Effect of herbal growth promoters on the performance and economics of rearing broiler chicken Vidyarthi V.K.*, Nring K., Sharma V.B. Department of Animal Production and Management, Nagaland University, SASRD, Medziphema - 797 106 (Nagaland). *Corresponding author: E.mail - vidyarthi64@yahoo.com
Abstract Day old chicks of Hubbard strain (n=216) were randomly allotted into six treatment groups of 36 chicks in each group with four replications on the basis of body weight (48.58 ± 2.50). The birds in control (group T1) were offered a standard diet, i.e., starter mash from zero to 20 days and finisher diet from 21 to 42 days of age. The feed offered to other five groups was also the same as in T1, but supplemented with superliv @ 0.1 ml per bird daily (group T2), zeetress @ 0.05 g per bird daily (group T3), combination of T2 and T3 (group T4), superliv @ 0.2 ml per bird daily (group T5) and zeetress @ 0.1 g per bird daily (group T6). The average body weight and average daily gain in weight (ADG) was higher (P<0.05) in T4 followed by T5, T6, T3, T2 and T1. Total feed intake was higher (P<0.05) in T4 followed by T5, T6, T3, T1 and T2. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was similar in all the groups. Performance index (P1) of birds was superior (P<0.05) in T4 followed by T5, T2, T6, T3 and T1 group. Serum glucose and serum cholesterol levels were higher (P<0.05) in T1 group while the values for other five groups were similar. Serum calcium was lower (P<0.05) in the T1 group than that of other groups. The values for serum phosphorus, serum protein and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) did not vary in any of treatments. Serum alkaline phosphatase concentration was higher (P<0.05) in T5 group followed by T6, T4, T2, T3 and T1 group. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) concentration was higher (P<0.05) in T5 followed by T6, T4, T2, T3 and T1. The overall cost of production ranged between 64.19 to 68.18 rupees/bird in the six treatmental groups and the net profit was 9.16, 12.28, 11.13, 11.26, 11.49 and 11.36 rupees/kg live weight of the birds in the groups T1 to T6, respectively. It was concluded that use of herbal growth promoters i.e., superliv @ 0.1 ml and zeetress @ 0.05 g in combination per bird daily was beneficial in terms of superior live weight, feed conversion efficiency, performance index, serum cholesterol and over all economy of rearing in particular and other parameters in general over other combinations. Top Key words Herbal growth promoter, performance, economics, broiler. Top |