Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Supplemented with Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) Powder at Nagaland, India

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of various inclusion levels of Tulsi leaf powder on broiler performance. The current study aims to reduce chick mortality and increase profit at the farm level. The present study was carried out at the poultry unit of the Department of Livestock Production and Management, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, to assess the production and benefit-cost ratio of the broiler chicken fed supplemented with Tulsi powder. The control group (T1) received a standard basal diet, whereas the other groups were provided with the same diet supplemented with Tulsi leaf powder at 2.5 g/kg (T2), 5.0 g/kg (T3) and 7.5 g/kg (T4) for a duration of 42 days. Feed intake was recorded daily and body weights were measured weekly for each replicate. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated accordingly. On the 42nd day, four birds from each treatment were selected for hematological analysis, including WBC, RBC, Hb, HDL, LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, PCV and MCV levels. Additionally, five birds per treatment were slaughtered to determine carcass traits. The findings revealed that broilers fed diets containing 7.5 g/kg Tulsi leaf powder (T4) achieved the highest growth rate compared to other groups. This group also exhibited improved Hb and HDL levels and recorded zero mortality by the end of the trial. Moreover, the T4 birds showed the highest carcass, liver and heart weights. However, the highest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was observed in the T3 group. Hence, supplementation of broiler diets with 5.0 g/kg Tulsi leaf powder was the most beneficial under the agro-climatic conditions of Nagaland.