Effect of Supplementation of Amla (Emblica officinalis) Fruit Powder on Growth Performance during Different Growth Phases of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of phytogenic feed additives as an alternative to antibiotic on growth performance of broiler chicken. A total of 300 commercial broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six treatments having five replicates consisting of ten birds each. The chicks fed with standard basal diet in two different growth phase i.e. starter(0-28d) and finisher (29–42 d) The first group was kept as control (T1) and given basal diet without antibiotic while in second group (T2) basal diet was supplemented with antibiotic, third (T3), fourth (T4), fifth (T5) and sixth (T6) groups were supplemented with amla fruit powder @0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1%, respectively. Over all feed intake ranged 3860.4 (g) (T6) to 4059.0 (g) (T1) and significantly lower feed intake was found in 0.75% and 1% amla fruit powder supplemented group as compared to control. The lower feed consumption in higher levels of amla fruit powder supplemented group might be due to better utilization of nutrients. Over all weight gain at the end of growth period ranged 2105.8 (T1) to 2240.4 (T5) and significant higher body weight gain was found in 0.75% (T5) and 1% (T6) amla supplemented group results in significantly improved FCR as compared to control. Dry Matter metabolizability and Nitrogen metabolizability was significantly higher in 0.75% (T5) and 1% (T6) amla fruit powder supplemented group as compared to control group. Higher gross energy metabolizability was recorded in all amla supplemented and antibiotic supplemented group as compared to control group.