Abstract:
A total of 150 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were reared in Sher e-Bangla
Agricultural Universit y Poultry Farm, Dhaka. The present
study was designed to evaluate the productive performance and
health status of commercial broiler chicks fed diet containing graded
levels of FS (Fenugreek Seed) compared to antibiotic based diet.
Chicks were distributed randoml y in a complete randomized design
into 5 experimental groups of 3 replicates (10 chicks with each
replications).One of the 5 experimental group was fed this diet as
control while, the remaining four groups were fed diet with 3 levels
of FS (1, 1.5 and 2%) and antibiotic. The results obtained revealed
that the body weight was significant (P<0.05) and the dressing
percentage was also significant (P<0.05) by the dietary inclusion of
FS as compared to control fed broilers. However, a linear increase in
body weight was found with the increase in FS level in the diet.
Birds fed 1.5% FS diets achieved superior body weights
(1528.33
a
±57.468) compared to those of the control and antibiotic
group. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was non-significant but feed
consumption was significantl y higher (2289.67
a
±2.603) in 1% FS
treated group in comparison to others. The relative weight of spleen
and bursa of different groups showed that there was no significant
(P>0.05) difference between the groups. In addition, the present
study showed that feeding dietary Fenugreek seed had no significant
(P>0.05) effects on liver, gizzard, intestine and heart weight among
the treatments. The level of Cholesterol was significantl y (p<0.05)
lower in fenugreek treated group but no significant differences in
glucose level. The results of hematological studies showed no
significant (P>0.05) differences due to supplementation of Fenugreek
seed, except Hemoglobin, Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell
(WBC), Lymphocyte which were significantl y affected (p<0.05)
compared with control and antibiotic. However, addition of FS to
broiler chicks diets showed significant (p<0.05) difference in
bacterial colony count among the groups. The FS supplementing
groups showed lower number of E. coli and Salmonella sp. and
higher number of Lactobacillus sp. compared to control group.
Treatments with FS significantl y (P<0.05) increased Newcastle
disease (ND) titre.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Department of Poultry Science
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
POULTRY SCIENCE
