A 42-d trial was conducted to evaluate the comparative effects of nettle (Urtica dioica), probiotics, prebiotic and organic acid on growth performance and blood lipid parameters of broilers. A total of 280 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly divided into 28 experimental units. Seven treatments were prepared: basal diet without any feed additives (control diet); basal diet supplemented with Urtica dioica at the levels 10, 20 and 30 g/kg diet (UD1, UD2 and UD3), probiotic (Pro), prebiotic (Pre) or organic acid (OA). During the entire growth out period, diets UD2, Pro and OA improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio compared to control diet (p<0.05). Birds fed diets UD3, Pro and Pre also showed the lower (p<0.05) concentrations of serum cholesterol and triglyceride compared with control birds at 42 days of age. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in feed intake and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol between groups. In conclusion, the present data indicate that administration of UD at the level of 20 g/kg, as well as probiotic and organic acid supplementations, improved growth performance. Furthermore, supplementing of diets with 30 g/kg of UD, similar to probiotic or prebiotic additives, positively influenced serum lipid profile.
