Influence of dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder on feed intake and body weight performance in caged broilers

Abstract

Use of antibiotics has been found to have negative effects on broiler health and its production therefore; there is a need for supplementation of herbal ingredients in broiler feed. An experiment was conducted on herbal dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder to study its effect on growth performance in caged broilers. A total of 48 Day old broiler chicks of same hatch were procured and randomly divided into four groups with three sub groups comprising of 3 chicks in each to serve as replicates T0 (control) had standard ration as per NRC; T1 ration was supplemented with 5g Shatavari root powder /kg feed; T2 ration was supplemented with 5g Ashwagandha powder /kg feed and T3 ration was supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed. The birds were reared in battery type cages under standard management practices from day-old to five weeks of age. Statistically analyzed data shown that the average body weight was significantly (p< 0.05) highest in T3 group followed by T2, T0 and T1 group. Similar trend was seen in the case of feed intake where significantly higher (p< 0.05) feed intake was found in T3 group followed by T2, T0 and T1 group. From this study it can be concluded that caged broilers supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed may perform well in caged conditions in terms of improved body weight and feed intake.