EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTING LEMON JUICE AND MOLASSES ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND HEMATOBIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF COMMERCIAL BROILER

Abstract

Two hundred forty Cobb 500™ unsexed broiler chicks were used in a 28-day trial in a poultry farm at Guimara, Khagrachari Hill district to study the effects of supplementing lemon juice and molasses on productive performance, carcass characteristics and hemato-biochemical parameters of commercial broiler. Lemon juice and molasses were added with drinking water and fed in addition to regular pellet diet. The experiment was carried out in a 2×4 factorial arrangement with 2 levels of lemon juice (0 and 1 ml/L of drinking water) and 4 levels of molasses (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of drinking water from 1-2 wks and 0, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% of drinking water from 3-4 wks). Birds were randomly distributed into 24 floor pens where 10 birds were allocated per pen. All birds had free access to ad-libitum feeds and water. Results indicated that, live weight significantly (p<0.01) increased in 3rd and 4th weeks, weight gain increased (p<0.01) in 1st and 3rd weeks, feed intake improved (p<0.001) in 1st and 3rd weeks and FCR improved (p<0.05) only in the 1st week as the main effects of supplementing lemon juice in the drinking water of the commercial broiler birds. On average, during 0-3 weeks, lemon juice exerted positive effects (p<0.01) on feed intake and weight gain. However, only feed intake improved (p<0.01) during 0-4 weeks. Similar to lemon juice, molasses improved (p<0.01) live weight in 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks, weight gain increased (p<0.001) in 1st and 3rd weeks and feed intake improved (p<0.05) in 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks and FCR improved (p<0.05) in 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks as the main effect. Overall, feed intake (p<0.001), weight gain (p<0.001) and FCR (p<0.05) were improved during 0-3 weeks and only feed intake improved (p<0.001) during 0-4 weeks. Unlike main effects, combined effects of lemon juice and molasses were significant only for weight gain in 3rd week (p<0.05) and FCR in 1st and 4th weeks (p<0.01). Main effect of supplementing lemon juice was positive for wing (p<0.05), drumstick (p<0.001), neck (p<0.001), skin (p<0.05), intestine (p<0.001), breast muscle (p<0.001), liver (p<0.05), head (p<0.001), abdominal fat (p<0.001) and feather weight (p<0.001). Similarly, main effect of supplementing molasses was positive for drumstick (p<0.001), neck (p<0.001), intestine (p<0.05), breast muscle (p<0.001), shank (p<0.05), liver (p<0.05), head (p<0.05) and abdominal fat weight (p<0.01). Combined effects were positive for dressing percent (p<0.05), wing weight (p<0.05), drumstick weight (p<0.05), breast muscle weight (p<0.001), thigh muscle weight (p<0.05), gizzard weight (p<0.05) and abdominal fat weight (p<0.05). Main effect of supplementing both lemon juice and molasses were significant (p<0.01) for glucose, albumin, total protein, LDL, HDL and cholesterol. However, combined effects were significant (p<0.01) only for glucose, albumin, LDL and HDL. There was a positive relationship between cholesterol and glucose (r=0.70; p<0.01) and a negative relationship between total protein and glucose (r=-0.80; p<0.001). Inclusion of 1 ml/litre lemon juice and 3% molasses in drinking water in addition to regular pellet diet is recommended for better growth, optimum FCR and desirable carcass characteristics in commercial broiler.