Effect of supplementation of polyherbal mixture (Nargrophyt) on performance, blood and carcass indices of broiler chicken

To investigate the effect of polyherbal mixture (NARGROPHYT) on performance, blood and carcass indices, 250 Vencobb-400 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into five groups with five replicates of 10 chicks each. The dietary treatments were basal diet without any supplement (NCON), with antibiotic (PCON), with ‘NARGROPHYT’ @ 0.25% (NGP-L), @ 1.25% (NGP-M) and @ 2.50% (NGP-H) respectively. After six weeks of the feeding, body weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher, while feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) lower in NGP-H and PCON group in comparison to NCON and other supplemented groups. The FCR of NGP-H birds was significantly (P<0.05) lower, while EER, PER and PI was significantly (P<0.05) higher among all the groups. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in percent nutrient retention among the treatment groups. The haemoglobin was significantly (P<0.05) higher and serum cholesterol was significantly (P<0.05) lower in NCON and ‘NARGROPHYT’ supplemented groups in comparison to antibiotic supplemented group. The drawn yield of NGP-H and PCON groups was significantly (P<0.05) higher than NCON group. Profit per bird was significantly (P<0.05) higher in PCON birds followed by NGP-H in comparison to NCON birds. It can therefore be concluded that from food safety point of view polyherbal mixture ‘NARGROPHYT’ @ 2.5% can effectively be used as an alternative to AGPs, despite being less economical than antibiotic supplemented feed.