Impact of Fenugreek Seed Powder Supplementation on Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers Exposed to Dexamethasone

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of fenugreek seed powder supplementation on the growth performance of commercial broilers exposed to dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid known to induce stress and suppress growth. Study Design:  A total of 144 day-old broiler chicks (Vencobb) were randomly allocated to four treatment groups, each with three replicates of 12 birds, for a 42-days trial, receiving different dietary treatments, including a control diet, dexamethasone treatment and diets supplemented with fenugreek seed powder (FSP). Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted for 42 days at the Instructional Poultry Farm of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, located in Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand Methodology: The treatment groups included: T1 (Control) - standard diet; T2 - standard diet with dexamethasone (1 mg/kg body weight); T3 - standard diet with dexamethasone (1 mg/kg body weight) and FSP (1% of the diet); and T4 - standard diet with FSP (1% of the diet). Growth parameters such as body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured over a period of 42 days of all the four groups. Results: The results demonstrated that dexamethasone treatment in the T2 group led to a noticeable reduction in weight gain. On the other hand, broilers in the T3 and T4 groups, supplemented with 1% FSP, showed significant improvements in feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency compared to those without FSP or subjected to dexamethasone alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Dexamethasone exposure significantly reduced growth performance, while fenugreek seed powder supplementation mitigated these negative effects. Broilers receiving FSP demonstrated improved body weight gain and FCR compared to the dexamethasone-only and control groups. The findings suggest that incorporating FSP into broiler diets enhances growth performance and mitigates the adverse effects of dexamethasone-induced stress, making it a valuable dietary intervention under both normal and stressful conditions.Further research on optimal dosage and long-term effects is recommended.