Effect of supplementing Bael (Aegle marmelos) leaf powder on the growth, nutrient utilization, carcass quality, and blood parameters of broiler chickens

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of adding various concentrations of dried bael leaf powder on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass traits, haemato-biochemical parameters, and meat quality of broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty chicks were split into four groups (T1 group was fed with basal diet which served as control, while groups T2, T3 and T4 are fed with 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.5% bael leaf powder inclusion in the basal diet, respectively), and were subjected to 42 days feeding trial. Over the period, their growth, nutrient intake, and blood parameters were monitored. The results indicated that the inclusion of bael leaf powder did not significantly affect growth performance, nutrient utilization and haematological parameters in broiler chickens. Meat composition analysis showed a significant (p