Himali, S. M. C.Chathurika, W. V. A. H.Samarasinghe, K.Boteju, W.T.N.2019-05-292019-05-2920199789550481255http://erepo.lib.uwu.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/123456789/709/513.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of black cumin seed meal (Nigella sativa) included diet on the performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal microbial population of broiler chicken. A total of 180 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were allocated to four dietary treatment groups with five replicates each of 9 chicks and reared for 42 days. Experimental diets were prepared by replacing maize with black cumin seed meal (BCSM) at the rate of 0% (control, C), 10% (T1), 15% (T2), and 20% (T3). The statistically analyzed data revealed that T1 diet increased (P<0.05) the body weight gain of broilers compared to T2, and T3 at day 42. Dietary BCSM did not have a significant effect on the dressing percentage of birds. Birds fed with 10% maize replacement with BCSM recorded the lowest (P <0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) content (3.38 μmol/kg) for Thiobarbituriacid Reactive Substances assay in chicken meat at 7th day of storage and the highest (P <0.05) ceacal lactic acid bacteria population (1.56 log CFU/mL) than other treatments. Further, the present study indicated that 10% replacement of maize with BCSM in the broiler diet has beneficial effects on body weight gain, MDA value and caecal lactic acid bacteria population. Also, it showed a decreased tendency in coliform bacteria population in the caecal content. Moreover, it has significantly affected meat quality attributes where the highest (P <0.05) score (5.93) for taste resulted. In conclusion, replacing maize with up to 10% BSCM in the diets of broilers has positive effects on body weight gain, carcass characteristics and caecal microbial population.enAnimal ProductionAnimal Production TechnologyAnimal SciencesOther