Effect of feeding locally available Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle/ Bichu Buti) on biological performance of Broilers
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Date
2020-10-29
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palampur
Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle/ Bichu
Buti) in commercial broiler birds under complete randomized block design. Day old broiler chicks
(n=180) were divided into six treatment groups T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with three replicates of ten
chicks in each. All the birds were fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric standard diet. The birds in
treatment T0 (control group) were fed standard poultry diet while in treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and
T5, the standard poultry diet was supplemented with antibiotic (zinc bacitracin), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%
and 2% nettle leaves powder, respectively. The result of the study showed that treatment group T4
fed with 1.5% nettle leaves in basal diet showed significantly (P<0.05) enhanced growth
performance in terms of gain in body weight and feed conversion efficiency. It significantly
(P<0.05) increased the dressing percentage. Highest % weight of gizzard was observed in group fed
1% nettle leaves powder mixed in standard diet. Among blood parameters, the value of Hb and
PCV was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 and T4 treatment groups. The value of RBCs was
significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 treatment group whereas the value of WBCs, MCV, MCH and
MCHC did not exhibit any significant differences amongst different treatment groups. However,
plasma cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were significantly low (P<0.05) in T4 and T5
treatment groups as compared to control and other treatment groups. Overall economic analysis
revealed that group of birds supplemented with 1.5% nettle leaves powder exhibited 41.37% higher
gross profit as compared to the control in terms of body weight gain and feed efficiency and
increasing supplementation beyond this decreased profitability as well as growth