Effect of Different Levels of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) Leaf Powder Supplementation on the Productive Performance of Broiler Breeder Hens

Abstract

Phytogenic feed additives are increasingly examined as dietary supplements in poultry, but information on Tulsi supplementation in broiler breeder hens remains limited. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum; synonym Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on the productive performance of broiler breeder hens. A total of 120 broiler breeder hens at 40 weeks of age were randomly allotted to four treatment groups: T1 (control: basal feed without supplementation), T2 (basal feed + 0.5% Tulsi powder), T3 (basal feed + 1.0% Tulsi powder), and T4 (basal feed + 1.5% Tulsi powder), with three replicates of 10 hens each. The trial lasted six weeks (40–45 weeks of age), and body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed clean-up time, egg production, and livability were recorded. At 45 weeks, T2 had the highest body weight (4646.66 g; p < 0.05), while T3 had higher hen-day egg production (79.52%) and hen-housed egg production (76.82%), lower FCR (1.09), and shorter feed clean-up time (3.22 h) at the end of the trial (p < 0.01). Cumulative livability was highest in T2 (100.00%; p < 0.05). These findings indicate that different Tulsi inclusion levels were associated with different productive responses in broiler breeder hens, with the 0.5% level associated with later body weight and livability and the 1.0% level associated with egg production, FCR, and feed clean-up time. Further studies under different breeder-management conditions are warranted.