Herbal feed additives as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers
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Date
2014-12-26
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Abstract
The effect of supplementation of garlic, aloe vera (@ 1.0, 1.5 and 1.5%), cinnamon and black pepper (@ 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) alone or their best dose in combinations was studied as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers. Supplementation of garlic at 1.5% level improved (P<0.05) productive, economic and sensory parameters of meat along with duodenal morphology. Reduced biochemical parameters were also observed in five week phased broiler feeding. Inclusion of black pepper and cinnamon at 0.5% level resulted in significant (P<0.05) better productive performance, improved sensory attributes of meat, duodenum morphology and economic parameters of chicks up to five weeks age. Black pepper and cinnamon powder supplementation significantly (P<0.05) improved nutrient utilization and reduced (P<0.05) biochemical parameters. Supplementation of whole leaf aloe vera powder at 1.0% level significantly (P<0.05) improved the feed conversion ratio, sensory attributes of meat, duodenal morphology of chicks. However, due to in house preparation of whole leaf aloe vera powder, it proved to be a costly affair. A total of ten herbal combinations (six of two herbs combination and four of three herbs combination) at their best performed dose were studied. Inclusion of combination of garlic with black pepper, cinnamon and aloe vera powder significantly (P<0.05) improved the weight gain, protein conversion, sensory attributes of meat and duodenal morphology of broilers. Similarly, supplementation of combinations of cinnamon with black pepper and aloe vera and black pepper with aloe vera (P<0.05) significantly improved the final body weight, feed conversion ratio and overall acceptability of the meat. Inclusion of three herbs combinations viz aloe vera+ black pepper+ garlic, aloe vera+ black pepper + cinnamon, garlic+ cinnamon+ black pepper and garlic+ cinnamon+ aloe vera significantly (P<0.05) improved the productive performance and other allied parameters studied. These herbs alone or in combinations, could be a safe and viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers.
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biological phenomena, livestock, pepper, aloe, costs, antibiotics, garlic, cinnamon, meat, biological development, black pepper, biological phenomena, livestock, pepper, aloe, costs, antibiotics, garlic, cinnamon, meat, biological development, combinations, biological phenomena, livestock, pepper, aloe, costs, antibiotics, garlic, cinnamon, meat, biological development, garlic, biological phenomena, livestock, pepper, aloe, costs, antibiotics, garlic, cinnamon, meat, biological development