Use of antibiotics has been found to have negative effects on broiler health and its production therefore; there is a need for supplementation of herbal ingredients in broiler feed. An experiment was conducted on herbal dietary supplementation of Shatavari (
We studied the effects of two herbals for their individual and in combination effect on broilers.
Herbal supplemented groups performed better in terms of body weight gain.
There was no adverse effect on the FCR of caged broilers.
Poultry production is one of the areas in livestock production with significant contribution to human food production. Poultry products in recent years become important and popular food for non-vegetarian population (
Feed additives are commonly described as non-nutrient substances that accelerate growth, efficiency of feed utilization, beneficial for health or metabolism of the animals (
The present experiment entitled “effect of different levels of Shatavari (
A total of 48 Day old broiler chicks of same hatch were procured and randomly divided into four groups with three sub groups comprising of 3 chicks in each to serve as replicates, as per following dietary regimes:
T0 (control): Standard ration as per NRC T1: Ration supplemented with 5g Shatavari root powder /kg feed T2: Ration supplemented with 5g Ashawagandha powder /kg feed T3: Ration supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashawagandha powder/ kg feed
The birds were reared in battery type cages under standard managemental practices from day-old to five weeks of age. Shatavari and Ashwagandha were supplemented as per dietary regimes of treatments. Broiler starter ration containing CP: 22 per cent and, ME: 2900 k.cal./kg. feed was fed (
Ingredient and nutrient composition of experimental diet (%DM)
Housing condition which promotes better growth and health is necessary for livestock and poultry (
Average weekly body weight gain of caged broilers on diet Supplemented with different level of Shatavari and Ashwagandha root powder
The daily feed consumption of each group was estimated as differences between the total quantity of feed offered and quantity of feed left over during 24 hours period. Feed consumptions recorded were added together for seven days of the week and was considered as weekly feed consumption.
The growth rate of the birds is reflected through the weekly live weight gain. Individual body weight of the birds from each group was taken at weekly interval, starting from the day old stage. The birds were weighted during morning hours before feeding. Electronic weighing balance with a least count of 0.5g was utilized for weekly weighing of body weight of chicks as well as the amount of feed supplied and consumed by the chicks. However, the separate weighing scales were used for weighing. The average weekly weight gain of the birds of the different groups was calculated by subtracting the previous week average weight of the group of the birds from the present weekly average weight of the group of birds. During start of the experimentation, the weights of day old chicks were statistically similar.
In general, the body weight of day old chicks ranged from 40.66 – 48.66g. The body weight of day old chicks in different treatments viz. T0, T1, T2 and T3 ranged from 41.33 – 48.66, 40.66 – 47.33, 42.66 – 46.66, 47.33 – 42.66 g. respectively. The different mean body weight of day old chicks in different treatments viz. T0, T1, T2 and T was 44.33, 44.66, 44.66 and 45.00 g respectively. The differences in the body weight of day old broiler chicks between different groups (treatment) were found non-significant. From the perusal of the data on the body weight f day old chicks randomly distributed in different treatments, it was observed that irrespective of treatment the body weight of day old chicks in general ranged from 40.66 – 48.66g. The highest mean body weight of day old chicks was recorded in T3 (45.00), and followed by T2 (44.66), T1 (45.66), T0 (44.33). The differences in those values between the treatments were found to be nonsignificant. It indicates that random distribution of chicks into different treatment was proper and unbiased.
The amount of feed consumed per unit gain (feed conversion ratio) was calculated as the ratio of feed consumed to weight gain (
FCR = Quantity of feed consumed (g) in week / Gain in body weight (g) in week
RGR was calculated using the method utilized by
RGR% = {(W2 – W1)/ (W1 + W2)/2}*100
Data on various parameters were recorded, tabulated on subjected to statistical analysis by comparing Analysis of variance (ANOVA) as per Snedecar and Cocharan (1994). Microsoft Excel 2007 software was used for meticulous statistical analysis and graphical representation of the all the data.
The data regarding average weekly gain in weight per broilers randomly distributed into control (T0) and three different treatments (T1, T2, T3). Average body gain in weight of broiler at first, second, third, fourth and fifth week of age ranged from 120.67 – 143.00, 214.00 – 301.33, 249.33 – 353.33, 360.67-610.00 and 143.34 – 333.34 g respectively as presented in
From the perusal of data on weekly average gain in weight of broilers after five week of age, it may be noted that mean gain in weight per broilers, irrespective of weekly at one, two, three, four and five week of age was 135.40, 260.25, 291.91, 493.02 and 260.87 g. respectively. When treatment wise gain in weight of broilers was recorded the highest weekly gain in weight was observed in T3 (304.17g) followed by T2 (297.47g), T0 (282.06g) and T1 (274.86g). Broilers of T3 registered significantly highest gain in weight (304.17g) to compared control and T1. However the gain in weight of T3 was found that at par with the gain in weight of broilers in T2. The differences in these values of treatment were found significant, which is indicated there was a significant effect of treatment on growth gain in weight of broiler. Similar results were reported by
The data regarding average feed conversion ratio (FCR) per broilers randomly distributed into control (T0) three different treatments (T1, T2, T3) are presented in
FCR of caged broilers under different groups
Performance of broiler chicken in different groups
At first week of age the best FCR per broilers was recorded in T0 (1.08) and followed by T1 (1.07), T3 (1.03), T2 (1.02) kg. At second weeks of age the best FCR per broilers was recorded in T2 (2.01) and followed by T0 (1.87), T1 (1.86), T3 (1.82) kg. At third weeks of age the best FCR per broilers was recorded in T3 (2.05) and followed by T2 (1.98), T0 (1.93), T1 (1.83) kg. At fourth weeks of age the best FCR per broilers was recorded in T1 (1.88) and followed by T0 (1.86), T3 (1.60), T2 (1.51) kg. At fifth weeks of age the best FCR per broilers was recorded in T2 (2.10) and followed by T1 (2.07), T0 (1.92), T3 (1.90). Irrespective of weekly the mean average FCR per broiler in first, second, third, fourth and fifth week of age was 1.05, 1.89, 1.94, 1.71 and 1.99 kg respectively. Irrespective of treatment the mean FCR per broiler in T0, T1, T2 and T3 was 1.73, 1.74, 1.72 and 1.68 kg respectively. The differences in the mean feed conversion ratio in broiler, due to treatment were found non- significant. From the perusal of data on weekly average feed conversion ratio per broiler contained, It may be observed that the mean average FCR per broilers, irrespective of weekly at one, two, three, four and five week of age was 1.05, 1.89, 1.94, 1.71 and 1.99 kg respectively. These results were expected. Regarding the influence of treatment on weekly FCR per broiler was observed that mean FCR of different treatments were T0 (1.73), T1 (1.74), T2 (1.72) and T3 (1.68). The differences in these values of treatment were found non significant, which indicated that there was significant effect on feed conversion ratio of broiler. The result of above observation is similar to
Use of antibiotics has been found to have negative effects on broiler health and its production therefore; there is a need for supplementation of herbal ingredients in broiler feed. This study showed that body weight gain in broiler chicks on weekly basis is significantly improved in supplemented groups. However, body weight gain was better in group of chicks which were supplemented with combined feed additives. Overall FCR suggested that supplementation of these feed additive did not negatively affect the FCR of caged broiler chicks. From this study it can be concluded that caged broilers supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashawagandha powder/ kg feed may perform well in caged conditions without having negative impact on FCR of caged broiler chicks. Herbal additives such as Ashwagandha and Shatavari powder may be added in caged broiler feeds for better body weight gain and there remains scope for future researches to know about the effect of Ashwagandha and Shatavari powder on blood, immunity levels, and muscular attributes of caged broilers.
Authors have deep regards towards Vice Chancellor and Head, department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying of SHUATS, Prayagraj for providing all the necessary facilities for conducting this experiment.