Effect of an Adaptogenic Herbal Preparation on Humoral Immune Response and on Some Economic Traits in Broiler Chicks

摘要

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of a herbal preparation on humoral immune response and on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broiler chicks. The herbal preparation containing aqueous extracts of Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia Picrorrhiza kurroa and Withania somnifera was fed +AEA- 50 gm per 100 kg of feed. The chicks were vaccinated with Lasota strain of Ranikhet Disease virus (RDV) on 7th and 28th day of their ages as per standard managemental practices. The sera samples collected at weekly intervals after primary vaccination on 7th day of their ages, were put to haemagglutination inhibition test. The herbal preparation fed group recorded a significantly (P+ADw- 0.01) higher mean haemagglutination inhibition antibody ti tre than the control group for all the experimental periods. This group also recorded a significantly (P+ADw- 0.01) higher body weight and FCR (1901.6 +- 10.774 gm and 2.19: 1, respectively) than the control group 1795.00 +- 10.476 gm and 2.29:1, respectively) on 42nd day of their ages.