Effect of Phytobiotic Feed Additives Garlic (Allium sativum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on Carcass Quality in Broiler Chicks

Background: The poultry production systems have led to marked increase in the production of poultry meat and eggs worldwide. The use of various phytobiotic feed additives as dietary supplements may have positive effect on poultry performance, carcass quality and economic benefit in poultry birds. Methods: A feeding trial of 42 days was conducted at Veterinary College, Navania, Udaipur in the year 2021 using 300, day-old broiler chicks (Cobb-400) randomly distributed in completely randomized design. The broiler chicks were divided randomly into ten treatment groups with three replicates under each treatment. The T1 i.e. control group was fed on basal diet, while T2 was supplemented with Oxytetracycline (OTC) powder @ 0.1g/kg feed. T3 and T4 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T5 and T6 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T7 and T8 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Shatavari root powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T9 was served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.25%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.25% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.25%. T10 was served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.50%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.50% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.50%. Result: The supplementation of Garlic powder, Ashwagandha root powder and Shatavari root powder alone and in combination had highly significant (P less than 0.01) effect on body weight, dressing percentage, weight of liver, heart, Gizzard and Giblet but significant (P less than 0.05) effect was observed on eviscerated yield. The net return per bird profit was found higher in T9 group.