Influence of dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder on feed intake and body weight performance in caged broilers

Abstract

Use of antibiotics has been found to have negative effects on broiler health and its production therefore; there is a need for supplementation of herbal ingredients in broiler feed. An experiment was conducted on herbal dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder to study its effect on growth performance in caged broilers. A total of 48 Day old broiler chicks of same hatch were procured and randomly divided into four groups with three sub groups comprising of 3 chicks in each to serve as replicates T0 (control) had standard ration as per NRC; T1 ration was supplemented with 5g Shatavari root powder /kg feed; T2 ration was supplemented with 5g Ashwagandha powder /kg feed and T3 ration was supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed. The birds were reared in battery type cages under standard management practices from day-old to five weeks of age. Statistically analyzed data shown that the average body weight was significantly (p< 0.05) highest in T3 group followed by T2, T0 and T1 group. Similar trend was seen in the case of feed intake where significantly higher (p< 0.05) feed intake was found in T3 group followed by T2, T0 and T1 group. From this study it can be concluded that caged broilers supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed may perform well in caged conditions in terms of improved body weight and feed intake.

Full text

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(6): 592-597
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
www.entomoljournal.com
JEZS 2020; 8(6): 592-597
© 2020 JEZS
Received: 04-09-2020
Accepted: 30-10-2020
Abhishek Nagar
M.Sc., Scholar, Department of
Animal Husbandry & Dairying,
Sam Higginbottom University of
Agriculture, Technology and
Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar
Pradesh, India
Neeraj
Professor, Department of Animal
Husbandry & Dairying, Sam
Higginbottom University of
Agriculture, Technology and
Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar
Pradesh, India
Ramesh Pandey
Associate Professor, Department
of Animal Husbandry &
Dairying, Sam Higginbottom
University of Agriculture,
Technology and Sciences,
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
Amit Kumar Singh
Ph.D., Scholar, Livestock
Production Management
Division, ICAR- National Dairy
Research Institute, Karnal,
Haryana, India
Corresponding Author:
Amit Kumar Singh
Ph.D., Scholar, Livestock
Production Management
Division, ICAR- National Dairy
Research Institute, Karnal,
Haryana, India
Influence of dietary supplementation of Shatavari
(Asparagus racemosus) and Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera) root powder on feed intake
and body weight performance in caged broilers
Abhishek Nagar, Neeraj, Ramesh Pandey and Amit Kumar Singh
Abstract
Use of antibiotics has been found to have negative effects on broiler health and its production therefore;
there is a need for supplementation of herbal ingredients in broiler feed. An experiment was conducted
on herbal dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera) root powder to study its effect on growth performance in caged broilers. A total of 48 Day old
broiler chicks of same hatch were procured and randomly divided into four groups with three sub groups
comprising of 3 chicks in each to serve as replicates T0 (control) had standard ration as per NRC; T1
ration was supplemented with 5g Shatavari root powder /kg feed; T2 ration was supplemented with 5g
Ashwagandha powder /kg feed and T3 ration was supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g Ashwagandha
powder/ kg feed. The birds were reared in battery type cages under standard management practices from
day-old to five weeks of age. Statistically analyzed data shown that the average body weight was
significantly (p< 0.05) highest in T3 group followed by T2, T0 and T1 group. Similar trend was seen in
the case of feed intake where significantly higher (p< 0.05) feed intake was found in T3 group followed
by T2, T0 and T1 group. From this study it can be concluded that caged broilers supplemented with 2.5g
Shatavari + 2.5g Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed may perform well in caged conditions in terms of
improved body weight and feed intake.
Keywords: Ashwagandha, body weight, broilers, feed intake, Shatavari
Introduction
Poultry production is one of the areas in livestock production with significant contribution to
human food production. Poultry products in recent years become important and popular food
for non-vegetarian population (Adbhai et al., 2019) [1]. Chicken are widely kept in India and
total population of poultry in India is estimated to be about 851.81 million (BAHS, 2019) [2].
They are an important source of animal protein and can be kept in situation with limited feed
and housing resources. Due to its easier and economic availability coupled with rising demand
of cheap animal protein source has attracted almost every age group human being in most of
the parts of the world. Furthermore, there has been a great advancement in nutritional
technology for poultry birds in recent two decades thereby improving meat and egg production
per kg of feed consumed by the poultry birds especially broilers (Thakur et al., 2020) [19].
Feed additives are commonly described as non-nutrient substances that accelerate growth,
efficiency of feed utilization, beneficial for health or metabolism of the animals (Church and
Pond, 1998) [5]. Use of antibiotics has negative effects on animal health and its production such
as residue in tissues, withdrawal period and development of resistance in microorganism
(Wadoum et al., 2016) [20]. Therefore, the use of antibiotic growth promoter has been banned in
many countries; especially European Union has banned use of antibiotic growth promoters in
2006.
Moreover, there has been increased interest in the herbal feed additives for growth promoters
and health maintenance of broilers in recent decades (Srivastava et al., 2012) [18]. These herbal
additives are economical and improve the digestibility and palatability of the feed hence
improves both nutrient intake as well as nutrient utilization in the body of chickens (Thakur et
al., 2020) [19]. These herbal feed additives have been used since long back for humans for
improved appetite, health and other beneficial effects.

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Pandey et al. (2013) [13] reported that medicinal plants such as
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus
racemosus) and kapikachhu (Mucuna pruriens) can be used as
feed additives in broiler. The herbal feed additives such as
Ashwagandha and Shatavari showed improvement in terms of
body gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR),
hemoglobin, serum glucose and protein in broiler chicks
while serum cholesterol was not influenced by administering
herbal growth promoter in broilers (Mishra and Singh, 2000;
Mihir et al., 2003; Chitra et al., 2004; Bhardwaj et al., 2009;
Rekhate et al., 2010; Kumari et al., 2012; Mane et al., 2012)
[10, 9, 4, 3, 14, 6, 7]. Use of individual herbal feed additives have
been studies in abundance and several studies are still
conducted to investigate the effect of different herbs on
health, growth and feed efficiency and other important
parameters in broiler chicken. However there are vey less
conducive studies done on the combination of these herbals
feed additives in the diet of chicken to observe the different
parameters of growth and feed efficiency in them.
Considering above all points, the present study was aimed
with objectives to determine weekly feed consumption of
caged broilers fed on different levels of Shatavari and
Ashwagandha root powder supplementation for their growth
and to find out the feed efficiency of caged broilers fed on
different levels of Shatavari and Ashwagandha root powder
supplementation in ration.
Materials and Method
The present experiment was carried out in the small animal
laboratory of Department of animal husbandry & dairying,
Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology
and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj, India- 211007,
Latitudinal and longitudinal Coordinates being 25°27′N
81°51′E.
A total of 48 Day old broiler chicks of same hatch were
procured and randomly divided into four groups with three
sub groups comprising of 3 chicks in each to serve as
replicates, as per following dietary regimes:
T0: (Control): Standard ration as per NRC
T1: Ration supplemented with 5g Shatavari root powder /kg
feed
T2: Ration supplemented with 5g Ashwagandha powder /kg
feed
T3: Ration supplemented with 2.5 Shatavari + 2.5
Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed
The birds were reared in battery type cages under standard
management practices from day-old to five weeks of age.
Shatavari and Ashwagandha were supplemented as per
dietary regimes of treatments. Broiler starter ration containing
CP: 22 per cent and, ME:2900 k.cal./kg. feed was fed (Table
1) up to three weeks of age and broiler finisher ration
containing CP: 19 percent and ME: 3000 kcal/kg fed up to
five weeks. The ration was fed ad-libitum to the birds. Initial
weight of each chick was recorded on arrival and then weekly
to obtain the growth rate. The feed consumption was also
recorded weekly to determine the feed conversion ratio.
Table 1: Ingredient and nutrient composition of experimental diet (%DM)
Ingredients (%)
Broiler starter (0 – 21 day)
Broiler finisher (22 – 42 days)
Corn
53.55
59.57
Soyabean meal (44%CP
38.93
33.34
Monodibasic Phosphate
1.43
1.21
Limestone
1.35
1.38
Vegetable oil
3.84
3.51
Salt
0.41
0.43
DL- Methionine
0.207
0.214
L-Lysine- HCL
0.129
0.197
Cho line HCL (60%)
0.06
0.05
Mineral- Vitamins premix
0.01
0.01
Total
100
100
Calculated Nutrients
Crude protein%
22
20
ME, Kcal/kg
3,050
3,100
Calcium%
0.9
0.85
Available phosphorus%
0.4
0.35
Sodium%
0.2
0.21
Chloride%
0.27
0.29
Digestible Lys.%
1.15
1.07
Digestible Met.%
0.49
0.48
Digestible Met+ Cys%
0.81
0.77
Digestible Thr,%
0.78
0.71
Choline, mg/kg
1,420
1,300
Parameters studies
Day Old Chicks (DOC) housing management
Housing condition which promotes better growth and health is
necessary for livestock species in broad terms (Singh et al.,
2020a; Singh et al., 2020b; Mishra et al., 2017) [16, 15, 11]. It is
more important for poultry birds as they are more susceptible
for climatic change. Before arrival of broilers chicks, the
experimental pens, waterers, feeders and floor were cleaned,
washed, disinfected and fumigated by using formaldehyde
and potassium permanganate.
Chicks were housed (Figure 1) in battery type cages providing
0.75 sq. ft/bird space. However, the space was increased to 1
sq. ft/bird after 4th week of experiment to avoid discomfort to
the chicks. Cages, feeders, waterers, and other equipments
were properly cleaned, disinfected and sterilized before use.
The waterers were disinfected with 0.02% KMnO4 solution
every day and water was supplied ad lib to the birds. One
bulb of 100 watt was left on for light in each cage to maintain
the temperature in the laboratory.

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com
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Fig 1: Day old chicks
Feed consumption
The daily feed consumption of each group was estimated as
differences between the total quantity of feed offered and
quantity of feed left over during 24 hours period. Feed
consumptions recorded were added together for seven days of
the week and was considered as weekly feed consumption.
Live weight gain
The growth rate of the birds is reflected through the weekly
live weight gain. Individual body weight of the birds from
each group was taken at weekly interval, starting from the day
old stage. The birds were weighted during morning hours
before feeding. Electronic weighing balance with a least count
of 0.5g was utilized for weekly weighing of body weight of
chicks as well as the amount of feed supplied and consumed
by the chicks. However, the separate weighing scales were
used for weighing. The average weekly weight gain of the
birds of the different groups was calculated by subtracting the
previous week average weight of the group of the birds from
the present weekly average weight of the group of birds.
During start of the experimentation, the weights of day old
chicks were statistically similar. The data regarding average
body weight of day old chicks randomly distributed into
control (T0) and three different treatment (T1, T2,T3) presented
in Table 2.
In general, the body weight of day old chicks ranged from
40.66 – 48.66g. The body weight of day old chicks in
different treatments viz. T0, T1, T2 and T3 ranged from 41.33-
48.66, 40.66- 47.33, 42.66-46.66, 47.33-42.66 g. respectively.
The different mean body weight of day old chicks in different
treatments viz. T0, T1, T2 and T was 44.33, 44.66, 44.66 and
45.00 g respectively. The differences in the body weight of
day old broiler chicks between different groups (treatment)
were found non-significant. From the perusal of the data on
the body weight f day old chicks randomly distributed in
different treatments, it was observed that irrespective of
treatment the body weight of day old chicks in general ranged
from 40.66-48.66g The highest mean body weight of day old
chicks was recorded in T3 (45.00), and followed by T2 (44.66),
T1 (45.66), T0 (44.33). The differences in those values
between the treatments were found to be non-significant. It
indicates that random distribution of chicks into different
treatment was proper and unbiased.
Table 2: Average body weight (g) of day old chicks in different treatments
Replication
Body weight of DOC (g)
T0
T1
T2
T3
Mean
R1
41.33
47.33
42.66
47.33
44.66 a
R2
42.66
40.66
44.66
45.33
43.83 a
R3
44.66
44.66
44.00
42.66
44.00 a
R4
48.66
46.00
45.33
44.66
46.66 a
Mean
44.33 a
44.66 a
44.66 a
45.00 a
Means bearing similar superscripts are similar (p>0.05) under different rows and columns
Feed conversion ratio
The amount of feed consumed per unit gain (feed conversion
ratio) was calculated as the ratio of feed consumed to weight
gain (Maurya et al., 2016) [8] during the experimental period
feed consumption and weight gain for each week worked out
for each treatment separately.
Feed conversion ratio = Quantity of feed consumed (g) in
week / Gain in body weight (g) in week
Statistical analysis
Data on various parameters were recorded, tabulated on
subjected to statistical analysis by comparing Analysis of
variance (ANOVA) technique as per Snedecar and Cocharan
(1994) [17]. Microsoft Excel 2013 software was utilized for the
completion of statistical analysis of this experiment.
Table 3: Structure of analysis of variance (ANOVA) table
Sources of variation
d. f
S.S
M.S.S
F. cal
F. table
Result
CD
Treatment
t-1
SS(t)
MSS(t)
R1
S/NS
Replication
r-1
SS(t)
MSS(r)
R2
Error
(r-1) (t-1)
ESS
MESS
Total
Rt-1
D.f - Degree of freedom
SS - Sum of squares
MSS - Mean sum of square
R1 - MTSS/MESS
R 2 - MRSS/MESS
C.D - Critical differences
S - Significant
NS - Non-significant
T - Treatment
ANOVA - Analysis of variance

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Critical Differences
The critical difference was calculated with the help of
following formula:
Where
SE – Standard error
CD – Critical differences
R – No. of replication
T error - Treatment error
Results and Discussion
Feed Intake in Caged Broilers
Average weekly feed intake (g) of broilers of different
treatments
The data regarding average feed intake of broilers randomly
distributed into control (T0) and three different treatments (T1,
T2, T3) are presented in Table 4 with its ANOVA table 5. At
first week of age the highest average feed intake of broilers
was recorded in T0 (145.50g) and followed by T3 (144.25g),
T2 (140.33g), T1 (136.33g) as shown in Figure (2). At second
weeks of age the highest average feed intake of broilers was
recorded in T3 (509.16g) and followed by T0 (491.33g), T1
(483.08g), T2 (473.50g). At third weeks of age the highest
average feed intake of broilers was recorded in T2 (608.33g)
and followed by T3 (569.91g), T0 (543.33g), T1 (542.50g) At
fourth weeks of age the highest average feed intake of broilers
was recorded in T3 (867.00g) and followed by T0 (838.25g),
T1 (828.92g), T2 (822.75g). At fifth weeks of age the highest
average feed intake of broilers was recorded in T2 (529.25 g)
and followed by T3 (525.00g), T0 (519.16g), T1 (464.17g).
Irrespective of weekly the mean feed intake per broiler in
first, second, third, fourth and fifth week of age was 141.60,
489.26, 566.01, 839.23 and 509.39 g respectively. Irrespective
of treatment the mean feed intake per broiler in T0, T1, T2 and
T3 was 507.51, 491.00, 514.83 and 523.06 g respectively. The
differences in the mean feed intake of broiler, due to
treatment were found significant. From the perusal of data on
weekly feed intake of broilers, it may be noted that mean feed
intake of broilers, irrespective of weekly at one, two, three,
four and five week of age was 141.60, 489.26, 566.01, 839.35
and 509.39 g respectively.
When treatment wise feed intake of broilers of observed, it
was noted that highly weekly treatment mean feed intake of
broiler was recorded in T3 (523.06) followed by T2 (514.83),
T0 (507.51) and T1 (494.00).
Broilers of T3 registered significantly highest (523.06) feed
intake to compared control and T1. However the feed intake
of T3 was found that at par with the feed intake of broilers in
T2. The differences in these values of treatment were found
significant (p< 0.05). The results suggest that there was
positive effect of adding Shatavari and Ashwagandha powder
in the ration of chicks which increased the feed intake in
them. Results of this study are in line with the results that
were reported by earlier studies (Niwas et al., 2013;
Srivastava et al., 2012) [12, 18]. Pandey et al. (2013) [13] reported
that medicinal plants such as Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and kapikachhu
(Mucuna pruriens) can be used as feed additives in broiler.
Mishra and Singh (2000) [11] reported that the effect of feeding
root powder of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) improved
growth rate, feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency
and lowered mortality rate in broiler chicks. Bhardwaj et al.
(2012) evaluated the efficacy of Ashwagandha root powder in
Japanese quails by supplementing in feed at 0%,0.5%,1% and
1.5% and concluded that 41 1% Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera) root powder significantly improved body weights
and feed efficiency.
Table 4: Average weekly mean feed intake of broiler (g) of different
treatment
Treatments
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
Mean
T0
145.50
491.33
543.33
838.25
519.16
507.51 bc
T1
136.33
483.08
542.50
828.92
464.17
491.00 c
T2
140.33
473.50
608.33
822.75
529.25
514.83 ab
T3
144.25
509.16
556.58
867.00
525.00
520.40a
Means bearing similar superscripts are similar (p>0.05) under
different rows
Table 5: ANOVA for data on weekly feed intake of per broiler contained in Table 4
Source of variation
d. f.
S.S.
M.S.S.
F. Cal.
F. Tab. 5%
Result
S. Ed. (±)
C.D. at 5%
Treatments
4
989204.543
247301.136
578.940
3.26
S
13.072
29.5698
Week
3
2444.418
814.806
1.907
3.49
NS
13.072
29.5698
Error
12
5125.939
427.162
-
-
-
-
-
Total
19
996774.901
-
-
-
-
Fig 2: Average weekly feed intake of caged broilers on diet
supplemented with different level of Shatavari and Ashwagandha
root powder.
Body weight of Broilers
Average Weekly Body weight of day old chicks (g)
The data regarding average body weight of broilers randomly
distributed into control (T0) and three different treatments (T1,
T2, T3) are presented in Table 6 and ANOVA of the same is
given in Table 7.
At first week of age the highest body weight of broilers was
recorded in T3 (185.41g) and followed by T2 (182.83g), T0
(179.50g), T1 (172.50g) as shown in figure (3). At second
weeks of age the highest body weight of broilers was recorded
in T3 (466.50g) and followed by T0 (482.17g), T1 (438.08g),
T2 (419.50g). At third weeks of age the highest body weight
of broilers was recorded in T3 (739.33g) and followed by T2
(731.33g), T1 (730.41g), T0 (727.83g). At fourth weeks of age
the highest body weight of broilers was recorded in T3
(1285.00g) and followed by T2 (1278.00g), T1 (1184.33g), T0

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(1180.66g). At fifth weeks of age the highest body weight of
broilers was recorded in T3 (1565.83 g) and followed by T2
(1532.00g), T0 (1454.66g), T1 (1419.00g). Irrespective of
weekly the mean body weight broiler in one, second, third,
fourth and fifth week of age was 180.06, 440.31, 732.22,
1231.99 and 1875.87 g respectively. Irrespective of treatment
the mean body weight of broiler in T0, T1, T2 and T3 was
796.96, 787.86, 828.73 and 848.41. The differences in the
mean body weight of broilers, both due to treatment were
found significant. From the perusal of data on weekly body
weight of broilers contained in Table 4.13, It may be noted
that mean body weight of broilers, irrespective of weekly at
one, two, three, four and five week of age was 180.06, 440.31,
732.22, 1231.99 and 1875.87 g respectively. When treatment
wise body weight of broilers of observed, it was noted that
highly weekly treatment mean body weight of broiler was
recorded in T3 (848.41) followed by T2 (828.73), T0 (796.96)
and T1 (787.86). Broilers of T3 registered significantly highest
body weight (848.41g) to compared control and T1. However
the body weight of T3 was found that at par with the body
weight of broilers in T2. The differences in these values of
treatment were found significant, indicating thereby a
significant effect Shatavari and Ashwagandha root powder
treatment on body weight of broilers.
Statistically analyzed data showed that due the effect of
adding Shatavari and Ashwagandha root powder there was an
increase in the feed intake thereby its assimilation in the body
of chicks as shown by significantly better (p<0.05) body
weight in treatment group as compared to control group
chicks. Results of this study are in line with the results that
were reported by Niwas et al. (2013) [12] and Srivastava et al.
(2012) [18]. Pandey et al. (2013) [13] reported that medicinal
plants such as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari
(Asparagus racemosus) and kapikachhu (Mucuna pruriens)
can be used as feed additives in broiler. Mishra and Singh
(2000) [11] reported that the effect of feeding root powder of
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) improved growth rate,
feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency and lowered
mortality rate in broiler chicks. Bhardwaj et al. (2012)
evaluated the efficacy of Ashwagandha root powder in
Japanese quails by supplementing in feed at 0%, 0.5%, 1%
and 1.5% and concluded that 41 1% Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera) root powder significantly improved body weights
and feed efficiency.
Table 6: Average weekly mean body weight of broiler chicks (g) in
different treatment.
Treatments
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
Mean
T0
179.50
442.17
727.83
1180.66
1454.66
796.96 bc
T1
172.50
433.08
730.41
1184.33
1419.00
787.86 c
T2
182.83
419.50
731.33
1278.00
1532.00
828.73 ab
T3
185.41
466.50
739.33
1285.00
1565.83
848.41a
Means bearing similar superscripts are similar (p>0.05) under
different rows
Table 7: ANOVA for data on weekly body weight of broilers contained in Table 7
Source of variation
d. f.
S.S.
M.S.S.
F. Cal.
F. Tab. 5%
Result
S. Ed. (±)
C.D. at 5%
Week
4
4735155.540
1183788.885
1082.980
3.26
S
20.910
47.302
Treatments
3
11828.546
3942.849
3.607
3.49
S
23.378
52.8853
Error
12
13117.022
1093.085
-
-
-
-
-
TOTAL
19
4760101.108
-
-
-
-
-
Fig 3: Average weekly body weight (g) per broiler in for different
treatment with different level of Shatavari and Ashwagandha root
powder.
Conclusion
Use of antibiotics has been found to have negative effects on
broiler health and its production therefore; there is a need for
supplementation of herbal ingredients in broiler feed. This
study provides the information about the feed intake and body
weight of caged broilers on individual as well as combined
supplementation of Shatavari and Ashwagandha root powder.
Results from this study suggest that improved feed intake and
body weight was obtained from individual as well as
combined supplementation of Shatavari and Ashwagandha
root powder. Hence, from this study it can be concluded that
caged broilers supplemented with 2.5g Shatavari + 2.5g
Ashwagandha powder/ kg feed may perform well in caged
conditions in terms of improved feed intake and body weight.
Herbal additives such as Ashwagandha and Shatavari powder
may be added in caged broiler feeds for better growth
performance and there remains scope for future researches to
know about the effect of Ashwagandha and Shatavari powder
on blood, immunity levels, and muscular attributes of caged
broilers.
Acknowledgement
Authors have deep regards towards Vice Chancellor and
Head, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying of
SHUATS, Prayagraj for providing all the necessary facilities
for conducting this experiment.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interests.
Every author participated and approved in drafting this
manuscript.
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of Agriculture, Government of India 2019.
http://www.dahd.nic.in.
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