Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Trachyspermum ammi on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) has anti-bacterial activities and immuno modulatory activities which contribute to better growth performance in broilers. Ajwain can be promoted as a natural growth promoter in the broiler industry to produce quality meat without antibiotics in a very cost-effective manner. Keeping in view these facts, the present experiment was conducted to find out the effect of Ajwain seeds at various levels as feed additive on growth performance and carcass characteristic of broiler chickens.

A total of 150, day-old broiler chicks were weighed and randomly assigned to five dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design and each treatment with three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds were fed on fairly isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets of varying levels of Ajwain seeds. The inclusion levels of Ajwain seeds in diets T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ were 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%, respectively. Chicks at different phases were fed as per the recommendations of BIS. During the experimental period, the chicks were reared under standard management practices including feeding, watering and disease control.

The addition of Ajwain to the diet did not affect the total dietary intake and protein efficiency ratio in the chicks. However, average daily body weight gain, total weight gain, feed conversion ratio and performance index of broiler chicks significantly (P<0.05) increased by Ajwain seed supplementation. Birds fed on 1.5% Ajwain diet showed heaviest body weight with the best FCR. Results revealed significantly (P<0.01) higher carcass yield, eviscerated yield and giblet weight in Ajwain supplemented groups as compared to control. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of Ajwain seeds @ 1.5% is effective in improving the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks.