Year: 2017 | Month: February | Volume 7 | Issue 1
Effect of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Supplementation on Production Indices, Mortality and Cost of Production of Broiler Chicken
Abstract:
The present study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of three physical forms of aloe vera viz. powder, gel and juice on the energy efficiency (EE), protein efficiency (PE), performance index (PI), production number (PN), mortality pattern and cost of production of broiler chicken. Two hundred and forty day old unsexed broiler chicks (Cobb 400) were distributed in four groups with four replicates, each consisting of fifteen chicks on a completely randomized design. The treatments included the control (T1- basal diet as per BIS 2007) and three groups with basal diet mixed with aloe vera powder @ 0.5% in feed (T2), gel @ 2% in feed (T3) and fresh aloe vera juice @ 2% in drinking water (T4), respectively. The results revealed that PE and EE were significantly (p<0.05) different during last week among T2 and T3 groups as compared to control group. Values of PI and PN showed non-significant results among treatment groups. Mortality recorded was within standard limits which showed that there was no detrimental effect of aloe vera supplementation on health and performance of broilers. The cost of production calculated at the end of experiment revealed that net profit on drawn weight (`/kg) was 3.96 (powder form), 7.39 (gel form) and 8.77 (juice form) as compared to control group (basal diet only). Thus, aloe vera can act as an efficient, effective and economical herbal feed additive in broiler industry.
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