Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Phytogenic Feed Additives on Haemato-Biochemical Parameters of Broilers in Konkan Climatic Conditions, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of supplementation of phytogenic feed additives (PFA) like Fenugreek seed powder (FSP) and Guduchi stem powder (GSP) on the haemato-biochemical parameters of broiler birds in Konkan climatic conditions, Maharashtra, India. A total of 162-day-old Vencobb-400 chicks were randomly divided into nine dietary treatments with three replicates. Each replicate has six birds in each treatment. The control group was fed with a commercial starter and finisher diet. The remaining groups were supplemented with 0.1 and 0.2 per cent of FSP and GSP and its combinations, respectively. In order to evaluate the effect of seasons, birds were reared in main three seasons of Konkan region viz. summer (S1), rainy (S2) and winter (S3). At the 6th weeks of age, the blood samples were collected from wing vein of three birds per replicate. In the study, haemato-biochemical parameters like total cholesterol (COL), serum glucose (G), haemoglobin (H), serum total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were determined. The results of the study showed that supplementation of FSP and GSP alone and its combinations significantly (P<0.05) decreased the cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins, while significantly (P<0.05) increased the glucose, haemoglobin, total protein, and high-density lipoprotein in broilers fed with FSP and GSP compared to control birds. It can be concluded that supplementation of 0.2 per cent FSP and GSP could be used to improve the haemato-biochemical parameters of broilers in Konkan climatic conditions.