Minhas Sheizal, Sharma Arun, Chahota Rajesh
Department of Animal Nutrition, DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur, HP, 176062, India.
Present Address: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences, GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2025 Jun 23;57(6):281. doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04533-1.
In recent years, there has been a growing concern regarding the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the poultry industry. This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the potential of Chaste tree leaves (CTL) as a herbal feed additive in comparison to dietary antibiotic, by studying its effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, immunity and antioxidant status in broiler chicken. A total of 350 1-day-old male Cobb broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 5 groups and 7 replicates, with 10 chicks per replicate. Control group (CN) was given basal diet; ZB group was given 0.05% Zinc bacitracin (ZB) added in the basal diet; groups CTL0.5, CTL1 and CTL2 were provided with Chaste tree leaves powder added in the basal diet at 0.5%, 1%, and 2% inclusion levels, respectively. The results revealed that the performance of CTL1 group was significantly (P < 0.05) better in terms of gain in weight (GIW), total breast yield, total antioxidant activity (FRAP), digestibility of Dry matter (DM) and Crude protein (CP) than other groups. CTL1 group showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement in FCR compared to control group. The feed intake was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced in treatment groups fed Chaste tree leaves powder (CTL0.5, CTL1 and CTL2) as compared to others. IgG levels were significantly (P < 0.05) improved in CTL0.5 and CTL1 compared to other groups. Overall, birds fed at 1% level showed greatest improvements in growth performance, feed conversion, immunity, and antioxidant status. In conclusion, Chaste tree (Vitex negundo) leaves can be added at 1% level in broiler diet for enhancing growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, immunity and antioxidant status in broilers.
近年来，家禽业中使用抗生素作为生长促进剂的问题日益受到关注。本研究旨在通过研究其对肉鸡生长性能、养分消化率、胴体特性、免疫力和抗氧化状态的影响，探讨贞洁树树叶（CTL）作为一种草药饲料添加剂相对于日粮抗生素的潜力。总共350只1日龄的雄性科宝肉鸡雏鸡被随机分为5组，每组7个重复，每个重复10只鸡。对照组（CN）给予基础日粮；ZB组在基础日粮中添加0.05%的杆菌肽锌（ZB）；CTL0.5组、CTL1组和CTL2组分别在基础日粮中添加0.5%、1%和2%的贞洁树树叶粉。结果表明，CTL1组在体重增加（GIW）、总胸肉产量、总抗氧化活性（FRAP）、干物质（DM）和粗蛋白（CP）消化率方面显著（P<0.05）优于其他组。与对照组相比，CTL1组的饲料转化率（FCR）有显著（P<0.05）改善。与其他组相比，饲喂贞洁树树叶粉的处理组（CTL0.5、CTL1和CTL2）的采食量显著（P<0.05）提高。与其他组相比，CTL0.5和CTL1组的IgG水平显著（P<0.05）提高。总体而言，饲喂1%水平的鸡在生长性能、饲料转化率、免疫力和抗氧化状态方面表现出最大的改善。总之，贞洁树（Vitex negundo）树叶可以以1%的水平添加到肉鸡日粮中，以提高肉鸡的生长性能、养分消化率、胴体特性、免疫力和抗氧化状态。
