Vol. 9, Special Issue 7 (2020)

Author(s):
P Chitra

Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) and tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on growth performance of broilers. This experiment was conducted in 210 broilers from day-old to six weeks of age. Experimental broiler chicks (Vencobb-400) were randomly distributed into seven treatments; each treatment had three replicates with ten chicks in each replicate. The control group T₁ was fed a basal diet formulated as per BIS (2007) while in treatment groups T₂ and T₃ basal diet with garlic powder supplementation @ 0.5% and 1% T₄ and T₅ basal diet with supplementation of tulsi leaf powder @ 0.5% and 1%; T₆ and T₇ were fed basal diets with combinations of garlic powder and tulsi leaf powder supplementation @ 0.5% and 1% of each, respectively. The body weight gain was (P<0.05) higher in broilers fed diet supplemented with combination of garlic powder and tulsi leaf powder as compared to other treatment groups. Feed conversion ratio improved (P<0.05) in supplemented groups with combinations of garlic powder and tulsi leaf powder at 0.5% and 1% of each as compared to other groups. The garlic and tulsi leaf powder and their combination at 0.5% and 1% levels did not influence the carcass characteristics of broilers. It was concluded that supplementation of garlic and Tulasi leaf powder combination at 0.5% level in broiler diets showed better growth rate and feed conversion ratio compared to other treatment groups.