Effect of dietary supplementation of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) andtulsi (Ocimum sanctum) powder on growth performance of broiler chickens

GOVINDA  KUMAR; SANJAY  KUMAR; KAUSHALENDRA  KUMAR; PANKAJ KUMAR  SINGH; RAJNI  KUMARI; SAVITA  KUMARI; ROHIT KUMAR  JAISWAL; RAVI RANJAN KUMAR  SINHA; JAY PRAKASH  GUPTA

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i3.172255

Authors

GOVINDA KUMAR Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
SANJAY KUMAR Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
PANKAJ KUMAR SINGH Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
RAJNI KUMARI Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
SAVITA KUMARI Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
ROHIT KUMAR JAISWAL Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
RAVI RANJAN KUMAR SINHA Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India
JAY PRAKASH GUPTA Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna Bihar 800014 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i3.172255

Keywords:

Aloe barbadensis, Broiler, Growth performance, Ocimum sanctum

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera), Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) powder, and their combination on growth performance and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens. A 35-day feeding trial was conducted using iso-nutritive diets formulated to compare their individual and combined effects. Two-hundred-day-old Cobb 400Y broiler chicks were procured, and randomly distributed into four treatment groups of 50 birds each, with five replicates of 10 birds per group. Four dietary treatments, including a control diet (T0 – basal diet), aloe vera (T1 - basal diet + 1.5%), tulsi (T2 - basal diet + 1%), and both in combination (T3 - basal diet + 1.5% aloe vera + 1% tulsi). The results indicated distinct performance trends among treatments. Birds receiving combined supplementation of aloe vera and tulsi exhibited most consistent improvement in feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and overall performance index as compared to the control and singlesupplement diets. Enhanced nutrient retention was also observed, particularly for dry matter, crude protein, and ether extract, suggesting improved digestibility and utilization efficiency. However, calcium and phosphorus retention showed minimal variation across treatments, indicating that mineral absorption was not markedly influenced by supplementation. Overall, the combined use of aloe vera and tulsi demonstrated synergistic benefits, promoting better growth performance and nutrient utilization in broilers. These findings highlighted the potential of herbal feed additives as sustainable, natural alternatives to synthetic growth promoters, highlighting its potential as a natural growth promoter in broiler production.

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