E-ISSN 2218-6050 | ISSN 2226-4485
 
2026, Vol: 16, Issue: 2
16 / 2Current Issue ArchiveAims and ScopeAbstracting & IndexingMost Accessed ArticlesMost Downloaded ArticlesMost Cited Articles
Required files to be uploaded

OVJ Manuscript Submissio Form
Title Page
mainarticle_template

Research Article


Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system

Saif Ali Mahmoud Alkassar, Ali Mahmood Amer Alkassar, Ahmed Khalid Ahmed, Hanan Al-khalaifah, Moustafa Amin Osman, Reda El-sayed Hamouda, Mai Ahmed Maher Youssif.


Abstract
Background:
Arabic gum is a soluble fiber that acts as a natural prebiotic and can be fermented by intestinal bacteria. This characteristic can enhance broiler growth, blood biomarkers, and carcass traits.

Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Arabic gum (AG) on growth performance traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, cecal microbial load, and economic efficiency in Ross 308 broilers raised under a small-scale production system.

Methods:
Five treatment groups were randomly assigned, with each group consisting of 6 replicates of 15 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks, totaling 450 chicks. The first group served as the control (CON) and received only the basal diet, whereas the second, third, fourth, and fifth groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.0% AG, respectively. The experiment was continued until 42 days of age.

Results:
Supplementation with AG at all levels, especially a level of 1.0% AG, significantly (p < 0.05) improved live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and performance index. Carcass traits were also significantly enhanced (p < 0.05), and carcass, breast, and thigh yields were significantly increased, whereas bursa percentage decreased. Blood biochemical parameters were markedly improved; the AG-treated groups exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, immunoglobulins (IgM, IgA, and IgY), antioxidant enzymes, and liver enzymes compared with the CON group, along with reduced urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde levels. AG also significantly (p < 0.05) altered cecal microbiota; the 1.0% group showed the highest total bacterial counts and Lactobacillus populations.

Conclusion:
AG supplementation in broiler diets may improve intestinal flora, immunity, antioxidant activity, and overall productivity.

Key words: Antioxidant enzymes; Blood biochemistry; Carcass traits; Cecal microbiota; Feed conversion ratio.


 
ARTICLE TOOLS
Abstract
PDF Fulltext
How to cite this articleHow to cite this article
Citation Tools
Related Records
 Articles by Saif Ali Mahmoud Alkassar
Articles by Ali Mahmood Amer Alkassar
Articles by Ahmed Khalid Ahmed
Articles by Hanan Al-Khalaifah
Articles by Moustafa Amin Osman
Articles by Reda El-Sayed Hamouda
Articles by Mai Ahmed Maher Youssif
on Google
on Google Scholar


How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alkassar SAM, Alkassar AMA, Ahmed AK, Al-khalaifah H, Osman MA, Hamouda RE, Youssif MAM. Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(2): 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13

Web Style

Alkassar SAM, Alkassar AMA, Ahmed AK, Al-khalaifah H, Osman MA, Hamouda RE, Youssif MAM. Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=292018 [Access: February 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alkassar SAM, Alkassar AMA, Ahmed AK, Al-khalaifah H, Osman MA, Hamouda RE, Youssif MAM. Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(2): 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alkassar SAM, Alkassar AMA, Ahmed AK, Al-khalaifah H, Osman MA, Hamouda RE, Youssif MAM. Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. Open Vet. J.. (2026), [cited February 27, 2026]; 16(2): 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


Harvard Style

Alkassar, S. A. M., Alkassar, . A. M. A., Ahmed, . A. K., Al-khalaifah, . H., Osman, . M. A., Hamouda, . R. E. & Youssif, . M. A. M. (2026) Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. Open Vet. J., 16 (2), 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


Turabian Style

Alkassar, Saif Ali Mahmoud, Ali Mahmood Amer Alkassar, Ahmed Khalid Ahmed, Hanan Al-khalaifah, Moustafa Amin Osman, Reda El-sayed Hamouda, and Mai Ahmed Maher Youssif. 2026. Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (2), 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


Chicago Style

Alkassar, Saif Ali Mahmoud, Ali Mahmood Amer Alkassar, Ahmed Khalid Ahmed, Hanan Al-khalaifah, Moustafa Amin Osman, Reda El-sayed Hamouda, and Mai Ahmed Maher Youssif. "Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system." Open Veterinary Journal 16 (2026), 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alkassar, Saif Ali Mahmoud, Ali Mahmood Amer Alkassar, Ahmed Khalid Ahmed, Hanan Al-khalaifah, Moustafa Amin Osman, Reda El-sayed Hamouda, and Mai Ahmed Maher Youssif. "Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system." Open Veterinary Journal 16.2 (2026), 907-919. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alkassar, S. A. M., Alkassar, . A. M. A., Ahmed, . A. K., Al-khalaifah, . H., Osman, . M. A., Hamouda, . R. E. & Youssif, . M. A. M. (2026) Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and microbial modulation in broilers supplemented with Arabic gum under a small-scale production system. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (2), 907-919. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.13


Author LoginReviewer LoginAbout PublisherOpen Access PolicyEditorial Review PolicyEditorial & Peer Review ProcessPublication Ethics and Publication Malpractice StatementConflict of Interest PolicyPlagiarism PolicyProtection of Research Participants (Statement On Human And Animal Rights)Corrections, Retractions & Expressions of ConcernDigital Archiving & Preservation PoliciesTerms of UseLicense InformationCopyright Information

About Open Veterinary Journal

Open Veterinary Journal provides a fast track coupled with high quality peer review process for original research articles, review articles, short communi ... Read more.



For best results, please use Internet Explorer or Google Chrome.

Contact Information

All correspondence should be addressed to:

Prof. Ibrahim Eldaghayes: Editor-in-Chief

Open Veterinary Journal

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli

P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya

and


Eldaghayes Publisher

www.eldaghayes.com 

Emails: ibrahim.eldaghayes@vetmed.edu.ly

info@eldaghayes.com