Effect of ghee residue supplementation on the performance of broiler chicken

Nemade, N.V., Wade, M.R., Barmase, B.S.,Verma, U. and Manwar, S.J. 2025. Effect of ghee residue supplementation on the performance of broiler chicken. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 60(1): 45-50.

Four hundred straight run ‘commercial day-old broiler chicks were equally and randomly distributed into four treatment groups which were subdivided into four replicates containing 25 chicks in each, reared on a deep litter system in pens up to 6 weeks of age. The dietary treatment groups were the control diet without ghee residue (T₀ ), broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 2.5% (T₁ ), broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 5% (T₂ ), broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃ ). All the diets were maintained isocaloric and isonitrogenous, with uniform standard managemental practices for all the groups.Significant (P<0.05) difference was found in live body weight, weight gain and cumulative weight gain, however, the ghee residue-supplemented group had significantly higher body weight when compared with the control group. Feed intake and feed efficiency were also found to be significant (P<0.05) in all the treatment groups. However, numerically improved feed efficiency was observed in ghee residue @ 5% (T₂ ), followed by ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃).The maximum dressing yield was observed in ghee residue @ 5% (T₂ ) (72.03±0.003), followed by ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃ ) (71.83±0.003) and lowest dressing yield i.e. 69.03±0.003% was found in the control group (T₀ ). Economically, ghee residue @ 5% (T₂) and ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃ ) groups have given higher profit as compared to other experimental and control groups. The average abdominal fat percentage was found to be highest in ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃ ) (2.10±0.003) whereas lowest in ghee residue @ 2.5% (T₁) (1.37±0.003)..The average abdominal fat pad thickness found to be highest in ghee residue @ 7.5% (D) (0.70±0.003) whereas lowest in ghee residue @ 2.5% (T₁ ) (0.37±0.003). In conclusion, broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 5% level improved body weight, weight gain, and feed efficiency without any adverse effect.