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The experiment was carried out for 4 weeks to find out the efficacy of herbal extracts supplementation in drinking water on production performance, plasma metabolites, carcass characteristics, and fat deposition of commercial broilers. A total of 200 straight run day-old chicks (Cobb-500) were divided into five treatment groups; T0=Basal diet, T1= Basal diet+10 ppm neem leaves extract, T2= Basal diet+10 ppm garlic leaves extract, T3= Basal diet+10 ppm plantain leaves extract, T4= Basal diet+10 ppm antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) each with four replications having 10 birds per replicate. All the herbal extracts and AGP were supplemented in drinking water. Ration in the form of crumble was offered to the birds ad libitum having ME=3060 kcal/kg and CP=22.5%. Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly to calculate body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). A total of 15 birds three from each treatment were sacrificed at the end of feeding trial and dressing parameters were evaluated. Sensory properties of broiler meat were assessed by a panel of experts. Feed intake, BWG and FCR varied (p<0.05) in all treated groups, and the higher BWG and improved FCR were found in AGP group. Triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein content were lower (p<0.05) in all herbal treated groups than the control and elevated at AGP group. However, increased (p<0.001) dressing percentage and abdominal fat deposition were found in AGP group compared to herbal treated groups and the least value was found in plantain group which also exhibited lower (p<0.001) meat ether extract. Flavor (p=0.001), juiciness (p=0.002), tenderness (p=0.005) and overall acceptability (p<0.001) of broiler meat were significantly higher in herbal group over control and AGP group. The aqueous herbal extract supplementation could be an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter to enhance growth performance, plasma lipid profiles as well as to reduce abdominal fat and meat of either extract. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2019. 48 (2): 108-115

Summary Length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of two endemic Channid fish species, Channa aurantimaculata Musikasinthorn, 2000 and C. stewartii (Playfair, 1867) were studied from Brahmaputra River basin in Assam, India. Sampling was done from May to December, 2017 and a total of 81 fish specimens were collected using bamboo traps. In the LWRs, b value for C. aurantimaculata and C. stewartii were 3.0456 and 2.9172 respectively. Maximum size recorded for C. aurantimaculata in the present study (34.1 cm) was higher than previous record in FishBase (19.1 cm).

The experiment reported here was an attempt to evaluate the effect of feeding three different probiotics to broilers on productive performance, meat yield and profitability of rearing for 42 days in an open sided house, at Bangladesh Agricultural University Poultry Farm. Two hundred fifty-six one-day old Indian River straight run broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments each of four replicates of 16 chicks each providing floor space of 1115 cm2 per bird. The basal diet was corn-soya and it was supplemented with different probiotics to make test diets. The dietary treatments were: basal diet (T1); basal diet supplemented with probiotic-1 (PB-1) at 1.0 g/kg feed (T2); basal diet supplemented with probiotic-2 (PB-2) at 1.0 g/kg feed (T3); basal diet supplemented with probiotic-3 (PB-3) at 0.5 g/kg feed (T4). Birds were fed starter diet from 0-21 days of age and grower diet from 22-42 days of age. Records were kept of performance traits and carcass yields by maintaining birds under identical management. Profitability was determined on termination of the trial. Performance and carcass yield data were statistically analyzed employing SAS Computer Package Program (SAS, 2009). Results showed no variation (P>0.05) in growth performance and meat yield characteristics of commercial broilers irrespective of types of probiotic supplementation. However, feed intake increased (P<0.05) due to supplementation of probiotics. Although higher cost (p<0.05) incurred due to addition of probiotics in the diet, such an addition increased profit. Profit over control was BDT 12.20/bird (BDT 5.10/kg) in PB-1, BDT 18.70/bird (BDT 7.40/kg) in PB-2 and BDT 17.10/bird (BDT 6.40/kg) in PB-3 group. The profit was higher in all the treated groups over control indicating that the use of probiotics irrespective of type was profitable and cost effective. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2019. 48 (2): 85-91

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Probiotics of various commercial preparations are being considered worldwide for poultry as performance enhancers and suitable alternatives to antibiotics. Much of the previous efforts to explore beneficial effects of probiotics were directed for commercial broilers and scientific information for commercial layer nutrition is limited in contrast to that of broilers. To our knowledge, whatever information is available, no attempt has been made as yet to make a comprehensive review of the effects of probiotics on layer chicken covering different aspects of production. This review is prepared by consolidating and updating information available in the literature covering laying performance, serum chemistry, egg quality and its safety aspects. Data generated from a number of studies clearly indicated that apart from a few exceptions, probiotics are found to be effective for the improvement of laying performance; serum biochemical parameters, egg shell and albumen quality and they are suitable for the production of safe eggs. Effect of probiotics on layers is mediated by boosting up gut health thereby creating an environment for better nutrient assimilation and thus an improvement of production and egg quality is achieved. Factors affecting such results need to be assessed more precisely since they contribute to some contradictions in the literatures. Nevertheless, the feed industry can rely on probiotics as quite safe for the production of quality feed to support commercial layer nutrition. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2020. 49 (1): 1-12