Effect of Bael (Aegle marmelos) Fruit Pulp Powder Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Haemato-Biochemical Indices of Broiler Chickens
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.3.07Keywords:
Bael fruit, Blood metabolites, Broilers, Carcass quality, Performance.Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effect of Bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit pulp powder supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits and haemato-biochemical indices of broiler chickens. A total of 192 unsexed day-old broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups with 48 birds per treatment. The dietary treatments were T1: Control-Basal diet, while T2, T3 and T4 were Basal diet with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% Bael fruit pulp powder in feed, respectively. The parameters studied were growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein intake and efficiency ratio, production efficiency factor, carcass characteristics and haemato-biochemical indices. Results revealed that the mean final body weight and body weight gain in broiler chickens were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the T3 group than other treatments. The total feed and protein intake in broiler chickens did not show any significant (p>0.05) differences among the treatments. The overall FCR was significantly (p<0.05) better in T3 (1.60) group as compared to T1 (1.69), T2 (1.67) and T4 (1.68) groups. The mean protein efficiency ratio and production efficiency factor were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T3 group as compared to other treatments. The dietary Bael fruit pulp powder had no effect on carcass traits of broiler chickens. The serum glucose levels linearly decreased with increased level of Bael fruit pulp powder supplementation, but no influence (p>0.05) on other biochemical parameters was noted. It may be concluded that Bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit pulp powder supplementation at 1% level in feed significantly improved growth performance, FCR, protein and production efficiency in broiler chickens without altering haemato-biochemical profile, hence can be recommended as a promising natural growth promoter.
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