Effect of dietary supplementation of Turmeric Powder (Curcuma longa) on mortality rate of Kuroiler Chicks

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of turmeric powder (Curcuma longa) on the mortality rate of Kuroiler chicks. A total of 120 day-old Kuroiler chicks of uniform body weight, obtained from a single hatch, were randomly allotted to four dietary treatment groups. The experimental treatments comprised T0 (control: standard chick feed formulated as per BIS, 2007), T1 (basal diet supplemented with turmeric powder @ 5.0 g/kg feed), T2 (basal diet supplemented with turmeric powder @ 7.5 g/kg feed) and T3 (basal diet supplemented with turmeric powder @ 10.0 g/kg feed). Each treatment group consisted of 30 chicks, which were further subdivided into three replications of 10 chicks each. The birds were reared under standard management and housing conditions for a period of 8 weeks and mortality rate was recorded throughout the experimental period. During the experimental period, the overall mortality rate recorded was 4.16%. The highest mortality was observed in the T0 (control) group (10.0%), whereas no mortality was recorded in the T2 group supplemented with turmeric powder at 7.5 g/kg feed. The reduced mortality observed in turmeric supplemented groups may be attributed to the beneficial effects of turmeric on the health and immune status of chicks, especially during the early growth phase of chicks which improve survivability of Kuroiler chicks.