EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SCHEDULES OF ADMINISTRATION

OF WATER BASED INFUSION OF Aniseed, Neem, Lemon Grass and

Wild Mint ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BIOCHEMICAL
STATUS AND IMMUNITY OF BROILER CHICKS

Ajmal Hussain and Fazli Raziq Durrani

Department of Poultry Science

Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences
NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar-Pakistan
November, 2009

ABSTRACT

The present research study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different
schedules of administration of water based infusion of medicinal plants on growth
performance, immunity development against Newcastle disease (ND), Infectious
bronchitis (IB), Infectious bursal disease (IBD) and Avian influenza (AI), biochemical
status (hematology, Liver function test, Lipid profile, Serum glucose and protein) and
economics of broiler chicks at poultry farm NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar,
Pakistan. Two hundred and forty (240) broiler chicks were randomly divided into four
groups as X, W, Y and Z and each group was further divided into two sub-groups
vaccinated and non-vaccinated for different treatments. One of the sub groups was
vaccinated against ND, IB, and IBD according to recommended schedule. Each group
carried three replicates 10 chicks / replicate and were reared in separate pens for 42
days in an open sided house. Schedules designated as group W, receiving infusion on
daily basis, group X alternate day, group Y alternate two days and group Z alternate
three days. The infusion was provided @ of 15 ml per liter of drinking water to each
group according to the proposed schedule. Relevant data was recorded throughout the
experiment and at the end of experiment. The analysis of variance of the data indicated
that infusion of herbal plants @ of 15 ml/L of drinking significantly (P<0.05) improved
body weight gain, water intake, better FCR, dressing percentage, lower abdominal fat
and wing weight of broiler chicken in group W. While infusion had no significant
(P>0.05) effect on feed intake, breast, thigh, leg, shank, gizzard, heart, liver, intestine,
bursa, spleen and thymus weight. Antibody titers against ND, IB and IBD were non
significant. There was highly significant improvement in the antibody titers for ND, IB
and IBD on 4th, 5th and 6th weeks of age in the vaccinated group. Water based infusion
did not improve blood picture (HB, TLC, eosinophil, neutophil, lymphocytes and
monocytes), except PCV level. There was significantly (P<0.05) lower level of
Cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, serum protein, serum glucose and high level of HDL
was observed in group W. ALP, AST and ALT levels were significantly (P<0.05) lower
in group W. Mean feed cost was non significant (P>0.05), while net return was
significantly (P<0.05) higher in group W than other groups. It is concluded that
infusion of different plants mixture @ of 15 ml/L of drinking water on daily basis could
be effectively utilized to improve growth performance, economics, reduce lipid profile,
glucose and protein level, and to improve liver function in broiler birds.

Key words: Broiler, performance, immunity, lipid profile, liver test function,
hematology, antibody titer and economics