1Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir-431517, Maharashtra, India.
2Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir-431517, Maharashtra, India.
3ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly-243122, Uttar Pradesh.
4MAFSUSub-Center, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir-431517, Maharashtra, India.
5Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir-431517, Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding Author Email: sdurge5@gmail.com
Online published on 25 May, 2022.
The study was planned to evaluate the dietary supplementation of soapnut shell powder (SSP) on growth performance, nutrient metabolizability, immune response and economics of broiler production. Total of 240, day-old Vencobb-430Y broiler chicks were randomly distributed in four treatment groups, comprising four replicates of 15 birds in each. Group CON fed with standard broiler diet. However, treatment groups SSP150, SSP200 and SSP250 were supplemented with 0.058 (saponin 150 ppm), 0.0704 (saponin 200 ppm) and 0.088 (saponin 250 ppm) percent of SSP in addition to standard broiler diet, respectively. All treatment groups showed similar performance irrespective of treatment for weekly live body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Supplementation of SSP showed null effect on nutrient intake and retention. However, immune response in treatment groups SSP200 and SSP250 were significantly higher. Dietary supplementation of SSP at 0.088% (saponin 250 ppm) in the broiler diet stimulate immune response without affecting growth performance and nutrient metabolizability.
Soapnut shell powder, Saponin, Herbal feed additives, Broiler production, Nutrtional immunity
