Evaluation of dietary soapnut shell powder supplementation on performance an d immune response of broiler breeders

Present study analyzed the effect of soapnut shell powder supplementation on performance and immune response in broiler breeders. For this purpose, ninety six female and twenty four male broiler breeders of 38 weeks age were distributed randomly into four treatments with three replicates and reared separately for 42 days. The treatments were basal diet as control group (T1) and three groups with basal diet supplemented with graded levels of soapnut shell powder @ 0.0176 (T2), 0.026 (T3) and 0.0528% (T4) an equivalent dose: 0, 50, 75 and 150ppm saponin, respectively. Fortnightly DM intake (g/d) and serum protein profile was comparable (P>0.05) among the treatments for both the sexes of the breeder birds. Cell mediated immune response for both female and male birds was significantly (P<0.001) higher in T4 and T3 group respectively when compared to control group (T1). T2 group showed higher response than T1 but lower than T4 and T3 in both the sexes. Humoral immune response (log₂) for females was significantly (P<0.001) higher in SSP supplemented groups compared to control group (T1), whereas, for males it was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 and T3 groups compared to control group (T1). T2 group showed intermediate response. It can be concluded that supplementation of soapnut shell powder upto 0.0528% (dose equivalent 150ppm) could be safely included for improved performance and immunity of broiler breeders.