”Six weeks of research were conducted to assess the growth performance, biochemical parameters, immune response, specific blood parameters, and histopathological tests of broiler chickens in response to feeding diets enriched with various types of protein sources with or without chitosan as a nanotechnology feed additive and their combination. This study involved 500 arbor acres and broiler chicks. Birds were housed in partition farms on their first day of life, with chicks randomly divided into ten equal experimental groups. Each experimental group was divided into five replications with ten chicks each. During the trial, all chicks had free access to food (in Mach form) and water, from one to six weeks of age. For both starter (0-3 weeks) and grower phases (3-6 weeks) of growth, five isocaloric (2100 Kcal ME/kg) and isonitrogenous (23% Cp) were formulated to contain five different protein sources: SBM, Coco NSM, RSM, NSM and their combination (mix). Diet (1), which included SBM and corn gluten meal, acted as a control diet. In diets 2, 3, 4, and 5, Coco NSM, RSM, NSM, and their combinations replaced approximately 33% of the control diet’s CP content. The five diets were supplemented with 10 mg/kg of chitosan. Thus, five experimental diets were formulated and used. The five experimental diets, used in experiment 2 (Exp 2), were the same component of (Exp 1) but with chitosan as a nanotechnology feed additive. Pens were subjected to identical environmental, managerial, and hygienic circumstances. Chicks in each dietary treatment were fed their particular experimental meal and given fresh water ad libitum during the entire trial period (0-6 weeks of age). Growth performance was measured as live body weight (LBW), feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Economic efficiency was measured. Serum concentrations of total protein (TP) g/dl, albumin (Alb), globulin (Glob), Cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TriG), A high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), V lipoproteins (vLDL), cholesterol and triglycerides (Tlipids), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), (IgG), (IgM), (IgA), Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thyroxin (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and follicle-stimulating hormone. Also included are histological observations of the thymus, bursa, and spleen. The total body weight was significantly better in groups fed with untraditional sources of protein and the best treatment was for chicks fed with BCM. The treatments fed with diets supplemented with nano chitosan were better numerically but the results were non-significant.There was a significant improvement in the rate of body weight gain during the overall trial period for all treatments fed with untraditional sources of protein or their mixture compared to the control group. The best treatment was the treatment fed the diet containing Nigella sativa meal The results did not show significant effects of adding nano-chitosan for diets on the rate of body weight gain. It was evident that there was a significant decrease in the rate of feed consumption during the overall experimental period for all experimental treatments fed diets containing non-traditional protein sources. The treatment fed the diet containing coconut meal had the least consumption compared to the control treatment. It also turned out that there were no significant differences in feed consumption between the treatments fed the diets supplemented with nano-chitosan and the control diet. There was an improvement in the feed conversion ratio and the best feed conversion ratio at the end of the experiment was associated with the treatment fed the diet containing coconut meal compared to the control group. It also turned out that there were no significant differences between the treatment-fed diets supplemented with nano-chitosan compared to the control group. There was a significant improvement in both the percentage of the carcass and the total edible parts for the experimental treatments fed diets containing non-traditional sources of protein compared to the control group, and the best among them was the group fed black cumin seed meal. There was a significant decrease in abdominal fat content compared to the control group.Treats fed diets provided with nano-chitosan showed a significant improvement in both the percentage of the carcass and the total edible parts and the percentage of abdominal fat also decreased significantly. The results showed a significant improvement in some measurements and a significant decrease in some other measurements of blood fats, as the level of harmful fats such as LDL decreased and the functions of liver enzymes improved. The results also showed that there were no significant differences in many blood measurements, except improved liver function, for birds fed diets fortified with nano-chitosan. There was a significant improvement in the immune response of birds fed diets with non-traditional protein content, and the best among them was the treatment fed a mixture of coconut meal, Eruca seed meal, and black cumin seed meal compared to the control group. There was an improvement in the oxidative state of the birds’ bodies, as TAC increased in the group fed with Eruca seed meal MDA decreased in all experimental treatments, and the lowest percentage was associated with birds fed with Eruca seed meal diet. CAT and SOD also improved, and there was an improvement in thyroid activity in the treatments fed with non-traditional sources of protein. The IGM and oxidative status of the body of birds fed diets provided with nano-chitosan improved compared to the control group. However, no significant differences appeared in thyroid hormones in treatments-fed diets provided with nano-chitosan.It was evident from the histological figures of the anatomical structure of the thymus gland, a significant improvement in the shape and size of the cells, which directly indicates an improvement in the immune response status of the birds as a result of feeding on experimental diets containing coconut meal, Eruca seed meal and black cumin seed meal or their mixture. The histological condition of the thymus gland tissue of birds fed diets supplemented with nano-chitosan also improved. A significant improvement was shown in the histological examination of Fabricius of chicks fed diets with non-traditional protein content or those fed diets provided with nano-chitosan. It was revealed through histological examination of the spleen tissue for chicks fed experimental diets with non-traditional protein sources or their mixtures, as well as those fed diets provided with nano-chitosan, a significant improvement in the anatomical condition of the spleen tissue. This is an indication of the improvement in the functional state of these immune organs, which leads to an improvement in the condition. Immunostaining of all birds fed the experimental diet compared to the control. |