Effect of Herbal Feed Additives Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Seed Powder and Onion (Allium cepa) Powder on Haemato-biochemical and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers

Background: The positive effect of fenugreek and onion and their active components on the digestion process has been reported in several studies. The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of Fenugreek sees powder and Onion powder on haemato-biochemical and carcass charactistics of broilers. Methods: Day-old, 210 broiler chicks (Vencobb-400) were randomly allotted to seven treatment groups. The T1 i.e., control group was fed on basal diet, while, group T2 and T3 were supplied with 1% and 2% fenugreek seed powder, respectively. Whereas group T4 and T5 were supplied with 1% and 2% onion powder, respectively and group T6 and T7 were supplied with 0.5% fenugreek seed powder and 0.5% onion powder and 1% fenugreek seed powder and 1% onion powder, respectively in the basal broiler pre-starter, starter and finisher ration. Result: Haemoglobin, PCV, TEC, TLC, total serum protein and creatinine levels were higher (P less than 0.01) in T6 group while highest level of blood glucose was found in T6, but the variation was statistically non-significant for blood glucose. Whereas serum cholesterol level was higher (P less than 0.01) in control group. Non-significant effect was observed on dressing percentage but numerically highest in T6 group and eviscerated weight percentage was higher (P less than 0.05) in T6 group. The gizzard (P less than 0.01), heart (P less than 0.01) and giblet weight (P less than 0.01) were found statistically higher in T5 and liver weight (P less than 0.01) was statistically higher in T7 group.