The Indian Journal of Veterinary Research

The study evaluated the efficacy of a polyherbal formulation (Herbiotic-FS) on production performance and nutrient utilization in four groups 10 in each group of 7 day old broiler chicks. One group of healthy chicks on basal feed served as control (CH) while chicks of other three groups were challenged orally with Escherichia coli (E. coli) on days 49 and 63, respectively. One of the challenged groups on basal feed served as positive control (CC) while chicks of other two groups were offered Herbiotic-FS (CHB) or zinc bacitracin (CB) supplemented feeds @ 500 g/ton of feeds from day 7 onward. Weekly body weights, weight gain percentage, feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency and nutrient utilization data were recorded. Results revealed higher body weights and percentage weight gain in chicks of treatment groups (Herbiotic-2561%; Bacitracin-2582.14%) compared to those of control challenged group (2511.86%) but these data did not differ significantly from each other. Similarly, the feed consumption data also did not differ significantly between the different groups but numerically, it was slightly less in Herbiotic-FS group (5858.83 g/chick) and zinc bacitracin (5881.31 g/chick) compared to control challenged group (5948.02 g/chick). It was interesting to note that the feed conversion efficiency from day 49 to 66 was markedly better (2.65) in the Herbiotic group compared to that of 3.06 in challenged bacitracin (CB) group or 3.10 in CC group. Similarly, nutrient utilization data although did not differ significantly between the treatment groups, but it was slightly better in Herbiotic-FS or bacitracin group. Therefore, based on the results of almost comparable efficacy of Herbiotic-FS or zinc bacitracin in improving production performance of E. coli challenged chicks, it may not be unreasonable to suggest the possibility of replacing antibacterial agents like zinc bacitracin with polyherbal feed supplements from the armamentaria of poultry industry to combat the bacterial infections associated with financial losses to poultry farmers.