Effect of bael (Aegle marmelos) leaf powder supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass trait and haemato- biochemical parameters in broiler chickens
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Date
2020-08
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted to discern the effect of dietary incorporation of different level of bael (Aegle marmelos) leaf powder on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass traits, haematobiochemical parameters, sensory evaluation of meat and economics of broiler chickens production. A total of 120, day-old broiler chicks were divided randomly into 4 treatment groups with 3 replicates having 10 broiler chicks per replicate. Chicks of treatment T1 (control) were fed basal diet (starter and finisher), whereas in treatment groups T2, T3 and T4, basal diet was supplemented with 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5% of bael leaf powder, respectively as feed additive. The feeding trial lasted for 42 days viz., 0-21 days (starter phase) and 21-42 days (finisher phase). A metabolism trial was conducted during the 6th week of feeding trial to know the nutrient utilization. On the 42nd day of the feeding trial two birds from each replicate were slaughtered and samples of breast and thigh muscle were collected for sensory and proximate analysis. Blood samples were also collected on the same day for haemato-biochemical parameters. During the starter phase (0-21 days), incorporation of bael leaf powder did not influence the feed intake, weight gain, FCR and performance index. During finisher phase (21-42 days), feed intake, body weight gain, FCR and performance index were statistically similar among treatment groups. The average cumulative weight gain was 1731.01, 1772.74, 1719.73 and 1714.14 g in broiler chicks of treatment group T1, T2, T3, T4, respectively and did not differ significantly. Incorporation of bael leaf powder in the diet of broiler chickens did not affect nutrient utilization in terms of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and crude protein. The various carcass traits in broiler chicks were not affected due to dietary incorporation of different level of bael leaf powder. The chemical analysis of breast and thigh meat revealed significant (P<0.05) increase in crude protein content of thigh and breast muscles and significant (P<0.05) decrease in ether extract content of thigh. Maximum crude protein content was found in treatment group T4, followed by treatment groups T3, T2 and T1, respectively. Minimum ether extract content was found in treatment group T4 and maximum in control group, T1. All the values of hematological parameters were in normal range in broiler chicks of different treatment groups, without any significant effect. There was significant (P<0.05) reduction in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose content and increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin among different treatment group. Serum cholesterol content was lowest in treatment group T4 (98.21 mg/dl) as compared to control group T1(133.51 mg/dl). Serum triglyceride content was also lowest in treatment group T4 (62.82 mg/dl) as compared to control group T1 (78.37 mg/dl). Maximum serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentration was found in treatment group T4, followed by T3, T2 and T1, respectively. Serum enzyme concentrations ALP, ALT and AST activities was not affected due to dietary incorporation of bael leaf powder. Sensory evaluation attributes were not significant among the different treatment groups. No significant difference was observed in economics of broiler chicken production in terms of feed cost by incorporation of different level of bael (Aegle marmelos) leaf powder. Therefore, it was concluded that incorporation of 1.5 to 2.5% bael leaf powder in the diet of broiler chicks was beneficial in reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides content and increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin coupled with reduction in fat content of thigh and increase in protein content of breast and thigh muscles.