The productivity of broiler chicken fed herbal extract (phytogenic essential oil)

Abstract

The study was conducted for investigating the effect of different levels of phytogenic essential oil (Digemax EER) on the productivity and meat quality of broiler chicken. Day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500, n=112) of either sex were distributed randomly into four treatments, i.e., T1 (Control), T2 (0.5 % oil), T3 (1 % oil) and T4 (1.5 % oil) in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated four times with 7 birds per replicate. Chicks were reared in the battery cages of equal size entire the trial period from day 1-32 day. Chicks had a free access to water treated with herbal essential oil (Digemax EER) at the rate of T1 (0ml/L), T2 (0.5ml/L), T3 (1ml/L) and T4 (1.5ml/L), and this treated water supplied to the birds ad libitum throughout the trial period. Data on feed intake (FI), live weight (LW), live weight gain (LWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and livability were recorded. Besides, carcass yield traits, relative weights of gastro-intestinal organs, water intake (WI) and cost benefit analyses were also measured on day 32. The data revealed that FI, LW, LWG, FCR and viability % of broilers were not influenced (P>0.05) by the treatments. The LW and LWG of broiler fed herbal supplemental oil (T2) tend to be significant (P<0.072). The highest LW (1833.20 g/b) was observed in T2 diet and the lowest LW (1770.30 g/b) found in T1 diet during day 1-32 day. The visceral organ weights (proventriculus, gizzard, liver, heart) were unaffected (P>0.05) between treatments. The results of meat yield traits revealed that dressing %, thigh weight, breast weight, wing weight, back weight, shank weight, head weight, drumstick weight, neck weight, and abdominal fat content percentages etc., were found similar (P>0.05) between treatments. The WI of broiler differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatment on day 32. The highest WI was found in T3 and T1 group and the lowest WI was seen in the T2 and T4 treatment group, respectively, during 32 days. The birds fed the T2 diet group showed higher profit margins (P<0.05) and cheaper cost of production than the birds fed the other diet groups. It can be concluded that Digemax EER @ 0.5ml/L of water was found to be more potential for improving the growth performance and economic of broiler chickens production under farming condition.