Growth Performance, Blood Constituents and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chicken as Affected by Supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Mangrail (Nigella sativa)

A study was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of Withania somnifera and Nigella sativa powder mixture as alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers. Day old Vencobb-400 chicks (n=210) were distributed into 3 treatments (70 birds per treatment) with seven replicates of ten chicks each using completely randomized design and given basal diet supplemented with 0.5% ashwagandha root and 0.5% mangrail seed powder mixture or supplemented with 0.5% ashwagandha root and 1.0% mangrail seed powder mixture in treatments T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. There was no significant difference in BW gain between T₂ and T₁ groups, however, it was lower in T₃ group. The lowest feed intake and FCR was found in T₂ group broilers with higher values of EER, PER and performance index were found in group T₂. The Hb, PCV and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio was lower (P<0.05) but TLC and MCH concentration was higher (P<0.05) in treated groups than T₁. The concentration of glucose and total protein was similar in all the groups. The addition of ashwagandha and mangrail mixture in the diet decreased serum cholesterol level when compared to control. Carcass traits were found to be similar in all the groups. Hence, supplementation of 0.5% W. somnifera root and 0.5% N. sativa seed powder mixture improved the performance of broiler chicken.