EFFECT OF BALANCED FEED FORMULATIONS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The study comprised a 35-day trial with a completely random design and used 360 unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks to examine the effects of different levels of digestible lysine and a phytogenic additive of thyme, curcumin, and fenugreek at 250 or 500 milligrams per kilogram and in combinations on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Six replicate pens of ten birds were given six iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets. The outcome showed that the combination of 1.35 percent lysine in starter and 1.20 percent lysine in finisher with 500 milligrams per kilogram phytogenic additive performed significantly better than all other formulations, with the final body weight of about 2490 grams, lowest feed-to-weight ratio of 1.657, and highest yield of breast meat. Crude protein digestibility was also maximized at 82.67 percent, villus height of 1345 micrometers, and villus-crypt ratio of 6.78 in this treatment. In this group, serum total protein was 4.01 grams per deciliter, tibia ash percentage was 53.56 percent, and the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was the lowest of all treatments, and hepatic enzyme activities were the least. Economic analysis showed that the combined treatment created the highest net profit, amounting to 3.42 United States dollars per bird, and the highest benefit-cost ratio of 1.34. Principal component analysis verified the segregation of growth and digestibility parameters far from the feed ratio and mortality. To sum up, the synergistic effect of optimized digestible lysine and 500 milligrams per kilogram of phytogenic feed additive is a very efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable non-antibiotic approach to maximizing broiler productivity and physiological well-being.