Effect of supplementation of Arjuna bark powder (Terminalia arjuna) as herbal feed additive on dry matter metabolizability, retention of nitrogen and comparative economics of broiler chicks in arid region of Rajasthan

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the use of Arjuna Bark Powder (Terminalia arjuna) in broiler rations as a feed additive on dry-matter (DM) metabolizability, retention of nitrogen and comparative economics of broilers in arid region of Rajasthan. Total 150, day old broiler chicks (broiler strain Cobb-430) were used in experiment. Total five dietary treatment groups (T1-T5) were created and each treatment group had 3 replicates. The T1 group was fed on basal diet without feed additive and kept as control. Whereas treatment groups (T2-T5) were supplemented with graded levels (@ 0.50%, 0.75%, 1% and 1.25%) of Arjuna Bark Powder (Terminalia arjuna) in the broiler ration, respectively. In the end for duration of 5 days using 6 broiler chicks from each group, a metabolic trial also conducted. The findings revealed that the supplementation of Arjuna Bark Powder at graded levels did not bring any significant outcome on dry-matter metabolizability of feed and nitrogen retention but numerically higher DM metabolizability and nitrogen retention was observed in herb supplemented groups than control. However, it did bring substantial (p