Poly herbal phytobiotic in commercial broilers
Table 2. Effect of phytobiotic on the average weekly weight gain
supplementation of phytobiotics (0.5% turmeric powder,
(g) of commercial broilers during 1-6 week period
0.5% neem leaf powder and 1 % amla pulp powder).
Treatment
2 nd wk
3 rd wk
4 th wk
5 th wk
6 th wk
Immuno competence traits
Control
152.72 a
185.47
358.47
233.86
225.67
Phytobiotic
193.00 b
195.00
350.08
223.53
281.94
Effect of poly herbal phytobiotic on the humoral immune
Pooled SEM
4.86
4.3746
9.87
10.18
7.32
responses to 1% sheep red blood cells (SRBC) at 6 weeks of
age has been tabulated in Table 4. Total immunoglobulins
Significance
P<0.001
NS
NS
NS
NS
level
and mercaptoethanol sensitive (IgM) antibody titer (log
2) values in response to SRBC was significantly higher
(P<0.05) in the phytobiotic compared to the control group.
Means bearing different superscripts within a column differ
significantly (P<0.05)
This is in corroboration with the findings of various
NS: Non significant (P>0.05) SEM: Standard error of means
scientists who also noted that phytobiotics or herbal
supplementation stimulate immune system and have potent
Feed conversion ratio
antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, cocciodiostatic
FCR was significantly better (P<0.05) in the phytobiotic
and anthelminthic activity. Further, it has already been
group compared to the control group during 3-6 weeks
reported that certain mushroom and herb polysaccharides
and 1-6 weeks of age (Table 3). Kumar et al . (2005) noted
can be used in prevention of bacterial (Yuan et al ., 1993),
significant improvement in feed efficiency of the birds
viral (Yu and Zhu, 2000) and parasitic disease (Pang et
when the diet was supplemented with turmeric in broilers.
al ., 2000) in chickens. AV/SSL/12 contains herbs viz.
Tiwari et al . (2012) also observed that feed conversion
Andrographis paniculata , Boerhaavia diffusa and Eclipta
ratio was better in broilers were subjected to dietary
alba that have potent immunomodulatory activities
Table 4. Effect of phytobiotic on the humoral immune responses
Table 3. Effect of phytobiotic on the FCR of commercial broilers
[antibody titer (log 2) values to SRBC] and cell mediated
during 1-4 week, 4-6 week and 1-6 week period
immune response (response to PHA-P) (foot web index) a t 6
weeks of age
Treatment
1-3 wk
3-6 wk
1-6 wk
Control
1.76
2.07 a
1.98 a
Foot web
Treatments
HA
IgG
IgM
index
Phytobiotic
1.75
1.87 b
1.82 b
Control
4.00b
1.80
2.20b
0.12
Pooled SEM
0.02
0.02
0.02
Phytobiotic
7.40a
1..40
6.00a
0.34
Significance level
NS
P<0.05
P<0.05
Pooled SEM
0.42
0.17
0.43
0.04
Significance level P<0.05
NS
P<0.05
NS
Means bearing different superscripts within a column differ
significantly (P<0.05)
NS: Non significant (P>0.05) SEM: Standard error of means
Means bearing different superscripts within a column differ
significantly (P<0.05)
NS: Non significant (P>0.05) SEM: Standard error of means
Table 5. Effect of phytobiotic on the development of digestive organs of commercial broilers at 6 weeks of age
Small
Small
Large
Large
Average
Caecal
Proventricular
intestine
Intestine
Intestine
intestine
Treatment
caecal length
weight
weight (g/100g)
weight
length
weight
length
(cm/100g)
(g/100g)
(g/100g)
(cm/100)
(g/100g)
(cm/100)
Control
0.42
5.07
15.75
0.10
0.50 a
2.73
0.71
Phytobiotic
0.43
4.66
13.18
0.18
0.81 b
2.54
0.51
Pooled SEM
0.01
0.21
0.45
0.01
0.05
0.09
0.09
Significance level
NS
NS
NS
NS
P<0.05
NS
NS
Means bearing different superscripts within a column differ significantly (P<0.05)
NS: Non significant (P>0.05) SEM: Standard error of means
Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.2. June 2015
349