Effect of dietary supplementation of curry leaves powder on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemical and carcass traits of broiler chickens

The study was planned to evaluate the effect of curry leaves powder (Murranya Koenigii) in broiler chicken ration as a replacer of antibiotic and its impact on the growth performance, immunity, serum biochemical parameters and carcass traits. A total of 336 day old chicks were randomly divided into six treatments having seven replicates with eight birds each over a period of six weeks. Twelve birds from each treatment were sacrificed to evaluate the carcass traits and serum biochemical parameters at the end of the experiment (6 weeks). The average body weight, feed conversion ratio and feed intake of the birds were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. Supplementation of 2% curry leaves powder showed improvement in breast meat yield but reduction in abdominal fat was significantly better in 1.5% level of inclusion. Groups supplemented with curry leaves powder showed significant (Pd”0.01) decrease in the level of serum cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose. Cellular and humoral immunity increased in birds fed with curry leaves powder although no significant effect was observed in weight of immune organs. The present study suggests that curry leaves powder (1.5%) may be natural replacer of antibiotic in broiler chicken diet.