N.V. Jadhav, Basavaraj Awati, Vivek M. Patil, D.T. Naik, Srikant Kulkarni, M.D. Suranagi, K. Ravikanth, Adarsh
ABSTRACT
135 day old commercial broiler chicks were randomly divided in to 3 groups (n=45, 3 replicates). Group T0- unsupplemented control group, Group T1, supplemented with Chikimune @ 6 g paste/chick/day and Group T2, supplemented with Chikimune @ 8 g paste/chick/day (Chikimune supplemented for first two days at poultry farm and no feed was offered during this period). Immune modulatory effect, dressing yield, histo-pathology of intestine along with weight of lymphoid organs and biochemical parameters were studied respectively. The results revealed that Chikimune supplementation significantly (P<0.05) improved the average final body weight (g) (group T1-1788.42, group T2-1831.00) when compared with control (group T0-1742. 35). Lymphoid organs weight also improved in Chikimune supplemented birds. Biochemical investigations recorded comparable improved values (mg/dl) of blood biochemical parameters in supplemented birds. The antibody titer against Ranikhet disease at 3rd and 5th week in treated groups was notably higher (1: 128/256) than non-treated broilers (1:16/32) indicating better immunity set-up. Chikimune supplementation was efficacious in improving immunity and decreasing the incidence of mortality in chicks.
Keywords: Early feeding, FCR, HI Titer, biochemical parameters