Effect of polyherbal feed supplement vis-à-vis bacitracin on carcass quality in healthy and E. coli challenged broiler chicks

Effect of a polyherbal formulation, as substitute for conventionally used antimicrobial agents, bacitracin on carcass quality and giblet yield in healthy and E. coli challenged broiler chicks was studied. In phase I of study three groups of ten chicks (I-III) were maintained on basal and experimental feeds medicated with Herbiotic-FS and bacitracin @ 250 gm/tonn of feed, respectively. While in phase II four groups of ten chicks each; one healthy control (IV-CH) and three challenged with E. coli were maintained on basal (V-CC), Herbiotic @ 500 gm/tonn (VI-CHB) and bacitracin @ 500gm/tonn (VII-CB) medicated feeds from day 7 onward till the end of experiment. Birds of first three groups (I-III) were sacrificed on day 49 while rest four groups on 66^th day. In healthy chicks, per cent blood loss in Herbiotic-FS group (6.15±0.77%) was higher compared to bacitracin (4.74±0.72%) or control (4.76±1.14%) groups but evisceration loss in Herbiotic-FS group (26.26±3.20%) and control group (24.09±1.93%) groups was significantly (P <0.05) lower compared to the bacitracin-supplemented group (40.24±2.03%). But feather loss, dressing percentage, cut-up yield and giblet yield did not differ significantly between different treatment groups. Similalrly, dressing percentage and evisceration loss and cut-up yield and giblet yield did not differ significantly between chicks of E. coli infected groups. But blood loss in Herbiotic-FS (5.52±1.3) group was numerically, however, non-significantly, higher compared to bacitracin (4.47±0.75) and control challenged group (5.07±0.62) and feather loss in Herbiotic-FS (5.16±1.13) was significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to control challenged group (9.44±0.93) while non-significantly lower than in bacitracin (6.63±1.24) group. Based on the results of present study, it may be inferred that polyherbal feed supplement Herbiotic-FS seems to be a promising alternative to conventionally used antimicrobial agents in poultry production as the meat produced will be free from any drug residues.