Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Paper No. 1109
The research was conducted to assess the effect of Andrographis paniculata (Nilavembu) and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) powder supplementation on growth performance and immune response, serum biochemistry and carcass characteristics of commercial broiler chicken. Five hundred and sixty-day-old (Ven Cobb 400) broiler chicks were randomly allotted into seven treatment groups with four replicates of twenty chicks each. The control group T was fed a basal diet formulated as per BIS (2007) while in treatment groups T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 fed basal diet with A. paniculata powder1.0g/kg (T2), basal diet with C. longa powder 1.0 g/kg (T3), basal diet with A. paniculata 2.0 g/kg (T4), basal diet with C. longa 2.0 g/kg (T5), basal diet with combination of A. paniculata powder 1.0g/kg and C. longa powder 1.0 g/kg (T6) and basal diet with combination of A. paniculata powder 2.0g/kg and C. longa powder 2.0 g/kg (T7) for 42 days period. A. paniculata and C. longa supplementary feed compared to the control feed significantly (P<0.05) increased the average weight gain and average feed intake of broilers. A numerical difference was observed in carcass characteristics. Serum biochemical parameters (serum total protein, serum albumin) did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. The serum cholesterol significantly reduced in treatment groups compared to control. The immune response (HI titre) to Newcastle disease non-significant in treatment groups. But numerical improvement observed in all treatment groups compared to control. The results of this study show that the application of A. paniculata and C. longa powder at the level of 2g/kg in broilers showed better growth rate and feed conversion ratio compared to other treatment groups and their combination can to be used effectively as a growth promoter in broilers.
⓿ Andrographis paniculata (Nilavembu) and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) powder used in broiler diet as a natural feed additives and act as an alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in broilers.
⓿ Andrographis paniculata (Nilavembu) and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) powder supplementation in broilers improved the body weight, feed conversion, immunity and carcass characteristics and reduce the serum cholesterol.
Andrographis paniculata, Broiler, Body weight, Curcuma longa, Immunity
