Effect of pellet diets with or without phytogenic feed additives on performance of broilers
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Date
2023-04
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LUVAS Hisar
Abstract
A trial of 42 days was carried out to study the effect of pellet diets with or without phytogenic feed
additives on performance of broilers. A total of 240, day-old commercial broiler chicks were randomly
distributed into eight dietary treatments with three replicates per treatment and each replicate had ten birds.
Ashwagandha and shatavari were used as herbal feed additives. The basal diet was formulated as per BIS (2007)
specifications. The treatments included T1: Basal diet + antibiotics (mash form), T2: Basal diet + antibiotics
(pellet form), T3: Basal diet + 1% Ashwagandha powder (mash form), T4: Basal diet + 0.5% Ashwagandha
powder (pellet form), T5: Basal diet + 1% Ashwagandha powder (pellet form), T6: Basal diet + 1% Shatavari
powder (mash form), T7: Basal diet + 0.5% Shatavari powder (pellet form) and T8: Basal diet + 1% Shatavari
powder (pellet form). Body weight (g/bird), Feed intake (g/bird) and FCR improved significantly (P<0.05) after
supplementing the diet with phytogenic feed additives and the best results were observed in 1% Ashwagandha
supplemented group in pellet form. In between the control groups, the pelleted diet fed group had better growth
performance than mash diet fed group. Dietary supplementation of 1% Ashwagandha in pellet form resulted in
significantly (P<0.05) higher DM metabolizability and gross energy metabolizability as compared to control.
Nitrogen retention was found significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups T3, T5, T6 and T8. The carcass traits were
found to be significantly (P<0.05) better in 1% Ashwagandha supplemented group in pellet form. The Hb levels
and TLC count were found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in all Shatavari supplemented groups while
decreased % of heterophils and increased % of lymphocytes thereby, reducing heterophil: lymphocyte ratio in
T6, T7 and T8 groups compared to control. No significant effect of pelleting was observed on haematological
parameters. Significant reduction in serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels was observed in 1%
Ashwagandha and 1% Shatavari supplemented groups. Inclusion of 0.5% and 1% Ashwagandha and Shatavari
powder resulted in significant improvement in HDL and reduction in LDL as compared with control. But no
effect of pelleting was observed on serum parameters. A significant reduction in E.colicount was recorded in the
T3 and T5 groups compared to control. Higher values of Lactobacilli were observed in all herbal additives
supplemented groups. Highest villi height andVillus height: Villi depth of intestinal crypts was recorded in 1%
Ashwagandha supplemented group in pellet form. The activity of antioxidant enzymes; SOD and Catalase was
observed in groups T3, T5, T6 and T8. Thus, the dietary supplementation of Ashwagandha root powder and
Shatavari root powder leads to significant improvement in the growth performance, nutrient metabolizability
and hematological indices; possess potent hypocholestrolemic, and gut microbiota stabilizing effects, thus help
in achieving a profitable and feasible poultry production. The feeding of pelleted ration also improved the
growth performance of birds and this will help in establishing profitable poultry farming.