Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Profile and Carcass Quality of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Supplemented with Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) Root Powder

The present study was conducted to assess the growth performance, blood biochemical profile and carcass quality of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root powder. One hundred eighty healthy day old, commercial broiler chicks (Vancob strain) were weighed and randomly distributed into three groups with three replicates of 20 each. The diets were fed ad libutum to chicks by adding 0, 0.25 and 0.5% Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) root powder in the ration of T₀, T₁ and T₂ groups, respectively upto six weeks. At the end of sixth week, significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gain and percentage dressing yield were observed in treatment groups T₁ and T₂ as compared to T₀ (control). The average feed consumption of treatment groups T₀ (control) and T₁ was higher as compared to treatment group T₂. Total serum protein in group T₁ was highly significant (P<0.05) as compared to T₀ and T ₂ groups. Serum cholesterol concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in control group T₀ than T₂. The highest drumstick weight was observed in treatment T₂ followed by T₁ and there was significantly (P<0.05) higher drumstick weight difference between treatments and control group. The cost per kg live weight gain was highest for group T₂ (Rs. 32.33) followed by T₁ (Rs. 31.76). The net profit per bird was higher in T₁ (Rs. 16.82) compared to T₂ (Rs. 14.39). Hence, addition of Asparagus racemosus root powder was found to be better in terms of overall performance, serum biochemical profile and carcass quality of broilers chicken.