STUDIES ON EFFECT OF FEEDING OF SAYLIV ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER BIRDS

Dr. Nikhil Gaikwad, Dr. Sanjay Bhalerao

College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani

Introduction

          The major cost in rearing of poultry birds goes in to feeding This  alone constitutes about 60-70% of the total cost of production. So as to make the poultry farming profitable attempts must be focussed on reducing this cost by an efficient feed utilization and its conversion to egg & meat is essential. This can be achieved by supplementation of certain growth promoters & liver tonics along with basal feed.

          Use of synthetic compounds in a feed is one attempt many poultry farmers adopt. But high cost of such compounds also increases the cost of feed. In addition to this it is essential to careful about the safety of such products. So, their use is becoming restricted in many parts of the World

          Liver is the key organ involved in various metabolic pathways regulating growth & productivity in poultry. In poultry, besides other vital organs, liver is the one which plays major role in building the foundation for successful performance of birds for optimum productivity and maximum profitability. The functions of liver are numerous like metabolism, circulation, detoxification, excretion, defence and haemopoiesis. Efficient liver functioning ensures effective digestion of feed, assimilation of nutrients, detoxification of metabolic, dietary, synthetic drugs (anthelmintic, antibiotic) linked toxins and also minimization of damaging effects of mycotoxins.

          In recent years, some of the herbal preparations have been reported to possess hepatogenic, hepato-protective and growth stimulating properties which tones up liver resulting in to better overall performance and higher profitability due to increased efficiency of feed utilization (Ather, 1999; Bhasker et al., 2003). These products have also been indicated to exert immunomodulatory action which confers bird with better immune response for various diseases, disorders and tolerance against toxins leading to lower mortality, morbidity, enhanced productive adaptability (Panda & Chawak, 1996).

          This study was planned to investigate the effects of Sayliv a herbal liver tonic powder by AS Nutrisol, Buland Shahar, Uttar Pradesh on growth performance of commercial broiler chicks.

Materials & Methods

          Two hundred and seventy, day old unsexed commercial broiler chicks of Vencobb strain were divided randomly into three identical groups, each with 3 replicates. Each replicate containing 30 birds. All the groups were administered commercially purchased starter & finisher ration as per the NRC requirements.

          Birds in group I served as control and fed with regular diet. However the group II and III birds were fed with the diet containing SAYLIV powder at the dose are of 500 gm and 1 kg per ton of feed respectively from day ‘0’ to 40th of the trial..

          All the group birds were housed under identical managemental, nutritional and environmental conditions. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experimental period. All the chicks were vaccinated as per routine farm practices. For each group of birds (I to III), individual body weight was recorded at the time of grouping at 0 day followed by recording at weekly intervals. Other parameters; average feed intake, feed conversion Ratio (FCR), average body weight gain, mortality were recorded at weekly intervals. At the end of the experiment 06 birds from each replicate from each group (Total 54 birds) were slaughtered.  Organ weight (heart, liver and spleen) was recorded for all the representative birds of each group. The meat color score was determined 45 minutes (at the moment of slaughter) and 5 hours after slaughter on a 5-point scale (color score of 3 or more acceptable). The pH was recorded using a digital pH meter directly in breast muscle. The measurements were done immediately after slaughter (45 minutes) and 5 hours after slaughter in chilled carcasses. enhancing the shelf life of meat. The lighter meat colour and the lower pH in the meat of the treated group chickens may demonstrate negligible lipid peroxidation and higher level of glycogen the live chickens had in the muscles as well as a faster rate of glycolysis.

          Meat colour and pH are important parameters associated with keeping quality and shelf life of meat products. Difference in organ weight (heart & liver) was found to be significantly different in treated groups than control.

Results

          Table 1 summarises the mean body weight (g), Feed consumption (g), FCR and mortality per centre in experimental birds.

          The mean final body weight in control group birds was 1398 gm where as in treatment group II & III was 1543 and 1680 gm respectively.

          Mean feed consumption in all the three group animals was observed to be 3010, 3000 and 2990 gm respectively where as the FCR was observed to be 2.15, 1.94 and 1.78 in group I, II and III respectively.

          This indicates the positive effect of SAYLIV as the higher body weight with better FCR is observed in group II and III.

          The group III birds treated with SAYLIV at the inclusion level of 1 kg/tonne of feed showed better significantly higher body weight and better FCR.

          The mortality percentage in group III and II birds was significantly lower than the control group indicating positive effects of SAYLIV powder. 

Table 1 Effect of SAYLIV on body weight, Feed consumption, FCR and mortality.

          The study revealed that supplementation of herbal liver tonics has promoted the efficacy of liver & heart and have protected the organs from any damage. As a result organs were prevented from any enlargement & inflammation. The constituent herbs in the product SAYLIV optimizes digestion and metabolism, in turn leading to better protein utilization, improved mucosal function and reduced cost of metabolic deamination.

Table 2 Meat and Circus quality of birds in control and treatment with SAYLIV.

          The dressing percentage in control group birds was observed to be 70.82 per cent. However it was observed to be 74.86 and 76.77 per cent in group II and group III birds treated with SAYLIV at the inclusion level of 500 g/tonne and 1 kg/ tonne of feed.the difference in the dressing percent was observed to be statistically significant in both the treatment groups as against control group birds.

          Though no statistically significant variation was observed in organ weights (Liver and Spleen) in all the group animals, Liver and Spleen weight in control group birds was higher.

          Meat colour score in both the treatment group birds were observed to be better as against that in control group birds and the difference was observed to be statistically significant.

          Meat PH was also observed to be lowered in both the treatment group birds.

          It can be concluded that supplementation of Herbal liver tonic SAYLIV at dose rate 500gm /tonne and 1 kg /tonne of feed was found to be beneficial in significantly improving overall growth, performance, feed efficiency, nutrient utilization, meat & carcass quality of chicken in addition to enhancing the shelf life which can be attributed to the potent and efficacious active principles present in indvidual herb constituent of polyherbal liver tonic formulation. However the results obtained in the group III birds treated with SAYLIV at dose rate 1 kg /tonne of feed are far better than tit he birds treated at the inclusion level of 500 gm/ tonne of feed. Hence tha inclusion leve of 1 Kg/tonne of feed is recommended.

          similar observations were reported by Sharma et al (2008).

References :

          Ather, Mujeeb M.A. (1999): Clinical efficacy and economics of Livfit Vet liquid and premix in commercial broiler chickens. Poultry Punch, 15(5):36-39.

          Bhasker, Dolly; Sharma, R.K.; Chauhan, S.S.; Singh, Harpal and Ashok, Kumar, (2003): Effect of herbal detoxicants and liver stimulant on the performance of broiler chickens. Indian J. of Poult. Sci., 38(2): 110-114.

          Panda, B.K. and Chawak, M.M. (1996): Immuno- modulating effect of some indigenous growth promoters in commercial broilers. Indian J. Poult. Sci., 31(3):213-215.

          Sharma, R.K., Maini S., Ravikanth K (1998), Beneficial effects of Superliv DS and Xlivpro on growth promotion and carcass quality traits in broilers. Veterinary World, Vol.1(12):363-365