Effect of Dietary Papaya (Carica papaya) Leaves Powder Supplementation on Growth Performance, Feed Efficiency and Economic Returns in Broiler Chickens
A. K. Prajapati
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Kamdhenu University, Sardarkrushinagar-385506, Gujarat, India.
S. S. Patil
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Kamdhenu University, Sardarkrushinagar-385506, Gujarat, India.
M. M. Pawar *
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India.
K. J. Ankuya
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Kamdhenu University, Himmatnagar-383001, Gujarat, India.
C. P. Modi
Pashu Vigyan Kendra (Thara), Kamdhenu University, Sardarkrushinagar-385506, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The use of plant-based feed additives as natural growth promoters in poultry production has gained increasing attention. Among such phytogenic additives, Carica papaya leaves are rich in bioactive compounds, including enzymes, alkaloids, flavonoids, and antioxidants. Various global studies have demonstrated that dietary papaya leaves improves growth performance, feed efficiency along with higher profitability in broiler chickens. However, limited studies have been conducted in India on the use of dietary papaya leaves in broiler chickens. A study was carried out to evaluate growth performance of broiler chickens fed diet supplemented with Papaya (Carica papaya) leaves powder. A total of 192day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups with four replicates of 12 chicks each viz. T1: Basal diet; in groups T2, T3 and T4 - basal diet was supplemented with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% papaya leaves powder, respectively for a period of 42 days. The parameters such as body weights, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, production efficiency factor and return over feed cost were studied. Results revealed that the final body weight (g) was significantly (P=0.002) higher in group fed diet with 1% papaya leaves powder (2423.53) followed by group fed 0.5% papaya leaves powder (2354.40) when compared to control (T1) group (2301.07); while it was lowest in group fed diet supplemented with 2% papaya leaves powder (2098.36). The overall feed intake was significantly (P=0.009) reduced in T4 group as compared to T1 (control) group. The feed conversion ratio was significantly (P=0.029) better in T2 (1.64) and T3 (1.67) groups as compared to T1 (1.77) and T4 (1.83) groups. The overall production efficiency factor was significantly (P=0.008) higher in 1% papaya leaves powder supplemented group. The return over the feed cost over T1 group (control) was 33.76, 40.88 and -25.08% in T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. In conclusion, supplementation of papaya leaves powder at 1% in diet improved growth performance, feed conversion ratio and production efficiency in broiler chickens. However, 2% supplemental level of papaya leaves powder in feed had adverse effect on growth performance and feed intake in broiler chickens due to reduced palatability.
Keywords: Broilers, growth, feed efficiency, papaya leaves, economics