Use of Lutein, Cissus quadrangularis and Curcuma longa in broiler chickens

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of Lutein, Cissus quadrangularis and Curcuma longa on production performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens. The trial was conducted on 360 ‘Cobb 430 Y’ straight-run broilers for a period of five weeks. The day-old chicks were randomly divided into four groups of 90 birds each. Each group had six replicates of 15 birds each. Group A was control, receiving corn-soybean diet. Groups B, C and D received diets supplemented with a product containing Lutein, Cissus quadrangularis and Curcuma longa @ 250 g/T, 500 g/T and 750 g/T, respectively. The product contained 3% Lutein, 55% Cissus quadrangularis and 6% Curcuma longa extract. The parameters like live weight, gain in weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, carcass quality, tibia ash, tibia calcium and phosphorus contents and economics of production were evaluated. It was observed that the birds receiving diet supplement with the product @ 750 g/T showed marginally better live weight, gain in weight and feed consumption. Significantly better feed conversion ratio was recorded by the birds receiving product @ 750 g/T than the control group. The results pertaining to the carcass quality parameters like edible carcass, giblet weight and heart weight percentages indicated comparable results. However, liver weight percentage and gizzard weight percentage were significantly higher for the birds receiving product @ 750 g/T. The tibia ash, calcium and phosphorus contents showed non-significant difference amongst the birds from different group. The net returns were also higher for the birds receiving product @ 750 g/T than all the treatment groups, including control group. Hence, it is concluded that, the supplementation of product containing containing Lutein, Cissus quadrangularis and Curcuma longa @ 750 g/T to the diets is beneficial in improving production performance, carcass quality and profit margins in broiler chickens.