Effect of a Phytogenic Feed Additive Supplemented Diet on Growth Performance, Hemato-biochemical Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) on the performance of broilers. Day-old Vencobb-400Y broiler chicks (n=250) were randomly divided into five groups, each with five replicates of 10 chicks and fed a basal diet with either no added growth promoter (negative control; NCON), or with an antibiotic (positive control; PCON) or with the PFA at 0.25% (PFA-L), 1.25% (PFA-M) and 2.5% (PFA-H). The effect of dietary treatments was assessed in a 6-week study. Supplementation of 2.5% PFA gave better response than others, even than PCON birds. The BW gain, feed intake and growth rate of PFA-H birds were similar (P>0.05) to PCON birds. However, PFA-H group showed lower FCR and higher performance index than PCON group. The mean WBC count was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the birds of PFA supplemented groups than NCON and PCON group birds. The H: L ratio was lower in PFA-M and PFA-H groups in comparison to NCON group birds. The serum cholesterol concentration in PFA-supplemented birds was significantly (P<0.05) lower in comparison to PCON group birds. Serum ALT and AST levels in PFA-H birds were the lowest (P<0.05) while the highest ALT level was observed in PCON birds. The drawn yield percentage in PFA-M and PFA-H group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than PCON group. The economic gain by PFA supplementation at 2.5% level was higher than NCON, but lower than PCON. It is concluded that the selected PFA may be used at level of 2.5% in broilers feed as an effective alternative to antibiotic growth promoters.