Effect of dietary supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder on the performance of broilers

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dc.contributor.advisorBerwal, R. S
dc.contributor.authorJyotsana
dc.date.accessioned2018-10-18T10:02:59Z
dc.date.available2018-10-18T10:02:59Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractA total of 300, one day-old commercial broiler chicks were procured and randomly distributed into 30 subgroups means six dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment and each replicate had ten birds. Feeding trial was conducted for 42 days. The control group (T1) was offered maize- soybean meal based diet which was formulated as per BIS (2007) to fulfill the metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein requirements of broilers. The first group was kept as a control (T1) and given the basal diet without antibiotic while in second group (T2) basal diet with antibiotic, third (T3), fourth (T4), fifth (T5) and sixth (T6) groups were supplemented with Ashwagandha root powder (ARP) @ 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%, respectively in the diet. Feed intake (g/bird), body weight gain (g/bird), FCR and carcass traits showed significant (P<0.05) increase as the level of ARP inclusion increased. Dietary supplementation at the rate of 0.75% and 1% ARP resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher DM metabolizability, nitrogen metabolizability and gross energy metabolizability as compared to control group. Quality of the breast and thigh muscles in terms of ether extract and crude protein got improved at 0.75% and 1% ARP supplementation. Hematological parameters including RBC and WBC were found significantly higher in T5 and T6 groups, while decreased % of heterophils and increased % of lymphocytes thereby reducing heterophil: lymphocyte ratio in T4, T5 and T6 groups compared to control. Significant reduction in serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels was observed in Ashwagandha treated groups. Inclusion of 1% ARP resulted in significant improvement in HDL and reduction in LDL as compared with control. A significant reduction in E.coli count and higher value of Lactobacilli was recorded in the T5 and T6 group supplemented with 0.75% and 1% Ashwagandha root powder and differed significantly from control. Villus height: depth of intestinal crypts of the experimental birds ranged from 4.20 μm (T1) to 5.16 μm (T5) under different dietary treatments and highest effect was recorded in 0.75% Ashwagandha supplemented group because of maximum villous height in this group. The relative mRNA expression of TLR 2 was found to be enhanced (P<0.05) in T5 and T6, while, TLR 4 showed significant down regulation as compared to control. A non-significant difference was observed on expression of relative mRNA levels of TLR 7 in the blood of birds. Thus, the dietary supplementation of Ashwagandha root powder leads to significant improvement in the growth performance, nutrient metabolizability, and hematological indices; possess potent hypocholestrolemic, immunostimulatory and gut microbiota stabilizing effects, thereby help in achieving a profitable and sustainable poultry production.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810081736
dc.keywordsBroiler, Ashwagandha root powder, FCR, Gut Bacteriology, Gut Morphology, Gene Expressionen_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherLUVASen_US
dc.subAnimal Nutritionen_US
dc.subjectnullen_US
dc.themeEffect of dietary supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder on the performance of broilersen_US
dc.these.typeM.V.Sc.en_US
dc.titleEffect of dietary supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder on the performance of broilersen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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