Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) Leaf and Ginger (Zingiberofficinale) Powder as Feed Additives on Broiler Performance

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tulsi leaf and ginger powder as feed additives on broiler performance. A total of 210, day-old chicks were divided into 7 groups in a completely randomized design, with 30 chicks in each group and reared for 42 days. Control group was provided with basal feed. T1 and T2 groups were supplemented with 0.5 and 1% of tulsi leaf powder, while G1 and G2 groups were supplemented with 0.5 and 1% of ginger powder in the ration, respectively. T1G1 group was supplemented with tulsi leaf and ginger powder each @ 0.25% of ration and T2G2 group was supplemented with tulsi leaf and ginger powder each @ 0.5% of ration. During starter and finisher period of trial, in T2G2 group, i.e., broilers fed with tulsi leaf and ginger powder at 0.5% each had significantly higher (p less than 0.01) body weight gain and improved (p less than 0.01) feed conversion ratio as compared to control and rest of the groups. Significantly lowest feed intake (p less than 0.01) during the starter period was observed in T2G2 group, and in G1 group during the finisher period of trial. It could be concluded that tulsi leaf and ginger powder @ 0.5% each can be supplemented to improve growth performance and FCR of broilers.