Effect of supplementation of herbal methionine on growth performance of broiler chickens

Two hundred forty, day old ‘Vencob’ chicks were distributed into control and three dietary treatments, to study the effect of inclusion of different levels of Herbal Methionine on growth, FCR, and economics. In Control (C) Maize-Soya based ration was supplemented with synthetic L-Lysine and DL-Methionine, whereas in T1, T2 and T3 the DL-Methionine was replaced by Herbal Methionine at 10, 15 and 20 g/kg feed, respectively. The feed intake was significantly higher in T3 treatment group followed by T2, T1 and Control groups. The average weekly live weight of birds in T3 treatment group was found to be significantly higher. The feed conversion ratio was found to be narrow in T3 treatment group, which indicates proper protein accretion in the broilers fed herbal methionine @20 g/Kg feed. In T1 T2 and control groups the feed conversion ratio was wider than T3 treatment group. This indicates the positive effect of herbal methionine feeding at 20 g/kg levels as compared to lower levels. The mortality was observed to be 2% in T2 treatment group and 3% in remaining groups. In spite of having higher weight gain and narrowest FCR in T3 group, the profit was maximum in T1 group. This was due to the increased cost of feed due to inclusion of herbal methionine. So it can be concluded that herbal methionine @10g/kg feed is beneficial with sustained and higher level of profitability.