Effect of ghee residue supplementation on the performance of broiler chicken

Supplementation of ghee residue on chicken

Abstract

Four hundred straight run ‘commercial day-old broiler chicks were equally and randomly distributed into four treatment groups which were subdivided into four replicates containing 25 chicks in each, reared on a deep litter system in pens up to 6 weeks of age. The dietary treatment groups were the control diet without ghee residue (T₀), broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 2.5% (T₁), broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 5% (T₂), broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃). All the diets were maintained isocaloric and isonitrogenous, with uniform standard managemental practices for all the groups.Significant (P<0.05) difference was found in live body weight, weight gain and cumulative weight gain, however, the ghee residue-supplemented group had significantly higher body weight when compared with the control group. Feed intake and feed efficiency were also found to be significant (P<0.05) in all the treatment groups. However, numerically improved feed efficiency was observed in ghee residue @ 5% (T₂), followed by ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃).The maximum dressing yield was observed in ghee residue @ 5% (T₂) (72.03±0.003), followed by ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃) (71.83±0.003) and lowest dressing yield i.e. 69.03±0.003% was found in the control group (T₀). Economically, ghee residue @ 5% (T₂) and ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃) groups have given higher profit as compared to other experimental and control groups. The average abdominal fat percentage was found to be highest in ghee residue @ 7.5% (T₃) (2.10±0.003) whereas lowest in ghee residue @ 2.5% (T₁)  (1.37±0.003)..The average abdominal fat pad thickness found to be highest in ghee residue @ 7.5% (D) (0.70±0.003) whereas lowest in ghee residue @ 2.5% (T₁)   (0.37±0.003). In conclusion, broiler ration containing ghee residue @ 5% level improved body weight, weight gain, and feed efficiency without any adverse effect.