EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA) AND KALMEGH (ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA) ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNE STATUS IN BROILERS

S.A. DHENGE¹*, R. SHIRBHATE², A. WANKAR³, V. KHANDAIT^4
1Department of Veterinary Physiology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, 400 006, Maharashtra, India
²Department of Veterinary Physiology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, 400 006, Maharashtra, India
³Department of Veterinary Physiology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, 400 006, Maharashtra, India
⁴Department of Veterinary Extension and Animal Husbandry, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, 400 006, India
* Corresponding Author : drdhenge2009@gmail.com

Received : 02-12-2018     Accepted : 27-12-2018     Published : 30-12-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 24       Pages : 7634 - 7636
Int J Agr Sci 10.24 (2018):7634-7636

Keywords : Ashwagandha, Kalmegh, Broilers, Growth, Immunity
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, 400 006, Maharashtra, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Day old 120 broiler birds were equally divided in 4 groups and treated with 5 gm Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder (T1) and 2 gm Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) whole plant powder (T2), 5 gm Ashwagandha root powder and 2 gm Kalmegh whole plant powder (T3) per kg feed and control (T0) supplied only plain feed. Growth parameters as mean live body weight, gain in body weight, feed consumption and feed efficiency were estimated weekly during 1st - 6th weeks and skin thickness, Serum Glutamic Pyurvate Transminase (SGPT)) and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetate Transminase (SGOT) levels were measured during 3rd - 6th weeks to judge immune response in broilers to Ashwagandha and Kalmegh. Results revealed as, T1 and T3 significantly (P<0.05) increased live body weight, gain in body weight and feed efficiency with slight increase in feed consumption, while T2 group significantly (P<0.05) increased live body weight, feed efficiency with slightly increased gain in body weight and feed consumption as compared with T0. T1, T2 and T3 significantly (P<0.05) increased broiler birds skin thickness and significantly (P<0.01) reduced SGPT and SGOT levels as compared to T0. In conclusion, the herbs Ashwagandha and Kalmegh promotes growth in broiler birds along with enhance immunity and liver functions.

1. Singh B., Saxena A. K., Chandan B. K., Gupta D. K., Bhutani K. K. and Anand K. K. (2001) Phytotherapy Research, 15, 311-318.
2. Joselin J. and Jeeva S. (2014) Medicinal Aromatic Plants, 3,169.
3. Kamat J. P., Boloor K. K., Devasagayam T. P. and Venkatachalam S.R. (2000) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 71(3), 425-435.
4. Cohen M. M. (2014) Journal of Ayurveda & Integrative, 5(4), 251-259.
5. Divya K., Mishra S. K. and Lather D. (2015) Haryana Veterinarian, 54 (1), 1-6.
6. Hossain S., Zannat U., Abubakar S., and Hafizur R. (2014) The Scientific World Journal, Article ID 274905.
7. Mane A. G., Kulkarni A. N., Korake R. L. and Bhutkar S.S. (2012) Research Journal of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Science, 3(2), 94-96.
8. Mathivanan R., Edwin S.C., Vishwanathan K., Chandrsekaran D. and Nanjappan K. (2007) Indian Veterinary Journal, 85(3),277-279.
9. Bhardwaj R. K. Bhardwaj A. and Gangwar S. K. (2012) International Journal of Science and Nature, 3(2), 476-478.
10. Snedecor G.W. and Cochran W. E. (1967) Statistical methods, 6th edition, Oxford and IBH publishing Co., New Delhi, India.
11. Pedulwar S. N., Chaudhari A. J., Zanzad A. A., Ramteke B. N. and Deshmukh G. B. (2007) Veterinary World, 6(2),37-38.
12. Sapcota D., Islam R. and Medhi A. K. (2005) Indian Veterinary Journal, 82(5),529-532.
13. Tipakorn N. (2002) Doctoral Dessertion, submitted to Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, George-August University, Gottingen.
14. Mathivanan R., Edwin S. C. Amutha R. and Viswanathan K. (2006) International Journal of Poultry Science, 5(12),1144-1150.
15. Watanasit S.Y., Siriwathananukal and Itharal A. (2005) Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 27 (Spppl.2),587-596.
16. Bhaskar D., Sharma R. K., Chauhan S.S., Singh H. and Kumar A. (2003) Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 38(2),110-114.
17. Roy T. J., Das S. K., Mandal T. K. and Chaudhary A.K. (2003) Phytomedica, 4,73-86.
18. Lokhande P. T., Kulkarni G. B., Ravikanth K., Maini S. and Rekhe D. S. (2009) Veterinary World, 2(11), 432- 434.