Effect of herbal growth stimulators on the performance of broiler chicks

A study was conducted to see the impact of herbal drugs on the performance of broilers. Day - old 450 broiler chicks (Cobb-400) was randomly divided into 6 groups of 75 each and maintained upto 35 days fed on basal ration (G1) along with 2% aswagandha (Withania somnifera) - G2, vidarikand (Pueraria tuberose) - G3, guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) - G4, aswagandha and vidarikand mixed in the ratio of 1:3(G5), aswagandha and guduchi mixed in the ratio of 1:3(G6). The feed intake decreased and gain in body weight increased (P<0.01) in aswagandha alone and with guduchi fed groups but, the gain in body weight and feed intake both decreased (P<0.01) when vidarikand was added in the diet as compared to control (G1). The dressing per cent was the highest (P<0.01) in groups G6 (77.80%), G2 (77.62%) and G4 (77.59%) than the groups G3(69.47%), G5(73.72%) and G1(74.47%). The feed conversion ratio was very low (P<0.01) in groups G2 (1.65), G4 and G6 (1.72) than rest of the groups. The level of triglycerides increased (P<0.01) when vidarikand was replaced by guduchi. The level of cholesterol increased (P<0.01) in groups G3 (120.21mg/dl), G4 (126.17mg/dl) and G5 (135.88mg/dl) than other groups. Significant (P<0.05) correlation (r = 0.816) was observed between the levels of SGPT and urea in the blood. The correlation from SGOT to triglycerides (r = -0.795) and cholesterol (r = -0.65) were not significant.