Feeding value of fenugreek residue in layer mash

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a medicinal plant having a wide range of therapeutic, anti-microbial and growth promoting effects. Objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fenugreek residue (FR) as an additive in poultry rations and to evaluate the nutraceutical property of FR as a replacement of antibiotic and anti-cholesteraemic property in poultry ration. A total of 315 commercial layer aged 34 weeks was divided into 7 treatment groups, each group of three replicates with 15 layers in each. The treatments were 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% FR with antibiotic (500 g of 10% oxytetracycline/ton) and 1.5 and 2.0% FR with without antibiotic. Body weight increased with the level of FR when compare to control. Feed consumption/bird was significantly less when FR was incorporated up to 2%. Supplementation of antibiotic did not alter the feed consumption but improved the egg production (%) over the respected unsupplemented group. The feed efficiency (number of eggs/kg of feed consumed) of FR supplemented with and without antibiotic groups were significantly better than the control. The egg parameters were comparable with the control. Inclusion of FR at all levels with and without antibiotic was found to reduce cholesterol when compare to control. The inclusion of antibiotics did not influence the fatty acid over the antibiotic feed fed birds. FR at 0.5% upon and above increased the level of omega 3 fatty acid. The cost of production of an egg was found to lower in FR in all the groups. Supplementations of antibiotics further reduce the cost of production of an egg. It could be concluded that incorporation of FR up to 2% either with or without AB in layer mash resulted in comparable production and productivity.