Tamarindus indica Shells Powder Enhances Growth Performance, Hemato-Biochemical Parameters, Nutrient Utilization, and Gut Health in Broiler Chickens

Broiler production has frequently faced economic losses due to infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. These problems are commonly resolved using antibiotics, but doing so could lead to antibiotic resistance and impair food safety. This study evaluated the effects of a tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) shell powder (TSP) supplementation on the growth performance and overall health status in broiler chickens. A total of 375 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to five dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design. Broilers received either a basal diet; antibiotic-supplemented diet; or diet supplemented with TSP at 1 × MIC, 16 × MIC, or 32 × MIC daily for 42 days. The results showed that treatment 4 (TSP 16 × MIC—64 mg per bird) had the best growth performance in broilers. Intestinal permeability measurements assessed using 4 kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran (FITC–dextran) showed that broilers fed the treatment 5 (TSP 32 × MIC—128 mg per bird) diet had significantly lower FITC–dextran concentrations in all intestinal segments (p < 0.05) and were determined to have higher serum FITC–dextran than the control group. The hematological parameters can significantly reduce serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Finally, the application of tamarind shell powder promoted probiotic proliferation within the broilers’ gastrointestinal tract and mitigated Enterobacteriaceae infections, demonstrating comparable efficacy to the antibiotic-treated control group. This research suggests that tamarind shell powder supplementation, especially at a medium dosage (treatment 4), may beneficially influence gut morphology, modulate the gut microbiota, and enhance intestinal health in broiler chickens.