Effect of incorporation of bovine colostrum in broiler chicken diets on body weight, mortality pattern and economics of production

A biological trial was conducted on 192, three days old commercial broiler chicks, distributed randomly into four treatment groups of 4 replicates of 12 birds each, reared for a period of 35 days. The first treatment group (T1) was taken as control group and offered basal diet without any additive. The other three treatment groups (T2, T3 and T4) were fed diets supplemented with 1, 1.5 and 2 % bovine colostrum/kg feed, respectively. The treatment groups offered diets supplemented with bovine colostrum showed significantly higher body weight with the highest body weight recorded in T4. The final body weights recorded at the end of the trial period were 1503.04±25.16, 1577.99±35.99, 1675.86±77.21 and 1897.02±37.51 in groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. There was a significant reduction in mortality percentage across the treatment groups. An overall mortality of 11.43% was recorded during the trial. The highest overall mortality being recorded in T1 (19.23%) and lowest in T4 (2.5%). T2 and T3 showed a mortality percentage of 16.92 and 3.77 respectively. There was a positive impact on the economics of production, thus increasing the profit margins. Economic analysis revealed that the cost of feed/kg body weight gain was Rs 78.20, 73.50, 69.58 and 66.60 in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. T2, T3 and T4 had a relative advantage of Rs 4.70, 8.62 and 11.60 respectively as compared to control T1. Thus, it was concluded that bovine colostrum could be incorporated in broiler diets @ 2% for better body weight at market age, reduced mortality percentage and improved the overall economics of production.