GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND LIPID PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED ON HONEYWEED (Leonurus sibiricus) SUPPLEMENTED DIET

Abstract

Large amount of feed additives including antibiotics have been used in poultry feeds. Researchers have found out the adverse effect of antibiotic used in animal feed. Honeyweed (Leonurus sibiricus) is a herbaceous plant found in many countries in Asia, America and Sub-Saharan Africa region used as medicinal purpose by folk practitioners to control some non-communicable diseases. Buckwheat seed has also been reported to decrease serum lipid profile. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of combined effect of honeyweed and buckwheat seed powder in poultry feed on serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), examine mortality rate and growth performances of broiler to formulate a low cost and eco-friendly diet. Total 150 one day old chicks were taken and divided into five groups having five replications each consisting of six birds. Along with commercial control (T1) and own formulated feed (T2) there were OC (Own control) with 5% HW (Honeyweed) (T3), OC with 10% HW (T4) and OC with 15 % HW (T5). Results revealed that newly formulated supplemented feed has significant effects on feed intake and body weight gain of the birds. However, supplementation of honeyweed with buckwheat significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum triglycerides but elevated the HDL contents in broiler. Interestingly, honeyweed supplemented feed decreased mortality rate of the broilers to 3.32%. Our results suggest that this newly formulated feed with honeyweed and buckwheat could be considered as an alternative natural feed additive instead of hazardous synthetic antibiotics for safe poultry meat production.