The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary ginseng (Gn) and ginsenosides (GnD) supplementation on productive, physiological and immunological parameters of Gimmizah cockerels. A total number of 140 chicks of Gimmizah native breed were individually weighted and randomly divided into 7 equal treatmental groups with 5 replicates (4 chicks per each cage) from 4 -16 wks of age. The first group fed the basal diet without any supplementation and served as a control. The other six treatments were fed the basal diet supplemented with 100, 200 and 300 mg of ginseng or ginsenosides / kg diet, respectively. All birds received feed and water ad-libitum throughout the experimental period.
At the end of the experimental period the treated groups recorded significant highest BWG. The best FCR was recorded for groups supplied with 300 mg Gn/kg diet then 200 mg GnD/kg diet compared with control group. Activity of ALT enzyme and lipid profile were significantly improved by supplementation different levels of Gn and GnD compared with control group. Supplementation basal diet with different levels of Gn and GnD significantly improved all immunity statues of the bared (Lysozyme and Bactericidal activity and the IgM, IgG, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations). The intestinal total aerobic, total coliform and anaerobic counts had been decreased with supplementation of basal diet with Gn and GnD at different levels compared with the control group. The psychrophilic and coliform bacteria counts, in stored breast and thigh meats, had been significantly decreased for groups fed basal diet supplied with Gn or GnD at level 300 mg/kg diet compared to other experimental treatments. The optical density values of meat muscles recorded for groups supplied with 300 mg Gn or GnD/kg diet were greater than which measuring in control group and the other experimental groups. In conclusion, supplementation cockerel's diet with 300 mg ginseng /kg improved the productive performance, immunological capacity and meat quality of Gimmizah cockerels during the growing period.