Efficacy of poly herbal product salcochek on gut health and reducing the impact of Clostridium Species induced enterities in broilers

A broiler trial was conducted for 38 days to assess the efficacy of the polyherbal product SALCOCHEK (M/S Ayurvet Ltd., India) on gut health and reducing the impact of Clostridium perfringens induced enteritis using 120 birds. Birds in T₁ & T₂ groups were fed non-contaminated and naturally contaminated feed with Clostridium Perfringens (10⁴ cfu/gm of feed), respectively. Diets of T₃ and T₄ groups were supplemented with poly herbal product (SALCOCHEK) @ 0.5 kg per ton in T₃ and 1.0 kg per ton of feed in T₄. Body weight of birds, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, litter moisture, nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein & crude fibre), dressing percentage, intestinal length, blood parameters (Hb, total proteins, albumin, globulins, uric acid, serum sodium, potassium, chloride levels), villi height and crypt depth in the duodenum region and HI titre against Ranikhet disease (RD) did not vary significantly between treatment groups. However, the feed cost per kg live weight was relatively less in polyherbal supplemented groups (T₃ and T₄) when compared to the un-supplemented (T₁ & T₂) groups. Moisture excretion through excreta and colonization of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacilli spp. & Bifidobacterium spp in the intestine and reduction in Clostridium spp. load were comparatively better in polyherbal supplemented groups. From this study, it can be concluded that the polyherbal product SALCOCHEK is having certain beneficial effects in improving gut heath and immunity. Further clinical trials are required in commercial birds suffering from Clostridium perfringens induced enteritis under field conditions.