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 <0.01) body weight gain and improved (p <0.01) feed conversion ratio as compared to control and rest of the
groups. Significantly lowest feed intake (p <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.