| A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Mint leaves (Mentha piperita) with or without enzyme treatment on blood chemistry, carcass characteristics and sensory attributes of broiler chicken production. 225 day old commercial broiler chicks reared together until 7 days of age. On 8th day, the chicks were individually weighed, distributed randomly into 5 treatment groups of 3 replicates with 15 chicks each for a period of 42 days of age. Birds in the control group (T1) were fed diets without additives, whereas in T2 and T3 basal diet was supplemented with raw mint leaves @ 1% (T2) and 2% (T3). In T4 and T5, enzyme treated mint leaves @ 1% and 2% were added to the basal diet respectively. At the end of experimental period, blood biochemistry, carcass characteristics and sensory attributes were recorded. The results revealed that there was no significant (P>0.05) effect on serum glucose, total protein, cholesterol, SGPT and SGOT levels of birds fed diets either supplemented with raw or enzyme treated mint leaves both at 1 and 2% levels when compared with the group of birds fed control diet. Further, various carcass characteristics viz. feather loss, evisceration loss, giblets, shank, head and dressing % in the groups fed raw or enzyme treated 1 and 2% mint leaves showed a non significant (P>0.05) difference compared to control group. Moreover, no effect (P>0.05) on various sensory attributes and the overall acceptability of meat among the various treatment groups and control group was observed. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of raw or enzyme treated mint leaves had no negative effect on the health of birds as could be figured out from the normal SGPT and SGOT levels of birds.
Background: Duckweed is a monocotyledon species of the family Lemnaceae. It is a small floating aquatic plant that grows very well on stagnant ponds and is commonly found throughout tropical countries in natural ponds, lakes and flooded rice fields. Duckweed has high crude protein content and a well-balanced amino acid profile and is also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Duckweed at different levels was utilized in the diet of broiler chicken to study their performance. Methods: One hundred and fifty day old broiler chicks of one week old were distributed randomly into five treatment groups viz T1: (Control), T2: 5% Duckweed without enzyme, T3: 5% Duckweed with enzyme, T4:10% Duckweed without enzyme and T5 :10% Duckweed with enzyme having 30 chicks in each groups with three replicates of 10 chicks each. Result: The Duckweed contains 20.33% crude protein, 3.10% ether extract, 18.06% crude fibre, 2.80% calcium, 1.10% phosphorous and 1660.77 ME (Kcal/ Kg). Significantly (P£0.05) higher body weight was recorded in T1 (1889.67±13.28g) and T3 (1878.65±2.02g) groups followed by T2 (1831.67±3.51g), T5 (1798.31±1.76 g) and T4 (1728.63±2.60 g) groups, respectively. The average daily body weight gain was ranged between 37.87 to 41.66 g. The cumulative feed consumption was recorded to be highest in T1 (3050.13±14.01) and lowest in T4 (2943.17±8.54g) group. The Cumulative FCR was significantly (P£0.05) better (1.74±0.01) in T1 and T3 groups in comparison to T2 (1.78±0.01), T4 (1.85± 0.01) and T5 (1.78± 0.04) groups. Total 3.3% mortality was recorded in all treatment groups except T3 group in which there was no mortality during entire experimental period.
Background: Feed is the single largest input which accounts for 60-70% of the total cost of poultry production. Sheep manure is an unconventional feed relatively high in protein and energy levels and can be used in poultry diet to reduce the cost of production. Inclusion of exogenous enzymes will improve its nutritional value as it contains relatively high fibre and utilization by birds. The performance of broiler chicken fed with heat treated sheep manure (HSM) based diets supplement with or without enzyme was studied.
Methods: 210 broiler chicks were randomly distributed to five groups viz. T1 (Control), T2: 5% HSM without enzyme, T3: 5% HSM with enzyme, T4: 10% HSM without enzyme and T5: 10% HSM with enzyme containing 42 chicks in each group having three replicates of 14 chicks each.
Result: The chemical composition of HSM like Dry matter, Organic matter, Crude protein, Ether extract, Crude fibre, Total ash, NFE, Calcium and Phosphorus were estimated as 90.15±1.85, 71.88±1.62, 15.24±1.23, 4.22±0.86, 17.09±0.92, 28.12±1.32, 35.33±1.28, 1.15±0.08 and 0.48±0.03%. The ME (Kcal/kg) was 1565.33. The final body weight at 6 weeks of age was highest in T3 (1998.25±13.29g) and lowest in T4 (1949.22± 15.14 g). The cumulative feed conversion ratio ranged between 1.79 ± 0.083 in T1 to 1.83 ± 0.078 in T4. The cost of production per kg live weight was highest (Rs. 89.78) in T1 and lowest (Rs. 83.76) in T5 group. The benefit cost ratio was 1.14, 1.17, 1.19, 1.20 and 1.22 for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups respectively.
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