Effect of Phytobiotics on Production Performance in Rhode Island Red (RIR) Chicken

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phytobiotics viz. thulasi, turmeric and garlic as feed additive on part time production performance in RIR. Totally 210 Rhode Island Red (RIR) layers of same body weight at the age of 25 weeks were housed in individual cages and randomly divided into seven treatment groups with three replicates of 10 birds each. The feeds were prepared by including phytobiotics at 0.1 and 0.2 (%) thulasi; 0.1 and 0.2 per cent turmeric; and 0.5 and 1 per cent garlic level. The parameters such as feed consumption, hen day and hen housed egg production, livability and yolk cholesterol were recorded. The results of the study revealed significant difference (P≤0.01) in feed consumption between treatments and control groups. Highest daily feed intake value was recorded in birds fed with 0.1 per cent thulasi and turmeric than control diet. The diet with 0.1 per cent thulasi and 0.2 per cent turmeric was significantly (P≤0.01) better in hen day and hen housed egg production than the control diet. Similarly, turmeric and garlic diets showed better livability than the control. Yolk cholesterol shows significant difference ((P≤0.05) between treatment and control diets. It can be concluded that inclusion of 0.1 per cent thulasi and 0.2 per cent turmeric to the laying diet is economical and showed better production performance than control diet.