Nutritional Modulation with Amino Acids, Probiotics and Prebiotics and its impact on Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Ratio in Aseel Chickens under Tropical Conditions of Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Background: India possesses rich poultry genetic diversity, with indigenous breeds like Aseel valued for their adaptability, meat quality, and economic importance in backyard production systems. However, limited information exists on the synergistic effects of amino acids, probiotics, and prebiotics on growth performance and feed efficiency in Aseel chickens under tropical conditions. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of amino acids (lysine and methionine), along with probiotics and prebiotics, on growth performance and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of Aseel chickens under Chhattisgarh conditions. Study Design: A completely randomized design (CRD) with three groups: Control (C), Treatment 1 (T1), and Treatment 2 (T2). Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at a poultry farm in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, India, for 8 weeks. Methodology: A total of 120 day-old Aseel chicks were randomly divided into three groups (40 birds each). The control group received a basal diet, T1 received a basal diet supplemented with lysine (1.3%) and methionine (0.50%), and T2 received the same supplementation along with probiotics and prebiotics in drinking water. Birds were reared under uniform deep litter conditions. Weekly body weight, weight gain, and feed intake were recorded, and FCR was calculated. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at P< 0.05. Results: No significant differences were observed during the first two weeks. From the third week onwards, treatment groups showed significantly higher body weight up to 8 weeks. The overall body weight gain from 0-8 week duration was recorded highest in the T2 (420.05 ± 36.56 gm), followed by T1 (412.10 ± 9.01 gm) and control (292.55 ± 12.77 gm). The best FCR was observed in T2 (2.72 ± 0.17), followed by T1 (2.90 ± 0.07), while the control group showed the poorest efficiency (3.00 ± 0.04). Conclusion: Combined supplementation of amino acids, probiotics, and prebiotics significantly improves growth performance and feed efficiency in Aseel chickens, making it a promising strategy for sustainable and profitable poultry production.