Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
Laxmi Chouhan, SS Atkare, Anil Shinde, Girraj Goyal, Sanju Mandal and Diana D Jesse

Abstract:
The present study was conducted to assess the effect of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E, organic chromium and its combination on growth performance and economics of Narmadanidhi birds in winter season. A total of 240, day old coloured dual type Narmadanidhi chicks were distributed into 12 dietary treatment groups with 20 chicks in 2 replicates in each treatment. The chicks were housed in individual pens as per treatment groups and reared on litter system. Starter and finisher ration were prepared and fed up to 6 and 7 to 12 weeks of age respectively. Dietary treatment supplements in starter and finisher ration were C₀ control, C₁ (150 mg AA/kg), C₂ (250 mg AA/kg), E₁ (125 mg vit E/kg), E₂ (200 mg vit E/kg) Cr₁ (1.25 mg Cr-propionate/kg), Cr₂ (2.0 mg Cr-Propionate/kg). Combined supplements were C₂E₁, C₂E₂, C₂Cr₁, C₂Cr₂, and C₂E₁Cr₂. The data of body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency were recorded and measured on 6^th week interval. Analysis (One way ANOVA) was carried out to study the effect of treatments on production performance. The gross economics of rearing the chicks for complete experimental period was also calculated. During winter season starved live weight shrinkage, blood loss and feather loss were not affected due to treatments. E₂, Cr₁, Cr₂ were significantly higher in eviscerated and total meat yield in both sexes. All combined supplement improved these traits with better effect in C₂Cr₂, C₂E₁Cr₂ than all treatments. Percent fat in C₂Cr₂ and C₂E₁Cr₂ were significantly lower than control.Finally it may be concluded that combined supplement C₂Cr₂, C₂E₁Cr₂ had better carcass trait than control in winter season.